Speeches
26/06/2008 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Petrol Prices
My question is Senator Conroy, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Minister, five years ago families were paying 85c a litre for petrol in Melbourne. Today they are paying $1.70 a litre. Petrol prices have doubled in that short time. Is it true that while families are made to suffer from skyrocketing petrol prices, the government is just getting more and more drunk on petrol tax? Is it true that the government tax take on petrol has increased over the last five years by almost 20 per cent to 54c a litre? In other words, is it true that the government has increased its petrol tax take by 8c a litre over the last five years?
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26/06/2008 -SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Rights of the Terminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws
Repeal) Bill 2008
Family First opposes euthanasia and believes that people with suicidal thoughts do not need lethal help but need life-saving assistance. The Rights of the Terminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws Repeal) Bill 2008 is intended to overturn the federal government’s ban on both the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory having laws to allow euthanasia. It also aims to reinstate the Northern Territory’s 1995 euthanasia law.
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26/06/2008 - REPORT (Standing Committee on
Legal and Constitutional Affairs): Rights of the Terminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws
Repeal) Bill 2008
Family First opposes euthanasia and believes that people with suicidal thoughts do not need lethal help but need life-saving assistance. The Rights of the Terminally Ill (Euthanasia Laws Repeal) Bill 2008 is intended to overturn the federal government’s ban on both the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory having laws to allow euthanasia. It also aims to reinstate the Northern Territory’s 1995 euthanasia law.
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24/06/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Assessments and Advertising) Bill 2008
The Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Amendment (Assessments and Advertising) Bill 2008 has a couple of aims, which are to allow advertising of unclassified films and computer games and to allow the industry more influence in the classification of boxed sets of DVDs of programs broadcast on television. Family First is concerned that some of the changes in the bill seem to undermine the involvement of the Classification Board in what otherwise would be its day-to-day work.
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19/06/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008
Governments in Australia have ignored problem gamblers for too long, which is why Family First is introducing the Poker Machine Harm Minimisation Bill 2008. The Productivity Commission estimated that 293,000 people have a significant gambling problem in Australia. A paper published this year in International Gambling Studies stated that more than 50 per cent of regular poker machine users are problem gamblers or at risk of becoming problem gamblers.
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18/06/2008 - REPORT (Standing Committee on
Community Affairs): Alcohol Toll Reduction Bill 2007 (2008)
The abuse of alcohol is a serious problem causing long-term health problems, injury, assults and death. It is estimated to cost Australia $15.3 billion a year. Family First believes that solving the binge drinking problem requires a broad range of approaches, with action required from all levels of government.
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17/06/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Wheat Export Marketing Bill
Family First will be opposing the Wheat Export Marketing Bill 2008 and the Wheat Export Marketing (Repeal and Consequential Amendments) Bill 2008 because most wheat growers want a wheat-marketing system that is owned and controlled by the growers. The single desk has served growers well, so why would we throw it out and leave farmers, and especially small family farms, to the mercy of the big grain-marketing companies? The central aim of these big companies is to maximise their profits for their shareholders, not to serve farmers.
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28/05/2008 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport): PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Portfolio.
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26/05/2008 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration): PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS FOR MINISTERS (CHARTER LETTERS)
Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio.
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15/05/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Budget in reply speech
The Rudd government’s first budget has delivered the promised tax cuts for Australian working families, and families are happy for whatever help they can get to cope with higher interest rates and skyrocketing petrol and grocery prices.
But the government has failed vulnerable Australians: it has failed those on a pension; it has failed families in the outer suburbs and regional areas; it has failed to address short-term inflationary pressures and it has failed to give families a real choice in child care.
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15/05/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Unit Pricing (Easy Comparison of Grocery Prices) Bill 2008
Family First is today introducing the Unit Pricing (Easy Comparison of Grocery Prices) Bill 2008 to enable Australian families to cut their grocery bills by easily comparing grocery items on a per unit basis, then choosing the cheapest. Families are spending hundreds of dollars every fortnight on groceries, and with prices skyrocketing a saving of even a few per cent on the supermarket docket can make a big difference to a family's budget.
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20/03/2008 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Petrol Prices
My question is to the Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs, Senator Sherry. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has been very vocal this week in warning the petrol giants not to take advantage of families by hiking the price of petrol over Easter. Families are concerned that they are always the bunnies when it comes to petrol prices. If there are examples of petrol price gouging over Easter, what confidence can the public have that action will be taken against the petrol companies?
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19/03/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Family First
Two-and-a-half years ago I stood here as Family First’s inaugural senator to explain why there was a need for a political party in Australia called Family First. We all know that big business has a voice in parliament, we all know that the unions have a voice in parliament and we all know that the environment has a voice in parliament, but ordinary Australians, their families and small businesses do not have a strong voice in parliament.
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17/03/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Federalism
Federalism —have you noticed how it is the new buzz word? Nearly every day, someone, somewhere is talking or writing about federalism. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made a lot about federalism, and this week opposition leader Brendan Nelson will speak about federalism in a ‘headland’ style speech from the National Press Club. So federalism must be important. But for all its importance I have a sneaky suspicion that most of us are left wondering what federalism will do for the average Aussie family.
