PARLIAMENT HOUSE, Canberra: I am still as determined as ever to see the East West Link built in Melbourne and ensure that the contract is honoured. This project was put on the agenda back in 2008 by the then Labor government through the Eddington report. It was supported at the time by Bill Shorten and…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, Canberra: I rise to speak on this matter of public importance. I appreciate that, in the main, the Leader of the Opposition did not try to make partisan points in this debate. Indigenous affairs has typically been above partisan politics. If you look back at the history of the efforts which have been…
Bill Shorten has publicly stated his support for more congestion for families, lost productivity for small business and fewer jobs for workers. Asked yesterday if he supports the East West Link, Bill Shorten said “no”. In 2008, Bill Shorten made two submissions in support of East West Link, stating: “ the new East-West Link is crucial…
The Australian: Earlier this week, Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen again sought to “inject some context into the budget debate” by comparing our relatively low debt levels with those of other countries, particularly European ones. This is the constant argument from those who dismiss Australia’s debt as a problem: debt levels in places like Greece are…
The Federal Member for Aston, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, is encouraging local businesses to apply for funding support to boost the skills of their workforce. Under the new Industry Skills Fund, businesses can apply for financial support for upskilling and further training of their workforce and/or for skills advice to help identify training…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, Canberra: I want to express my absolute alarm over an action that the Victorian government is considering taking, and that is annulling the compensation payable if they breach the East West contract and doing that through a legislative instrument. This is an extraordinary proposition. Even the discussion of this proposal to legislate away…
The Federal Member for Aston, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, is encouraging Knox locals to have their say on strengthening the rules on foreign investment in residential homes. Mr Tudge has received hundreds of emails and calls from concerned locals about the effect of foreign investment on housing affordability and young families trying to…
The Build the Link campaign has achieved over 11,000 signatures on its online petition within a week calling for Daniel Andrews and the Labor Government to build the East West Link. The Federal Member for Aston, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, along with other colleagues, last week launched the ‘Dan Andrews, Build the Link’ campaign…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, Canberra: I firstly thank members of the House for their contribution to this debate on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition (Sunset Extension) Bill 2015 over the last two days. There have been some very constructive and, in many cases, emotional contributions from members right across the chamber, and I appreciate…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, Canberra: I am pleased to introduce this bill to extend the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Act 2013 for three years, until 28 March 2018. In the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Act 2013, or act of recognition, parliament recognised, for the first time, that the continent and the…