March 12, 2013
I support the National Disability Insurance Scheme, an inportant issue for local residents and local disability providers such as Bedford Industries, Minda and the Sunedin School. ...
Read more »
February 14, 2013
I raise concerns about the current Government's forecasted attack on superannuation, which many of you have spoken with me about. ...
Read more »
February 11, 2013
I speak on the very important issue of tobacco control in Australia. ...
Read more »
November 28, 2012
I am pleased to support the money for the extra 450 gigalitres of water for the Murray Darling Basin, for permanent environmental water entitlements and for infrastructure improvements.
I have been interested in creating a sustainable Murray the whole time that I have been a member of parliament and I put on record my support for all three of the acts we are currently considering, which represent the culmination of a six-year journey which started in 2007 with John Howard and Malcolm Turnbull.
...
Read more »
November 28, 2012
I call on the Mitcham Council to show leadership on the issue of ongoing maintenance of the Balyana Swimming Pool. ...
Read more »
November 26, 2012
I would like an explanation as to why the Government decided to rename the Divisions of General Practice to Medicare Locals a few years ago, when they had nothing to do with Medicare.
Especially as that decision meant that all 61 of those bodies are now in breach of the Human Services (Medicare) Act, as a result of doing what they were asked by the government.
The simple and prudent fix would have been for the Minister to admit the mistake and change the name of these organisations, particularly when no-one wants the name 'Medicare Local'.
Instead, they have tried to bring this legislation before the parliament to hide their errors ...
Read more »
October 11, 2012
Cost of living is a major concern for people these days and whether the Government wants to admit it or not, the Carbon Tax is putting a lot of pressure on councils, businesses and residents of Boothby.
The Mayor of the City of Onkaparinga has been quoted as stating that the Carbon Tax will cost ratepayers an extra $800,000 a year. Street lighting makes up 70% of the council's electricity bill. They cannot reduce their usage—they have to keep the lights on at night.
The Belair Hotel, when they received their first power bill under the Carbon Tax, saw that their off-peak power rate had increased by 45% due to a carbon adjustment. When the Lakes Resort Hotel got their first post-Carbon Tax electricity bill it cost them an extra $3½ thousand a month. If you are running a hotel there is not much you can do to reduce your electricity.
The CEO of South Australia's Independent Essential Services Commission, when asked if repealing the tax would cut electricity prices, responded, "Yes, and we'd look to make adjustment at that time."
If you want to see electricity prices come down, support the Coalition and our plan to repeal the Carbon Tax. ...
Read more »
September 20, 2012
Disturbingly, there are State government plans to close the acute referral unit at the Repatriation General Hospital. The South Australian Labor government have so grossly mismanaged their budgets that they will risk patient safety by attempting to close this important unit.
I call on the South Australian Minister for Health and Ageing to come clean on the State government's plans for the Repatriation General Hospital and to rule out any further cuts to the invaluable services that they offer. ...
Read more »
September 20, 2012
I welcome home the Australian Olympic and Paralympic teams and to congratulate them on their success at the 2012 London Olympics. ...
Read more »
September 20, 2012
I support the motion seeking to retain the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme on Medicare.
The Labor Party and the Greens propose to close the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme on 30 November. Also, as a result of their announcement, no new treatments will begin after 7 September. There is now a 19-month gap for people with chronic disease, during which they will not have access to treatment.
80 per cent of the services under the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme were for concession card holders. As a result of this government's decision, they will be forced to join the queues and waiting lists in the public system—and there are more than 650,000 on these public waiting lists.
This government is ripping $1 billion from Medicare for dental—a proud achievement. It is an extraordinary day: a Labor Party minister has been the first Minister for Health, since Medicare was introduced in 1983, to have actually slashed Medicare and removed a whole class of patients from Medicare. ...
Read more »