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17/03/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Workplace Relations Amendment (Transition to Forward with Fairness) Bill 2008
Family First wants to get the industrial relations balance right by making sure that workers and their families are not ripped off, that businesses can be competitive and that the economy can continue to grow. Back in 2005, Family First was in fact the first political party to expose the holes in the Howard government's Work Choices laws because we understood the effect this legislation would have on ordinary Australians and their families. That is why Family First voted against Work Choices, because the balance was wrong and workers could be easily ripped off.
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13/03/2008 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Petrol Prices
My question is to Senator Sherry, the Minister representing the Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs. Minister, petrol prices jumped 15c a litre overnight in Melbourne, Sydney and other areas. Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chair Graeme Samuel said, ‘I’m not convinced that I am convinced as to the explanations provided,’ in relation to the explanations of the petrol giants as to why there was such a gap between the international price and the retail price of petrol in December and January. Will the government agree to give the ACCC any reasonable power necessary to get to the bottom of whether there is petrol price gouging in Australia?
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13/03/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Drink Container Recycling Bill 2008
Family First is today introducing the Drink Container Recycling Bill 2008 as an important environmental measure to boost the recycling of drink containers across Australia. Only South Australia operates a container deposit scheme where there is a five cent container deposit that is redeemed when the container is returned for recycling. Other state governments have been slow to act on this issue and Family First believes federal intervention is needed.
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21/02/2008 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Workplace Relations): NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS, PENALTY RATES AND MEAL BREAKS
Employment and Workplace Relations Portfolio.
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19/02/2008 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration): MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIP BREAKDOWN
Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio.
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18/02/2008 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration): 'PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS' FOR MINISTERS
Prime Minister and Cabinet Portfolio.
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18/02/2008 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport): PROTECTING AUSTRALIA'S APPLE AND PEAR INDUSTRY FROM FIRE BLIGHT
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Portfolio.
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14/02/2008 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Latrobe Acquifer
My question is to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Wong. Minister, Family First is very concerned that the Gippsland farmers are disadvantaged by falling water levels in the Latrobe aquifer, mainly due to offshore oil drilling and nearby coalmining. The farmers have been pinning all their hopes on a report commissioned by the federal government to calculate a figure for compensation. Individual farmers have spent as much as $150,000 each in lowering their bores to survive and have been waiting for more than 10 years for action from the previous government. Minister, this report was promised for release by June last year. When will this report be finalised and when will the government compensate farmers for their losses?
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14/02/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008
Family First has today declared war on poker machines with the introduction of the Poker Machine Harm Reduction Tax (Administration) Bill 2008. It is a bold new plan that will see pokies phased out of pubs and clubs and restricted to racetracks and casinos.
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14/02/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Fair Bank and Credit Card Fees) Amendment Bill 2008
Family First is fed up with banks making massive profits while ripping off customers with exorbitant bank penalty fees. That is why Family First is introducing the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Fair Bank and Credit Card Fees) Amendment Bill 2008, to stop banks slugging customers with unreasonable bank penalty fees on their accounts and credit cards.
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13/02/2008 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: National Apology to the Stolen Generations
Today Australia's Parliament will deliver a long overdue apology to Australia’s Indigenous people. It will be an historic and emotional day for many who have waited a long time to hear these words. Saying sorry shouldn’t be so hard. In families, just like in any relationship, we all know that we should be quick to say sorry when we do something wrong and mend any hurt we have caused. It is not about blame. It is about being genuinely sorry that the other person has been hurt, even if the action was unintentional.
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10/10/2007 - SPEECH to The Sydney Institute
"The Clash of Economic Liberalism and Social Conservatism".
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20/09/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Trade Practices (Creeping Acquisitions) Amendment Bill 2007
Family First is introducing the Trade Practices (Creeping Acquisitions) Amendment Bill 2007 to stop big business from acquiring shares or other companies, through buyouts or takeovers, when it has the result of substantially reducing competition. The problem of "creeping acquisitions” is a significant one for small business and the Trade Practices Act has to be strengthened to deal with it.
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19/09/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Alcohol Toll Reduction Bill 2007
Australia has a drinking problem. As a nation, we have a problem with booze, a major problem. Alcohol kills THREE TIMES more Australians than all illicit drugs combined, yet no one in Government or Opposition is serious about tackling our alcohol toll. You see, as a nation, we celebrate alcohol. We drink to celebrate success. We drink to celebrate achievements. We drink to be sociable and to be part of the crowd.
Family First is not anti-alcohol. We know alcohol is a part of life and social drinking is fine. But our culture is one that celebrates alcohol and binge drinking – it is way out of control and we simply must do something about it.
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17/09/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007
Family First is convinced that the Trade Practices Act needs to be strengthened to restore fair trading and competition to Australian markets. The reason we are passionate about this issue is because fair competition delivers the lowest possible prices to families, which are struggling to make ends meet. Sadly, the government’s bill, the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2007, only does part of the job.
