* Rudd sinks the boot into carers
* Abbott Doorstop - Labor's Carer's Payment Cut
* Labor must tell Veterans' why they will scrap the Carers Bonus
* Nelson Doorstop - Carer payments, Mark Vaile and Mersey Hospital
* Labor Spends Millions on Dead Tree and Dinosaurs, Nothing on Carers
* Working families the losers as Medicare Dental gets the axe
* International Women's Day - "We have to do more"
* Bushranger Conroy's sham support for Telco Review Committee
* Another outstanding success for Immigration officers and the Aust Federal Police
* Tourism White Paper working with international visitor expenditure up 10 pc
* No trees being saved by Labor's PNG carbon partnership
* Albanese humiliated on Friday sittings back-down
===
Does anyone yet know the detail of any policy of Mr Rudd? Anyone?
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Rudd and His Policy
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RUDD SINKS THE BOOT INTO CARERS
Senator Cory Bernardi
Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Community Services
Carers deserve respect and recognition for their hard work, not a kick in the guts by Kevin Rudd, said Senator Cory Bernardi, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Community Services.
Senator Bernardi said that the Rudd Government has shown how low it will go today by scrapping annual bonuses to carers in an effort to curb inflation, and warns that this is only the start.
“Mr Rudd decided disability funding was not a ‘fashionable issue’ that would land him the headlines, therefore it wasn’t worth focusing on.
“Don’t worry about the 400,000 people affected, whose selfless acts help keep our society functioning and save Australia billions is additional health spending!
“So much for taking care of working families. The greatest threat facing Australia today is the soulless government attacking those who can least afford it.
“Conservative estimates show that carers save our economy $16 billion annually, delivering 74 per cent of all services to people needing care and support,” Senator Bernardi said.
“The Rudd Government said through the election that they would honour the Coalitions commitment for payments to carers.
“This is only the start of the barrage of slash and burn government decisions that will stab at the heart of Australia.
“Unfortunately for Rudd, there is no way to spin his way out of ripping money out of the hands of the disabled. His attempt at blaming it on inflation is a cop-out.
“As Mr Rudd said himself, the buck stops with him.”
ABBOTT DOORSTOP - LABOR'S CARER'S PAYMENT CUT
The Hon Tony Abbott MHR
Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs and the Voluntary Sector
E&OE
Tony Abbott:
Look, I think reports that the Rudd Government is not going to pay the carers bonus this year are despicable. I think this is a bonus that the carers of Australia have come to expect. They’ve had bonuses of up to $1600 in the last four Budgets thanks to the good economic management of the former Howard Government. The idea that the Rudd Government should scrap this without saying anything about it during the election campaign is going to leave carers feeling ripped off and betrayed. I accept that it’s important to maintain the fight against inflation. But the idea that carers, who are some of the most vulnerable people in this country, should be front and centre in the fight against inflation is just wrong. And for the government to say “we need an even bigger surplus, therefore we are cutting bonuses to carers” is using carers as human shields in the war against inflation. It just shouldn’t happen. Kevin Rudd used to describe John Howard’s Australia as some kind of Brutopia. Well, who’s running Brutopia now?
Journalist:
The Government has sort of given us a statement saying they understand the difficulties faced by carers, which is why they are extending the Utilities Allowance. But they’re saying that the carer’s payments were one off payments and never, sort of, forecast in the Budget. Does an increase of $500 a year of the Utilities Allowance cut it?
Tony Abbott:
Well, the former Howard Government promised an increase in the Utilities Allowance and the former Rudd Opposition said “me too.” But the Howard Government had a track record of giving carers up to $1600 a year, each Budget as a bonus. Carers have a right to a fair deal from the Government. If you could give carers $1600 a year when there was a $12 billion surplus, surely you could continue to give carers this extra money with a $20 billion extra surplus. Now, what kind of economic dunces are the new Government if they can’t work out that if a $12 billion surplus justified these bonuses, a $20 billion surplus even more strongly justifies these bonuses.
Journalist:
What is the cost to our economy, if carers don’t do the job they are doing in caring for their loved ones and the health system has to pick up the slack?
Tony Abbott:
Look, that’s absolutely right. There are 400,000 carers in this country and most of those carers are keeping people out of institutions. Now, it costs tens of thousands of dollars to put a person into an institution. Each one of these carers is saving tax payers an enormous amount of money. And it just seems utterly niggardly and unfair not to pay these modest bonuses.
Journalist:
Carers this morning were telling talkback radio that this money that they spend - the $1600 goes on things like extra medication and things really vital – things that they need.
