I believe the Rudd Labor Government will be relying far more than they would like on the Coalition for the development and passage of sensible policies in the new Senate.

In some sectors, there’s a popular belief that Labor will now control the Senate but that’s far from the reality. In the new Senate, which formally began on July 1 and meets for the first time at the end of August, there will be 37 Coalition senators, 32 Labor, 5 Greens, 1 Family First and 1 independent.

Labor will need all seven votes of the Greens on the left and the more conservative Stephen Fielding and Nick Xenophon to pass any legislation which we oppose. The Greens have yet to demonstrate any ability to negotiate sensible policy - despite the Garnaut Report, shutting down the coal industry still doesn’t seem a viable option - and only rarely agree with Stephen Fielding, generally on social policy.

Over time, I believe Labor will find it more productive to negotiate with the Liberals. The Liberal Senate leader, Senator Nick Minchin, has already announced that we will be a “constructive Opposition” ready to negotiate the passage of any “worthwhile policy initiatives”.

The end of the Coalition-dominated Senate on June 30 saw the retirement of 14 senators, including all four Australian Democrats. From the Coalition side, the retirees included Senator John Watson (Tas), the ‘father’ of the Senate; Senator the Hon Kay Patterson (Vic); and Senator the Hon Rod Kemp (Vic).

And whilst the Labor Government tries to develop the myth that the Coalition used its Senate majority to stifle debate and to ram unpopular legislation through, the statistics tell a different story. In Government, our record included the abolition of taxes on superannuation earnings, the passage of legislation to introduce welfare-to-work reform, the sale of Telstra, reform of media ownership laws, the introduction of voluntary student unionism and the instigation of the Northern Territory Intervention.

The NT Emergency Response legislation alone generated 27 hours of debate.

Despite Labor’s claims that the Coalition bypassed the Senate committee referral process, the number of referrals under the Coalition actually increased.

In many ways this will be a beginners’ Senate with 46 of the 76 senators (including me) having served one term or less. Combined with the Rudd Government’s inexperience, it should make for some interesting times!

LAUNCH OF SHOPSMART WITH CALCU-KATE !

On Sunday I launched a new website called ShopSmart with a guide to grocery prices in Queensland.

The website, www.shopsmart.sueboyce.com.au introduces Calcu-Kate and a unit pricing matrix making it easier for shoppers to work out cheaper options based on price per unit.

The site also offers a range of money-saving tips and financial literacy information.

When he was in Opposition, Treasurer Wayne Swan intermittently ran a price watch survey for the residents of Lilley, but it seems to have disappeared since he became responsible for Australia’s economy. Now the Labor Government is proposing to spend $13 million setting up a website to watch grocery and food prices and we don’t know when this will be available.

I decided to keep Mr Swan’s survey going for him. We've expanded it to cover Cairns, Gladstone, Toombul and Logan and improved the information available. Watching prices won’t change them but consumers may have the opportunity to pick up some bargains and shop smarter.

The survey has already thrown up some surprises. I wouldn’t have expected our shopping basket to be cheaper in Gladstone than in Brisbane.

If you have 10 minutes free once a month and would like to become a volunteer ShopSmart shopper, please contact my office on (07) 3510 3100 (freecall 1300 301 924) or email shopsmart@sueboyce.com.au.

DOWN SYNDROME ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND

At a recent Down Syndrome Association of Queensland function, I called for the abolition of special schools and the redistribution of all their resources to mainstream schools to support the education of children with disabilities.

There are many good inclusive mainstream schools but, in my view, if mainstream schools had no option but to accept children with disabilities, they would concentrate on how to make it work, not how to avoid getting involved.

It’s only 40 or so years ago that the vast majority of people with disabilities weren’t considered educable at all.

My view has generated an enormous amount of comment with calls and emails both for and against, although there haven’t been as many opponents to the move as I anticipated.

One of the most common reasons that opponents have given is that children with disabilities would be bullied in mainstream schools. Given the current debate on the level of bullying in schools, it’s pretty clear that it’s not just children with disabilities who are bullied in school and that it’s the system that needs fixing.

DSAQ BUDDY WALK

The DSAQ has also announced a 3 km Buddy Walk, aimed at raising positive awareness of Down Syndrome and promoting acceptance and inclusion of people with Down Syndrome.

It will take place on Sunday, October 12, at New Farm Park in Brisbane.

WORD OF THE WEEK - TECHNACY

The Senate supported a long overdue recognition of the role played by many Papua New Guinea nationals during World War II. The Koiari people (sometimes referred to as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels) carried supplies and equipment for Australian soldiers in the Kokoda campaign as well as bringing wounded Australian soldiers to safety.