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11/09/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Workplace relations
Australians who want to send a protest vote to the government over Work Choices should vote for Family First, because it is the only party standing up for workers and small business. Work Choices will be the number-one election issue and, if the polls are correct, it looks set to cost the government its 11-year reign ...
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05/09/2007 - SPEECH to the ARA National Retail IR Conference, Melbourne
"The Coalition and Labor: Both Flawed Workplace Approaches".
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20/08/2007 - FAMILY FIRST Dissenting Report
Senate Economics Committee report into Private equity investment in Australia
FAMILY FIRST is concerned that the general public can lose out from the shuffling of money, shares and ownership in private equity takeovers. The public can lose because these deals may mean a loss of tax revenue, a loss of competition in a market and in the most extreme
circumstances the failure of a major company.
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18/08/2007 - SPEECH at the launch of Women's Forum Australia's new publication Faking It: The Female Image in Young Women's Magazines
"Body image and sexualisation".
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17/08/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Water Bill 2007
Family First believes Australia needs a plan to help fix the nation's water problems and the key to that is fixing the Murray Darling Basin. That plan needs to strike the right balance between the needs of all water users, including the main water users who are the irrigators.
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16/08/2007 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Apple Industry
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Abetz. Minister, the government has decided to import apples from New Zealand, which has been ravaged by the bacterial disease fire blight. Australian growers want to make sure inspection regimes in New Zealand and Australia are up to scratch to reduce the threat of fire blight. But the Australian government has refused to release that information, which means growers have no way of knowing whether inspection is adequate. Minister, given that our $4.5 billion apple and pear industry and the livelihoods of thousands of farmers are at stake, why is the government refusing to release information on the inspection regimes? Is the government afraid that the industry will find the procedure inadequate to protect Australia from fire blight?
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13/08/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Northern Territory National Emergency Response Bill 2007
Family First will support the government’s emergency response. We cannot as Australians continue to allow this situation to continue. Family First has reservations about some of the changes, but all change is difficult and uncertain and we owe it to the children of Aboriginal communities to try to give them a better future.
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13/08/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Private health insurance
Family First believes the government should retain ownership of Medibank Private for the public good, to ensure affordable health insurance and quality services for Australian families. Family First therefore calls on the government to scrap the Medibank Private Sale Bill and help reverse the trend of private health funds around the country choosing profits over families.
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09/08/2007 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: General Practitioners in Bendigo
My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Ellison. Bendigo is an important regional city of almost 100,000 people, but it has a chronic shortage of GPs. Bendigo only has one GP for every 1,800 people. Minister, what is the government going to do to address the major shortage of GPs so that the families of Bendigo can have good access to medical care?
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01/08/2007 - FAMILY FIRST Additional Comments
Senate Economics Committtee Inquiry into the Provisions of the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No.1) 2007
FAMILY FIRST is convinced that the Trade Practices Act needs to be strengthened to restore fair trading and competition to Australian markets. There is a question as to whether the Government’s proposed changes are adequate.
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01/08/2007 - FAMILY FIRST Dissenting Report
Senate Economics Committee Report on the Provisions of the Trade Practices Amendment (Predatory Pricing) Bill 2007
FAMILY FIRST introduced its Trade Practices Amendment (Predatory Pricing) Bill 2007 because of a concern that anti-competitive conduct like predatory pricing can drive small businesses out of the market, driving up prices for consumers, and that small businesses are particularly vulnerable because of their limited resources.
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21/06/2007 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Telstra
My question is to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Coonan. Minister, over the past few weeks we have seen the fallout of the government’s decision to sell off all of Telstra, which Family First opposed, with the company announcing it will immediately slash 500 jobs as part of its grand slash-and-burn strategy to cull 12,000 jobs over the next three years. I note also that you have publicly condemned Telstra for its actions. Minister, given you led the campaign to sell off Telstra, what do you say to the thousands of Australian workers and their families whose lives will be devastated by these massive job losses?
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21/06/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Fair Bank and Credit Card Fees) Amendment Bill 2007
FAMILY FIRST is fed up with banks making massive profits by ripping off customers with exorbitant bank fees. Australian families are struggling to make ends meet and copping a penalty fee of up to $50 can be a devastating blow. That is why FAMILY FIRST is introducing the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Fair Bank and Credit Card Fees) Amendment Bill 2007, which aims to stop banks slugging customers with unreasonable penalty fees on their accounts and credit cards ...
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21/06/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Overseas Aid, Maternal Health
FAMILY FIRST opposes the diverting of scarce foreign aid funds to abortions because the demands on Australia’s foreign aid money are already so great. It is also important that, as a nation, we question our priorities. Surely we should be doing everything possible to ensure that pregnancy is made safer for women in the Third World. That should be our priority. We should not be focusing on how we can pay for more abortions
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20/06/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT (Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee): Report regarding the final import risk analysis report for apples from New Zealand
FAMILY FIRST is concerned that fire blight could enter Australia following the government’s decision to overturn an 85-year-old ban on the importation of apples from New Zealand, which have been ravaged by bacterial disease ...
