PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: I rise this afternoon to speak on the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (R 18+ Computer Games) Bill 2012. I would like to say at the outset that this is a bill which I have spent considerable time thinking about, and I have had great difficulty in coming to a…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: One reason for the decline in the number of students studying maths and science is a paucity of maths and science teachers. So it is a great concern to learn that stifling bureaucracy is preventing some truly outstanding graduates from teaching maths and science. Let me give you three examples. Firstly, Justin…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: This year students went back to university to discover that a condition of continuing their studies was a compulsory student services and amenities fee of up to $263. They did not have to pay that fee last year because it was voluntary, as it was for the six years before that. This…
Alan Tudge MP, Federal Member for Aston, attended a special presentation ceremony at Wantirna Heights School today, to congratulate Chelsea Haag for being chosen as School Captain. Mr Tudge said that Chelsea had been chosen because of her leadership qualities that are a credit to her. Chelsea is the first female School Captain at Wantirna Heights School. Wantirna Heights…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: I rise also to speak on the Family Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Bill which is before us. This bill enacts a number of measures, but there are two in particular that I would like to speak on. The first is immunisation requirements and the second concerns the baby bonus. This bill,…
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…
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.…
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…