This assistance was provided at significant risk, but the Kokoda campaign stopped the advance of Japanese forces into Port Moresby and effectively ended the push into Australia.

Labor Government Budget cuts in May continue to reduce our ability to be the 'clever country'.

The Commercial Ready Scheme, started by the Coalition government, offered grants to small companies to help bring products to market. It offered funding on a dollar-for-dollar basis with private enterprise.
The Government decided on April 28 that no new Commercial Ready grant applications would be accepted or processed, but this was only announced on May 13.

In the meantime, an estimated 71 applications were being considered and more were being prepared. The Government allowed the panel in charge of approving applications to continue discussing submissions from April 28 to May 13 with no advice about the imminent decision to axe the initiative. One venture capital fund had three businesses with submissions being considered at the advantage stage, and the fund's managing director, who didn't want to be named, said its businesses had taken a double blow as other investors had withdrawn because the Commercial Ready funding had been pulled.

CRCs, or Cooperative Research Centres, also appear to be on shaky ground. The CRC program is designed to turn "Australia’s scientific innovations into successful new products, services and technologies, making our industries more efficient, productive and competitive." The 2007 selection round has been postponed until an "innovation review" has been completed, and so far it appears that the most significant task undertaken at this review has been the construction of a cartoon gallery. Meanwhile, Australia's research community waits for some indication of their future.

Funding for Landcare has been cut by 20 per cent, and hundreds of regional conservation projects are being wound up.

Two of Australia's most successful marine conservation organisations, SeaNet and the Marine Coastal Community Network will not receive any more funding, despite their successful records. Ironically the Marine Coastal Community Network, which had 10,000 volunteers working on ocean and coastal conservation projects, received one of Australia's top environmental awards, the Gold Banksia, for increasing public involvement in marine conservation.

A marine biologist at James Cook University, Dr Alastair Birtles, said it was ''almost inconceivable'' the network had been forced to fold at an ''absolutely critical time in Australia's history when the pressures on coastal and marine environments have never been greater''. The network, which had substantial input into developing Australia's oceans policy and the national network of marine protected areas, hopes to attract private sector funding.

The CSIRO's budget was effectively cut by $63.4 million over four years in the federal budget, resulting in more than 100 jobs being lost. At the time, Senator Carr said the Government had to make tough decisions in its "war on inflation".

Programs affected include:
• a $3 million program for the research vessel Southern Surveyor to study deep ocean conditions.
• A 25% staff cut to the 40-member Secure Australia quarantine program
• closure of agricultural research facilities at Rockhampton and Merbein (near Mildura).

Sir Gustav Nossal, one of Australia's most eminent scientists and a former Australian of the Year, has criticised the decision to close a CSIRO horticulture laboratory in north-western Victoria, saying the "clever country is shooting itself in the foot".

AS EVERY GOOD TREKKIE KNOWS...

‘Seven of Nine’ is the only known element of the virulently collectivist evil known as The Borg to develop sufficient abilities to co-exist with humans. Despite their mindless catchcry ‘Resistance is Futile’, The Borg have been consistently vanquished by human ingenuity.

CAN YOU HELP KATE'S FAMILY?

Queensland police hold grave concerns for Brisbane woman Kate Mooney, who has been missing since June 20. Ms Mooney's car was found in the Gold Coast hinterland. Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Gray says Ms Mooney was suffering from depression.

Police say the 59-year-old, who lives at Coorparoo on Brisbane's southside, arranged to visit her brother on the Gold Coast on June 20 and never arrived. Worried family reported her missing the next day. Ms Mooney's locked car was found at Wongawallan in the Gold Coast hinterland and an extensive search of surrounding bushland has found no trace of her.

If you have seen Kate or have any information regarding her whereabouts please contact your local Police station or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

FEEDBACK

Thanks once again for your feedback. It's important to know what your thoughts are on the various issues, and I believe it is important to have these discussions.

"Congratulations on your Queensland On-Line. It is always worth reading and interesting and informative." NT

"You and I may disagree on the merger issues, however, I am totally with you on the issue of financial education. I have said for many years, particularly as a candidate that we need to be teaching our kids financial literacy." TS

"Thanks for this month's updates on current issues in the party and PM Rudd's activities and policy blunders." RH

"Appreciate your efforts to inform." PE

"Once again you have outdone yourself with your "report to the troops". Thanks for the interesting, and informative revelations on the Budget, as well as on the the native areas TV and permit system problems. Keep up the good work, and I look forward to your next "Queensland on line"." CD