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19/06/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Disabled Supplementary Services Payment System
I wish to draw the attention of the Senate to a serious issue relating to a government reform to disability payments which threatens to disadvantage some of the most vulnerable families in Victoria and across Australia. During a tour of regional Victoria, I met with members of the Gippsland Carers Association in Morwell. Some of these carers fear they will be left with no respite once the federal government changes the current disabled supplementary services payment system to a one-size-fits-all inclusion support subsidy ...
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19/06/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Telstra Job Cuts
Over the past few weeks we have seen the devastating fallout of the government’s decision to sell off all of Telstra, which FAMILY FIRST opposed.
Australians expect governments to provide essential services, including telecommunications. Telstra is a service and not just a business. It should be treated as a service—an essential service—and not as a business only, where the bottom line is all that matters. FAMILY FIRST warned that services would be cut to boost profits. We warned that Australians would pay the price for the government treating Telstra as a business only, and what we warned about has come true ...
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18/06/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Trade Practices Amendment (Predatory Pricing) Bill 2007
The Trade Practices Amendment (Predatory Pricing) Bill 2007 will give small businesses much needed protection from a practice that threatens to destroy their livelihood. This practice is employed by some big businesses and is called predatory pricing
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18/06/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Workplace Relations Amendment (A Stronger Safety Net) Bill 2007
The government made a mess of its Work Choices laws and it only has itself to blame. From day one, FAMILY FIRST had serious concerns about the changes, which undermined family life, and we said so. We voted against the legislation because, as we said from the beginning, the government went too far when it removed guarantees for basic conditions for Australian workers—conditions such as overtime, penalty rates and compensation for working on public holidays
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15/06/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Higher Education Legislation Amendment (2007 Budget Measures) Bill 2007
It was about 28 years ago that I first stepped onto a university campus to start my engineering degree. Back then university courses were free. Now of course there are a lot of costs involved in attending university. FAMILY FIRST strongly believes that Australia’s education system—primary, secondary and tertiary—should promote access and fairness. These budget changes will potentially deny access and erode fairness, and that is something FAMILY FIRST cannot support
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14/06/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Pregnancy Counselling (Truth in Advertising) Bill 2006
FAMILY FIRST is strongly opposed to the Pregnancy Counselling (Truth in Advertising) Bill 2006 because it seeks to overturn the current system of pregnancy counselling and replace it with one which pushes agencies to become involved in abortion referrals ...
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14/06/2007 - FAMILY FIRST Additional Comments
Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee's Inquiry into the Workplace Relations Amendment (A Stronger Safety Net) Bill 2007
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14/06/2007 - FAMILY FIRST Dissenting Report
Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Committee's report into the Workplace Relations (Restoring Family Work Balance) Amendment Bill 2007
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10/05/2007 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Workplace Relations
My question is to Senator Abetz, the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. Minister, I refer you to the Industrial Relations Commission’s recent decision that, under Work Choices, a company can sack a worker and readvertise the same job on a much lower salary. The commission revealed that, under Work Choices, it does not have to consider whether a valid reason existed as long as the sacking was for ‘operational reasons’, which is much broader than the ‘operational requirements’ which used to apply. Minister, given that Minister Hockey has publicly expressed alarm and admitted that this was not the intention of the legislation, will the government act to tighten Work Choices to prevent other employers engaging in sham redundancies and sacking Australian workers to save money?
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10/05/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Budget Reply Speech
FAMILY FIRST welcomes initiatives that are good for Australian families and is pleased the government has provided some help for families in this budget. But this budget is a budget of missed opportunities for the Howard battlers. The Howard battlers are the Australian families in the outer suburbs and regional areas who are struggling to make ends meet. They are families reeling from soaring petrol prices as well as increasing grocery costs and electricity and water bills. The government has missed its opportunity to provide real relief to these Australian families where they need it most—at the petrol pump
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10/05/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Environment
With 16 children, the Fielding family was always conscious of the value of money. My parents, George and Shirley, encouraged us to work hard and save money, to take personal responsibility and care for our possessions, and to not waste things. That was the only way my family could make ends meet. These are values Australians have been brought up with, although they have been greatly undermined by our society’s hyperindividualism and hyperconsumerism.
These values underpin FAMILY FIRST’s approach to the environment. FAMILY FIRST is passionate about caring for Australia’s environment
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08/05/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT (Condolences): Senator Jeannie Margaret Ferris
FAMILY FIRST support this condolence motion and offer condolences to the family of the late Senator Jeannie Ferris, particularly to her sons Robbie and Jeremy. Jeannie’s loss is even more difficult for the family because of the subsequent and sudden death of her former husband, Bob Ferris. What really matters in life is family, and families are a great consolation when a loved one dies. I hope Jeannie’s family has found comfort in being with one another and sharing cherished memories of a remarkable woman ...
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29/03/2007- QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Workplace Relations
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Abetz. Why is it that, under Work Choices, more than eight million Australian workers are not guaranteed another day off or a cent extra for working on public holidays such as Anzac Day when their agreements and contracts expire?
