I rise to speak in support of the Schools Assistance Amendment (Financial Assistance) Bill 2011. This is an important bill and broadly speaking it is a good bill. It is important because it concerns the largest and most significant part of our education system—the school education system—and because it concerns the funding that they receive…
A little over a week ago a significant announcement was made in my electorate by the Victorian transport minister—that is, that the Rowville rail feasibility study would soon be underway. The Rowville rail project has been talked about for decades, but we have never got traction on it and now we finally will. With a…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: Mr TUDGE (Aston) (10.49 am)—In 2007 the Howard government introduced a new, school based program called the National School Chaplaincy Program. This program provides up to $60,000 over three years to each school to enable them to employ a school chaplain at their school. The program has been, as you may be…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: Mr TUDGE (Aston) (1.23 pm)—I rise to oppose the Tax Laws Amendment (Temporary Flood Reconstruction Levy) Bill 2011 and the Income Tax Rates Amendment (Temporary Flood Reconstruction Levy) Bill 2011, and I do so as a member of an outer metropolitan seat in Melbourne in which families and members of the community…
PUBLISHED THE ABC WEBSITE. The Prime Minister’s 2011 “Closing the Gap” Statement was passionately delivered earlier this month, but her fine words could not disguise the fact that there is little evidence of progress, and no convincing plan, that gives us hope that next year’s Statement will be any different to this year’s or the…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: Mr TUDGE (Aston) (7.03 pm)—I rise to support the motion of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition with regard to the recent floods and other natural disasters throughout Australia, including my own state of Victoria. This summer, more than any other in memory, has wrought devastation throughout our nation…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: Mr TUDGE (Aston) (9.50 pm)—I rise to speak about the urgent need for better youth mental health services in my electorate of Aston in outer eastern Melbourne. I raise this in the parliament because I believe it is one of the most urgent needs in my electorate. As you would be aware,…
I recently met with Naomi Bravery and her staff at Direct2Care located at Knox O-Zone, who connect seniors and their family members or carers, with a full range of aged care services that best suit their individual needs. Direct2Care is designed to help older people find and access the services they need to live fuller,…
PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA: Mr TUDGE (Aston) (11.40 am)—I rise to join the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the condolence motion in honour of Corporal Richard Atkinson, who was tragically killed in action by a roadside bomb on 2 February 2011. At just 22 years of age, Corporal Atkinson was on his…
The Salvation Army Worship and Mission Centre was officially opened and dedicated by Colonel Peter Walker, Chief Secretary for the Salvation Army Southern Territory, alongside guest speakers, Alan Tudge MP, Federal Member for Aston, and Nick Wakeling MP, State Member for Ferntree Gully. The new Centre, located at 16-18 Kingsley Place, Rowville, will be a…