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18 March 2008 CARERS ALLOWANCE AND SENIORS PAYMENT The proposal by the Labor Party to remove bonus payments to Carers and Seniors has created a storm of protest - forcing Kevin Rudd into guaranteeing them for this year at least. For the past four years there has been the expectation that some of the most disadvantaged groups in our community - including Carers and Seniors - should share in the rewards of a booming economy. Tax cuts only benefit those who are working, not those who have contributed in the past. The Coalition Government's payments made a positive difference in people's lives. People have used them in many ways, including modifying cars to be wheelchair accessible, replacing hot water heaters and repairing fridges and broken windows at home. In the Cost of Living Pressures on Older Australians (COLPOA) hearings, witnesses commented how useful these payments have been and how comparatively small amounts have allowed them to maintain their independence. Despite Labor rhetoric, it is the Coalition that has developed the lion's share of the programs that have supported Carers. In Labor's last year in government (1995-1996), a total of $626.304 million (adjusted for 2007 values) in Carer Pensions and Carer Allowance was paid to 157,728 recipients. In 2006-2007 the Coalition committed $2.755 billion to 499,432 in Carer Payment and Carers Allowance. The number of Australians who were able to receive these payments jumped by 316 per cent, and the actual amount paid rose by 440 per cent. The Government has guaranteed tax-free lump sum payments will go to carers and pensioners before July, but has not given assurances about future years. The Rudd Labor Government has also cut $800,000 funding from Bonnie Babes Foundation. The money was to be used to provide a telephone counselling service for up to 25,000 families a year who had experienced a miscarriage or still birth. INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS HEARINGS Following hearing in the past two weeks, the Senate committee for Workplace Relations has now reported on Labor's proposed changes to the Industrial Relations laws. The Coalition senators on the committee - Senators Watson and Fisher and myself - have lodged a dissenting report from the Government report, a document which bizarrely spent more time criticising the Howard-Costello Government than examining the legislation. From evidence taken by the Inquiry it's pretty clear that the bill is poorly drafted and is very likely to have unintended consequences. Australian business wants to retain the flexibility offered by individual statutory agreements, subject to a safety net. The Senate Inquiry heard evidence that collective agreements will not work in many sectors, and many 'mum-and-dad' businesses will re-think the employment of extra staff. Why should only those workers earning high incomes have the luxury of negotiating their own workplace agreement. There are many working mothers, students and older Australians who would love to be able to make arrangements for hours of work and a more stable income stream. In Brisbane last week the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) gave evidence that Local Councils in Queensland could be forced to cut community services if individual employment agreements are abolished. Proposed changes would remove flexibility from workplace arrangements, leading in many cases to closure or restriction of services. One example they gave involved shutting down the only swimming pool in town, as the Council could not afford to pay the operator to run the pool when people wanted to use it. Residents naturally use it more on weekends and before and after work, all of which would mean double and triple time if they had to follow Labor's strict adherence to a standard award. There are a number of other community facilities that would be affected - unfortunately many people on low wages, particularly women with school age children, would not be able to take advantage of flexible working arrangements. As I said after Julia Gillard introduced the legislation in the lower house "The Deputy Prime Minister might think she is dancing on the grave of AWA's - in fact she is dancing on the grave of many Australian small businesses, she is dancing on the grave of council services in the bush and ultimately she is dancing on the grave of the Australian economy." CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCIL CANDIDATES Council elections were held last weekend, and I'd like to recognise the effort put in by many Queenslanders who ran for local government. Today I moved a motion of congratulations in the Senate to Brisbane's Lord Mayor, Campbell Newman, who was not only elected overwhelmingly but will also head up a majority Liberal council. Not only were all Liberal sitting Councillors re-elected, but they'll be joined by Fiona King (Marchant), Nicole Johnston (Tennyson), Krista Adams (Wishart), Angela Owen-Taylor (Parkinson), Ian McKenzie (Holland Park) and Matthew Bourke (Jamboree). There are still three seats on a knife edge, and I wish Vicki Howard (Central), Andrew Wines (Enoggera) and Glen Ryan (Doboy) all the best. On the Gold Coast the mayoral result is still uncertain. However, it appears that the Liberal Team, while coming close in a few areas, is unlikely to capture any Council seats. After 33 years, Queensland's longest serving Labor Council has also had a change of Mayor. Les Tyrell and the candidates from Team Tyrell managed to dislodge former Townsville Mayor Tony Mooney outright. Counting is continuing for the selection of Councillors, but at this stage it appears that he will be joined by a number of other team members. WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY
The date - 21/03 - was chosen to reflect the fact that Down syndrome (Trisomy 21) is caused by a triplification of chromosome 21. The theme for this year is "Aim High Enough". Down syndrome is the most common cause of intellectual disability, generally occurring in one in every 600 to 800 live births. Down syndrome occurs worldwide and is the oldest known intellectual disability. With modern developments in medicine, most of the reasons for people with Down syndrome 'dying young'--heart and respiratory problems-- have been overcome and the vast majority of people with Down syndrome can be expected to live into their late 60s and beyond. Please join me in wearing the Rainbow wristband to mark this day. NATIONAL ACCOUNTS The December Quarter National Accounts have just been released - in essence a final report card on the Howard-Costello government and the Australian economy. Despite attempts to rewrite history by the Labor Party, the actual figures show a well-managed economy with a solid investment in growth and the capacity to ride out any global uncertainty. In the December quarter GDP grew slightly slower at 0.6 per cent to be 3.9 per cent higher over 2007. The household consumption chain price index - the broader inflation measure - grew 0.4 per cent for the quarter to finish 2.6 per cent higher for the year. These were modest increases, with Australia now continuing its longest economic expansion since Federation, hitting its 17th year of uninterrupted economic growth. Unemployment is at its lowest for 35 years with participation rates at record highs. Wages pressure was kept in balance, with the Wage Price Index (ABS) rising by 4.2 per cent in 2007. Real net national disposable income - a measure of how much money we have left in our pockets once the bills are paid - is still growing strongly. Investment by private businesses grew by 0.6 per cent in the December quarter to be 11 per cent higher at the end of the year. with investment in new machinery and equipment growing 3.9 per cent in the last quarter. The Rudd Labor Government has inherited a well-running economy with the ability to withstand global market fluctuations. Whether the economy can withstand Wayne Swan, Anthony Albanese and Kim Carr is another matter. EARTH HOUR In March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2,100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour. The first Earth Hour reduced Sydney's energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which was the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for a year. On March 29, 2008 Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, Chicago, Toronto, Manila, Tel Aviv and hundreds of local councils join Sydney to turn the lights off. To find out more, go to http://www.earthhour.org HUMAN RIGHTS FACTS SHEET
The fact sheets are available at www.humanrights.gov.au/education/hr_explained/index.html and there is also a section for students at www.humanrights.gov.au/info_for_students/index.html
Sue Boyce |
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