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29/03/2007- SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Workplace Relations (Restoring Family Work Balance ) Amendment Bill 2007
The first media release FAMILY FIRST ever issued was about the Government's Work Choices legislation. That release, dated July 27, 2005, raised strong concerns about the Work Choices Bill and warned the changes would undermine family life by forcing workers to fight for basic conditions that were previously guaranteed. FAMILY FIRST voted against the legislation because it removed basic conditions such as overtime, penalty rates, meal breaks and extra pay for working on a public holiday. What FAMILY FIRST warned about almost two years ago has come true ...
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27/03/2007 - MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE : Workplace Relations (First Anniversary of Work Choices)
FAMILY FIRST agrees that the government’s workplace changes have had a negative impact on some Australian families. That is exactly why FAMILY FIRST voted against the changes that were introduced in July 2005. FAMILY FIRST did not need a New South Wales election to tell us what was going on. The polls were saying before the election that it was the No. 1 issue, and FAMILY FIRST predicted that the workplace changes would have a negative impact on some Australian families. But FAMILY FIRST intends to do more than just talk about the problems. FAMILY FIRST is actually going to do something. FAMILY FIRST is introducing a private senator’s bill to protect families, and we look forward to the support of both the coalition and the Labor Party for our legislation ...
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22/03/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT (Personal Explanation): David Hicks
FAMILY FIRST has supported a total of nine motions for a fair trial for David Hicks or his return to Australia. The reason we did not support this one was because Senator Stott Despoja's motion dismisses the US military commission process as a "sham". FAMILY FIRST has concerns about the process but does not agree it is a "sham" ...
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22/03/2007 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Privatisation
My question is to Senator Minchin, the minister representing the Treasurer. Minister, I draw your attention to the UK government’s recent announcement of an inquiry into the loss of tax revenue caused by high-debt private equity buyouts. Minister, given that Australian taxpayers will lose more than $1 billion in revenue as a result of the Qantas takeover, will the Australian government also investigate the massive tax losses from such deals?
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20/03/2007 - FAMILY FIRST DISSENTING REPORT (Senate Standing Committee on Economics): Inquiry into the Qantas Sale (Keep Jetstar Australian) Amendment Bill 2007
Securing Australian jobs for workers and their families is FAMILY FIRST's top priority. That is why FAMILY FIRST introduced the Bill, to protect jobs in Jetstar and other associated entities from being sent overseas.
Australian workers need job security because that ensures their families have peace of mind. FAMILY FIRST was startled at the inquiry to hear Qantas admit "… all jobs within Qantas are under review …"
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20/03/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT (Condolence Motion): Yogyakarta Airline Crash
On behalf of FAMILY FIRST, I support this condolence motion. The most precious people in our lives are our families, and FAMILY FIRST extends its deepest condolences to the families of the five Australians killed in the airline crash in Yogyakarta on 7 March ...
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20/03/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT (Report of Economic Committee): Qantas Sale (Keep Jetstar Australian) Amendment Bill 2007
FAMILY FIRST campaigned strongly against the Qantas takeover for three reasons —jobs, jobs and jobs.
Job security is a huge issue in Australia —it is a major concern for Australian workers and their families —and FAMILY FIRST wants to ensure that jobs stay in Australia and are not sent offshore. Protecting Australian jobs is FAMILY FIRST’s top priority because that gives workers and their families peace of mind.
It is extremely disappointing that the Economics Committee has decided to oppose the Qantas Sale (Keep Jetstar Australian) Amendment Bill 2007. The decision reflects the Government’s lack of commitment to Australian workers and their families as well as Australian jobs ...
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01/03/2007 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Qantas
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Minister, is it true that the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, ASIC, is investigating whether the bidder’s statement for Qantas contains false and misleading statements as to the track record of the bidders?
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27/02/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Qantas Sale (Keep Jetstar Australian) Amendment Bill 2007
FAMILY FIRST believes it is a huge concern that there is nothing to prevent Jetstar being sold off to overseas buyers, and jobs and operations being sent offshore, if the Qantas takeover succeeds. Securing Australian jobs for workers and their families is FAMILY FIRST's top priority. That is why FAMILY FIRST is introducing legislation today to protect Jetstar from foreign ownership and help stop jobs and operations from going offshore ...
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26/02/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Qantas
FAMILY FIRSTis concerned about the planned private equity takeover of Qantas. FAMILY FIRST has revealed that Australians would lose more than $1 billion in tax revenue as a result of the takeover by Airline Partners Australia ...
