Welcome

Earlier this month, I attended a workshop with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.  It was pretty scary stuff, as ICAN talked amount the immense destructive power of the 23000 nuclear weapons across the globe, and the fact that many of these weapons remain on hair trigger alert. Much of the world seems to have forgotten what an enormous risk these weapons represent.

It was great to follow these issues up in Canberra last week, in a meeting with Gareth Evans. He has been leading the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, which has recently released a report that identifies practical steps to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Importantly, Gareth Evan's identifies that, to achieve the goal of a world free of nuclear weapons, we need a more active civil society working to keep governments and global forums accountable. As the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty is being renegotiated this May, it’s a good time to get involved in ICAN.

In other news this week, the ACTU has announced that the union movement is set to make gender pay equity an issue at the next federal election.

Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, this week released the first draft Australian Curriculum for students from Kindergarten to Year 10, in the subjects of English, maths, science and history. You can find out more by visiting the Australian Curriculum Consultation Portal. 

I paid tribute to the enormous contribution of Jock Ferguson to the Western Australian Union movement in the Senate last week.

Best wishes
Louise

On the Hill

Normal 0 false false false EN-AU ZH-TW X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Proceedings in the Senate Chamber this week were dominated by the Coalition's endeavours to drag out the debate on the Government's Fairer Private Health Insurance reform Bills. These important reforms would enable billions of dollars of extra funds to be directed into our public health system by better targeting private health insurance subsidies.

These Bills were the only legislation debated in the Senate this week, as more than 20 Coalition Senators spent hours and hours stating the same case over and over again. It's no surprise that the Opposition, led by the man who ripped a billion dollars out of public hospitals, froze GP places and ignored nurse shortages when he was Health Minister under the Howard government, now believes that just saying 'no' is a health policy.

On Tuesday, we also had the unedifying spectacle of the Greens party moving a motion to censure the Government for failure in the delivery of climate change policy. Labor speakers, Ministers Evans and Wong, and Senator Feeney, were quick to point out the hypocrisy of this position – given the Green's actions last year – when they voted with Coalition climate change sceptics in the Senate to sink the Government's CPRS, the very measure that is most critical to tackling climate change.

The recently released Report on the Sustainable Development of Northern Australia was also the subject of debate this week in the Senate, with the Coalition arguing that the Report was indicative of the Rudd Government's failure to advance development in Northern Australia.

Labor Senators, Crossin, Sterle and McLucas, from Australia's North and West, ably defended the report as a sensible and balanced assessment of the aspirations of Northern Australians and the science on sustainable development in the North – one that draws on the expertise of the CSIRO and others and the views of all the key stakeholders, including the mining and farming sectors, and Aboriginal communities.

In Committee

The Senate Economics Committee is currently taking submissions for two inquiries:

Liquidators and administrators - the committee is examining the role of liquidators and administrators, their fees and their practices, and the involvement and activities of ASIC, prior to and following the collapse of a business. Submissions due 19 February.

Small business finance - the committee is investigating the access of small business to finance, including the cost and availability of both loans and ‘start up' capital. The contribution of small business to economic recovery, competition in the market for small business lending and overseas practices to enhance access to small business finance will also be examined. Submissions due 31 March.

As a member of the Economics Committee, I am happy to discuss any aspect of its inquiries with you, and encourage West Australians with an interest in either of these issues to make a submission.

You can also use this link to make submissions to the following inquiries:

Finance and Public Administration Committee:

Freedom of information Bills – These government bills will make major reforms to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 to promote greater openness and a pro-disclosure culture across government. Submissions are still being received. Report due 16 March.

Native vegetation laws, greenhouse abatement and climate change measures – on the impact of native vegetation laws and legislated greenhouse abatement measures on landholders. Submissions due 5 March.

Community Affairs Committee:

Consumer access to pharmaceutical benefits – submissions due 31 March.

Planning options and services for people with a disability – to ensure their continued quality as they and their carers age. Submissions due 28 May.

A full up-date on the activities of the Senate's Committees can be found here.

Out and About

Uniting Care West - Jenny Macklin the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs had a busy time in Perth last week. I was very pleased to be able visit Uniting Care West's city services with her. The Minister was there to announce funding for emergency relief to support sole parents and young families. It also gave me a chance to see first hand programs delivered by Uniting Care West.

Sustainable Pensions - Louise Durack and I also attended a forum on secure and sustainable Pensions with Minister Macklin. The Minister outlined the significance of the long overdue increase to pensions, including bringing the single pension rate up to two thirds of the couple rate. The Minister's presentation was well received, recognition of the fact that The Rudd Government has acted to make pensioners lives easier.

Guild Volunteer Hub Launched – It was great to get along to O'Day at UWA to see the Guild Volunteer Hub launched. There are a great many university students doing volunteer work. Did you know that Uni Camp Kids is Western Australia's oldest children's charity?

Coorow Shire – Last week I visited Coorow Shire, to acknowledge their work putting a new roof on the Town Hall, reconditioning of the waste facilities at Leeman Recreation Centre and upgrading storage space at the Coorow Swimming Pool.

The Rudd Labor Government contributed $100,000 to these projects through the over $1 billion Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, part of the Australian Government’s Nation Building – Economic Stimulus Plan.

Get Involved

If you are Face Book user you might care to check out the Barnaby's Bungles Face Book Page. It is quite something to read the crazy things that fall out of his mouth and it provides plenty of reasons not to support the Coalition. You might like to contribute some of your own Barnaby gems.

www.facebook.com/group.php

The ALP has launched a new interactive website with regular blogs from Ministers and other MPs as well as all the latest news and links to the PMs Tweets.  Go to www.alp.org.au

A new Face Book page for Labor members and supporters has also be set up at www.facebook.com/LaborConnect.

Stay in-touch

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If you would like to find out more about any of the initiatives or other issues in this edition, please do not hesitate to contact my office: