PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: This evening I would like to raise two issues which concern young families. The first is the policies relating to preschools, which are causing three-year-old preschools across Victoria to close down as we speak. The second is childcare centre policies, which are putting up the costs of child care right across Australia.…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: I rise to also speak against this motion. Despite this idea of a sovereign wealth fund gaining some support in influential circles, as the Member for Melbourne pointed out, a sovereign wealth fund should be firmly rejected. The fact that a sovereign wealth fund, at its essence, involves keeping taxes higher in…
Today, the Federal Member for Aston, Alan Tudge MP, invited the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing, to Knox to visit the proposed Headspace site at the Knox City Ozone precinct. Mr Tudge was keen to show Mr Dutton, the proposed new site for the centre, which is still vacant. Mr…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: I also rise to speak on the appropriations bills which are in front of us. I would like to use the opportunity, if I may, to discuss three important national issues which are confronting my electorate. My electorate is in suburban Melbourne. It is very much a middle income electorate, 15 or…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, Canberra: I rise to support the Social Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2011, the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Bill 2011 and the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2011. This is important legislation because it concerns the most disadvantaged people in our society of Australia, and that…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: I also rise to speak against the passage of the Fairer Private Health Insurance Incentives Bill 2011, which I believe will be a dagger through the heart of the private health insurance industry. I commend the Member for Kooyong, who was just speaking, for his remarks, and I associate myself with his…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: I rise to express my concern about changes that the government has made to childcare under the “National Quality Framework”. As of 1 Jan this year, childcare operators had to reduce their staff:child ratios from 5:1 to 4:1. The impact of this has been to dramatically increase the cost of childcare to…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: I rise to speak this afternoon on the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Amendment (Transition to Fair Work) Bill 2011 and to argue passionately against its passage in this parliament. This bill impacts one of the most important sectors in our economy: the building and construction industry. This is an industry which…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: I rise to add my comments to the condolences that we have heard today and yesterday on the passing of Sir Zelman Cowan on 8 December last year, the day that marked the 34th anniversary of his swearing in as Australia’s 19th Governor-General in 1977. Sir Zelman was a true giant in…
Alan Tudge MP, Federal Member for Aston, has called on the Gillard government to reduce small business red tape whilst speaking in the Parliament this week. Mr Tudge said, “The Coalition understands two things in relation to small business. The first is that small business is indeed the backbone of our economy and the second…