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14/02/2007 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Economics): AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE 'CHANGE PROGRAM'
Treasury Portfolio
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13/02/2007 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs): FAMILY RELATIONSHIP CENTRES
Attorney General's Portfolio
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12/02/2007 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts): TELEVISION ADVERTISING REGULATION
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio
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12/02/2007 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts): TELEVISION PROGRAM COMPLAINTS
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio
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12/02/2007 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts): INTERNET FILTERING
Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Portfolio
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12/02/2007 - QUESTIONS (Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs): FAMILY RELATIONSHIP CENTRES
Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Portfolio
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06/02/2007 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Suicide
Over the Christmas holiday break I read that euthanasia doctor Philip Nitschke had recently published a suicide manual and that the Attorney-General has asked the Classification Review Board to consider banning this dangerous book. FAMILY FIRSTis pleased the federal government is taking action to ban a book that gives people with suicidal thoughts the information to end their lives. That is not the help they need
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07/12/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT (Economic Committee Report): Petrol Prices in Australia
FAMILY FIRST appreciates the work that has gone into this report, but it will make no difference to the lives of ordinary Australian families. As FAMILY FIRST said when the inquiry was announced, it is just a stunt to take attention away from the lack of Government action on petrol prices ...
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07/12/2006 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Trade Practices Act
My question is to the Minister representing the Treasurer. Minister, when will the government be honouring its commitment to strengthen section 46 of the Trade Practices Act to protect small business from anticompetitive conduct?...
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06/12/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No.4) Bill 2006
What a rort. The Tax Laws Amendment (2006 Measures No. 4) Bill 2006 would exempt foreign residents from paying capital gains tax unless they are selling what are called ‘real property assets’ or taxable Australian property ...
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05/12/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Work and Family
Australian families are being damaged because we put too much emphasis on ourselves as individuals and not enough on our families. Never before has materialism and self-interest been cultivated to the extent it is now. This is the result of a market driven approach adopted by both major parties. FAMILY FIRST supports free enterprise, not unfettered free markets. In our market driven world we are constantly told that we are individuals and that we have choices ...
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04/12/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Medibank Private Sale Bill 2006
FAMILY FIRST believes the government is selling out Australian families by selling Medibank Private ...
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30/11/2006 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Fall in average weekly earnings because of WorkChoices
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Abetz. Australian families want to feel financially safe and secure. Is the minister aware that, except for Western Australia, the latest statistics show the average weekly earnings are not keeping up with inflation? ABN AMRO’s chief economist is reported as saying this is because Work Choices has been ‘reducing the bargaining power of workers’.
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29/11/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Independent Contractors Bill 2006
Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment (Independent Contractors) Bill 2006
FAMILY FIRST is the true champion of workers and their families. FAMILY FIRST is proud of the fact that we were the first party to point out that, under the Government's anti-family WorkChoices bill, workers on agreements or contracts would no longer be guaranteed public holidays, meal breaks and overtime. Australian workers and their families want to feel safe and secure. Job security is a huge issue ...
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27/11/2006 - FAMILY FIRST Dissenting Report
Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee
Inquriy into the Medibank Private Sale Bill 2006
1.1 FAMILY FIRST believes the government is selling out Australian families by selling Medibank Private. Profits should not come before families ...
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09/11/2006 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: Hazelwood Power Station
My question is to Senator Minchin, the Minister representing the Treasurer. Minister, last month the Treasurer announced federal funding for a $360 million project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at Victoria’s Hazelwood power station, with construction to start next year. The Victorian government is also funding the project. Despite this, others are calling for Hazelwood, which supplies up to one quarter of Victoria’s power, to be shut down. Minister, what would be the effect of shutting down Hazelwood power station, in the Latrobe Valley, which employs more than 500 people?
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06/11/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Prohibition of Human Cloning for Reproduction and the Regulation of Human Embryo Research Amendment Bill 2006
FAMILY FIRST wants cures as much as anyone else. FAMILY FIRST wants scientists to find cures to all manner of debilitating diseases. I cannot stress that enough. However, it is wrong to peddle false hope to some of the most vulnerable members of our community that cures are imminent. And it is disturbing that so many people are doing so. As world-renowned stem cell expert Professor James Sherley said recently: "The idea that research on human embryos will yield an amazing medicine chest of new cures for debilitating diseases of children and adults is a myth. Nothing could be further from the truth." ...
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30/10/2006 - ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Inquiry into the Legislative responses to Recommendations of the Lockhart Review
FAMILY FIRST wants cures as much as anyone else. FAMILY FIRST wants scientists to find cures to all manner of debilitating diseases. However, the evidence presented to the Committee has reinforced FAMILY FIRST's concerns about the Lockhart Committee's report and reinforced our view that cloning human embryos will not produce the cures we all desire ...
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18/10/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2005
FAMILY FIRST’s priority is small business. That is why FAMILY FIRST supports the Trade Practices Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2005. Small business groups across Australia want these numerous changes. One of these changes allows easier collective bargaining for small businesses. The bill also gives more power to the ACCC, not less ...
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17/10/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Millennium Development Goals
FAMILY FIRST was pleased to attend the Stand Up Against Poverty event earlier this week sponsored by the Make Poverty History group. It was great to see so many people on the front lawns of Parliament House supporting such a worthwhile cause. Like many Australian families, my family – my wife Sue and I and our three kids – sponsor a person in a third world country. He is a young man I am proud of - an Ethiopian man named Abdurahman ...
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11/10/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT:
Broadcasting Services Amendment (Media Ownership) Bill 2006
Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television) Bill 2006
Communications Legislation Amendment (Enforcement Powers) Bill 2006
Television Licence Fees Amendment Bill 2006
The issue of media ownership has been a difficult one for FAMILY FIRST to resolve. Each media organisation has a different position on this legislation based on their own commercial interests. These are the loud voices that we politicians hear. But too often the views of ordinary Australians and their families are not considered ...
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14/09/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: EUTHANASIA Suspension of standing orders to debate the motion " That the Senate supports the right of Australians to die with dignity"
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14/09/2006 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: AUSTRALIAN MADE PRODUCTS
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11/09/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: PETROLEUM RETAIL LEGISLATION REPEAL BILL 2006
FAMILY FIRST believes the Petroleum Retail Legislation Repeal Bill 2006 will not ensure the lowest possible petrol prices for families and small businesses. That is why FAMILY FIRST will be moving amendments to the bill to ensure that no company selling petrol can own or operate more than 25 per cent of petrol retail sites ...
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7/09/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT on the Report of the Community Affairs Legislation Committee on the Transparent Advertising and Notification of Pregnancy Counselling Services Bill 2005
The committee’s report revealed that the bill is an ideological attack on a group of largely voluntary community groups that have a conscientious objection to referring women for abortions. The bill is targeted at organisations that do not share Senator Stott Despoja’s view on abortion. The bill’s central concern is whether organisations refer for abortion, not whether they offer quality counselling or whether they offer women support to have a child ...
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17/08/2006 - QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE: PETROL PRICES
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17/08/2006 - FAMILY FIRST ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee inquiry into the Transparent Advertising and Notification of Pregnancy Counselling Services Bill 2005
The Transparent Advertising and Notification of Pregnancy Counselling Services Bill 2005 would have numerous effects, the most serious of which are ...
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14/08/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: RESTRUCTURING THE SENATE COMMITTEE SYSTEM
The government is proposing to combine the Senate legislation and references committees so they chair each and every committee. That means they will control all the Senate committees and the work that committees do. FAMILY FIRST believes that the changes being made by the government are an abuse of power ...
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10/08/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: Documents: Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 and Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002
Just three years after the Australian parliament passed legislation banning the cloning of human embryos, a new report has called for the cloning of human embryos for research, and that is the Lockhart paper ...
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21/06/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: FAMILY FIRST SAYS FAMILY LIFE STALLS WHEN POLITICIANS CALL - Do Not Call Register Bill 2006
Everyone hates unwanted calls, whether they be from someone trying to sell a new connection to a telco, flog a so-called free trip to the Bahamas or do a survey – which we're always told will only take a few minutes! But surely the most annoying calls of all would be from politicians or political parties. Who wants to be preparing the dinner or getting the kids off to bed and get harassed by politicians chasing votes or pollsters chasing opinions? ...
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13/06/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: CHILD SUPPORT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (Reform of the Child Support Scheme – Initial Measures) Bill 2006
FAMILY FIRST supports a fairer system for child support and believes the Child Support Legislation Amendment (Reform of the Child Support Scheme—Initial Measures) Bill 2006 is a step in that direction. The Bill implements a number of the recommendations of the report of the Parkinson Ministerial Taskforce set up in 2004 to examine the child support scheme and how it can be improved .. .
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15/06/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: FAMILY FIRST SAYS NO TO GAY MARRIAGE
FAMILY FIRST strongly opposes the ACT's Civil Unions Act 2006. For this reason we also strongly oppose the disallowance of the instrument disallowing the Civil Unions Act 2006 .. .
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23/05/2006 - QUESTIONS (Budget Estimates, Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Legislation Committee): PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM INTERNET PORNOGRAPHY
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11/05/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: BUDGET
Ordinary Australian families will be grateful for whatever help they get from this Budget. At a time when they are battling with high petrol prices and an increase in interest rates, everything helps. But the fact is, they haven't got as much help out of this Budget as they could have got.
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27/03/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: FAMILY LAW AMENDMENT (Shared Parental Responsibility) BILL 2005
Family First recognises, and honours, the unique and irreplaceable role of mothers and fathers. Parents have the most important, and the toughest, job of all – raising children. They have the primary responsibility for nurturing, raising and educating their children, who are our nation's future. As a society, we should do everything we can to support parents in this vital role. Family First salutes them.
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16/02/2006 - QUESTIONS (Additional Budget Estimates, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee): SUPPORT FOR WOMEN PREGNANT UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES
Health and Ageing Portfolio
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16/02/2006 - QUESTIONS (Additional Budget Estimates, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee): THERAPEUTIC GOODS ADMINISTRATION RE RU486
Health and Ageing Portfolio
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15/02/2006 - QUESTIONS (Additional Budget Estimates, Senate Economics Legislation Committee): AUSTRALIAN TAXATION OFFICE CHANGE PROGRAM
Treasury Portfolio
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15/02/2006 - QUESTIONS (Additional Budget Estimates, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee): NATIONAL AGENDA FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD
Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Portfolio
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15/02/2006 - QUESTIONS (Additional Budget Estimates, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee): SUPPORT FOR WOMEN FACING DIFFICULT PREGNANCY
Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Portfolio
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15/02/2006 - QUESTIONS (Additional Budget Estimates, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee): FAMILY IMPACT STATEMENTS
Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Portfolio
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8/02/2006 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: THERAPEUTIC GOODS AMENDMENT (Repeal of Ministerial Responsibility for Approval of RU486) BILL 2005
Everyone has an opinion about abortion; it's one of those controversial issues that sparks great community debate.
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9/12/2005 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: VOLUNTARY STUDENT UNIONISM BILL
This issue has been a vexed one for me and for Family First.
I have looked at this issue on its merits and I genuinely believe the argument can
run both ways – to retain compulsory student union fees or abolish them.
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8/12/2005 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS SAFETY NET BILL
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Safety Net Bill is another piece of legislation which shifts health costs to Australian families. My principle concern is that the Bill, when combined with other measures, will lead to significant increased health costs for families and individuals.
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8/10/2005 -SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: MEDICARE SAFETY NET BILL
The Health Insurance Amendment (Medicare Safety-nets) Bill breaks one of the Federal Government's major commitments at the last federal election, when it said it would keep the lower safety net thresholds. Breaking major promises – and so soon after the election – reinforces people's low regard for, and distrust of, politicians and the political process.
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8/12/2005 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: COMMONWEALTH RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT BILL
Nobody wants to have radioactive waste stored near them. However the reality is that we need to find somewhere to store it because nuclear technology has become an indispensable part of our lives.
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5/12/2005 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: ANTI-TERRORISM BILL
One of the things that we believe distinguishes Australia from most other countries and makes Australia the best place in the world to live and raise a family is our lifestyle. Australia is not like other parts of the world.
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5/12/2005 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: WELFARE TO WORK BILL
Let me make it clear where Family First stands. Family First does not believe in the welfare state; Family First believes that those people on welfare who can work should work and that those who are caring for their children should be parents first and workers second. The Welfare to Work bills are all about trying to get the balance between personal responsibility and community obligations right.
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1/12/2005 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: WORK CHOICES (CHANGES TO WORKPLACE RELATIONS SYSTEM) BILL
I am not one of those who think the world is perfect or we cannot improve the way we do things. Equally, I do not think change for the sake of change is necessarily good. If we are going to elevate a proposed change to the status of a reform we need criteria for doing so.
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11/11/2005 - SPEECH TO FAMILY FIRST ANNUAL CONFERENCE,
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, May I begin first by thanking Family First in South Australia for inviting me to speak to you today. May I also take the opportunity to pay tribute to the person who is responsible for us all being here today – The Hon. Andrew Evans MLC.
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3/11/2005 - QUESTIONS (Additional Budget Estimates, Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Estimates): FAMILY IMPACT STATEMENTS
Families & Community Services Portfolio
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12/10/2005 - SPEECH TO AUSTRALIAN FAMILY ASSOCIATION, ACT
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
Thank you for extending to me the privilege of speaking to you.
I say privilege because those who take an interest not only in family issues, but in cultural issues generally, are indebted to the AFA, and to the late Bob Santamaria in particular, for the contribution...
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11/10/2005 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: TRADE PRACTICES BILL
Late last year the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission made significant changes to streamline and improve its processes for approving mergers. The ACCC adopted International Competition Network guidelines on timeframes, information requirements and releasing reasons for its decisions.
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4/10/2005 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: CONDOLENCE MOTION - BALI BOMBING
On behalf of the Family First Party I would like to offer my condolences to the families of those Australians who were killed in the terrorist attack in Bali on the weekend, as well as to the families of the other victims from Indonesia and other countries. At these times it is difficult to fully express our horror at such events.
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15/9/2005 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: TRUTH IN FOOD LABELING BILL
Family First supports honest, accurate and prominent labelling of food products because this allows consumers to make informed decisions about what they buy. Labelling makes retailers and manufacturers accountable for what they serve up to consumers.
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14/9/2005 - SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT: TELSTRA (Transition to Full Private Ownership) BILL 2005
Mr President, at the outset may I say that for the record one of my brothers is an executive in Telstra—though, as I have learned in the last few weeks, that doesn’t mean that I am not as much in the dark as everybody else when it comes to knowing what goes on in Telstra.
Family First is disappointed that the Government, which claims to be a champion of the family, is refusing to tell families how selling the rest of Telstra will affect them.
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10/08/2005 - FIRST SPEECH TO PARLIAMENT
Mr President
I am a proud Australian family man who comes to this Parliament with a sense of awe and excitement but also humility.
This is an historic occasion.
Family First is a new political party and I am its first federal...
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20/07/2005 - SPEECH TO PARKER AND PARTNERS LUNCH IN SYDNEY
To our host Andrew Parker, my parliamentary colleagues, ladies and gentlemen I grew up in a family of 16 kids in Melbourne’s northern suburbs – so I guess it was inevitable I’d stand for a party called Family First.
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