Tony Abbott:
That’s absolutely right. Carers are doing it tough. The former Government paid these bonuses as a way of including them in the general economic prosperity of these times. It was a way of including vulnerable people and giving them some kind of an economic dividend from the prosperity of the last decade or so. Now the Rudd Government wants to shut them out. I just think it’s extremely unfair. They don’t deserve this. They deserve a fair deal from government and they’re not getting it.
Journalist:
Do you think it’s partly not just the money they’re getting, but the fact that four years ago they were actually recognised with special payments for them?
Tony Abbott:
Well, certainly carers often feel undervalued and under recognised and I think there was something special in saying: “Look, you do something for everyone. You take a heavy burden off societies back and here’s something special for you.” So I certainly think there was that element of recognition and I guess that makes this blow doubly cruel. Not only are they losing the money but they’re losing the recognition as well.
Journalist:
Thanks a lot for that Tony. I appreciate it.
Tony Abbott:
Ok. Thanks so much.
LABOR MUST TELL VETERANS' WHY THEY WILL SCRAP THE CARERS BONUS
The Hon Bronwyn Bishop MP
Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Bronwyn Bishop has called on the Government to explain why they will be scraping the carer’s bonus, which will impact the Veterans community.
Mrs Bishop said that the Rudd Labor Government were elected on the basis of protecting working families and Australia’s most vulnerable, yet they have taken the axe to Carers and their families.
“Its clear that Labor will say or do anything to get elected, Mrs Bishop said.
“This will take away the bonus from Carers of veterans particularly our Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) and Extremely Disabled (EDA) Veterans.
“It’s time for Mr Rudd to come clean with Australian Veterans and tell them, why the $1600 bonus is not deserved under a Labor Government.
“Australia’s Veterans and their carers need certainty, not just lip service from a government, who promised veterans a fair deal.
“This is yet another broken promise.”
ALBANESE HUMILIATED ON FRIDAY SITTINGS BACK-DOWN
The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
Shadow Minister for Justice & Border Protection
Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Immigration & Citizenship
Anthony Albanese has today been forced into a humiliating back-down from Parliament’s Friday sittings, Opposition Justice and Border Protection Spokesman Christopher Pyne said today.
“Mr Albanese has finally heeded the concerns I outlined in my speech to the House on Thursday 21st February when I pointed out that the proposed Friday sittings would be in breach of section 39 of the Constitution” Mr Pyne said.
“Section 39 of the Constitution requires that a quorum be present at all times in the House of Representatives – a requirement breached by Labor’s standing orders for Friday sittings.
“After hiding his own legal advice on the matter from the Parliament and Speaker Harry Jenkins, Mr Albanese has now been forced to abandon what was a disgraceful abuse of the Parliament.
“If Labor wants Friday sittings then the Opposition will support them. However, we expect that whenever the Parliament is sitting, the Prime Minister and his Ministers must show up.”
NELSON DOORSTOP - CARER PAYMENTS, MARK VAILE AND MERSEY HOSPITAL
The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP
Leader of the Opposition
E&OE
QUESTION:
Just in relation to the carer situation, there’s a lot of carers that have received a letter. They’ll no longer be getting the $1600 bonus per year, and you know put simply, they’re upset.
DR NELSON:
Well whoever it is in Mr Rudd’s Government that dreamed this up needs to pick on someone their own size - for a start, dodgy state governments, unions getting back into workplaces, and the whole myriad of other things that the government’s spending money on. Anyone that thinks that Australia’s carers do not deserve the support they’re getting just needs to walk a mile in their shoes. Imagine being a carer with a disabled elderly mother, incontinent at three o’clock in the morning. Or being the parent of a severely autistic child, where you can’t get services, you can’t get help, its four o’clock in the morning, you’ve had three hours sleep in two days. That’s where this money goes. These people deserve that and a lot more. And whatever Mr Rudd and Mr Swan do with Australia’s budget, if they’re looking to pick on somebody, the last people they should be picking on are Australia’s carers. Some of these carers are looking after someone that they love, that is dying or has a severe disability, or is in desperate need of help and they can’t otherwise get it. They deserve every cent of the $1600 they’ve been receiving. I know that Mr Rudd and Mr Swan are saying they won’t rule things in or out, for God’s sake Mr Rudd, please rule out an attack on Australia’s carers. These are the saints in Australian society. They’re the people that pick up the load when governments and non-government organisations fail. They deserve every support they can possibly get.
QUESTION:
Dr Nelson, Mark Vaile’s returned to Sydney today from his trip as a lobbyist in the Middle East. Will you be having words to him about the trip?
DR NELSON:
Well I’ve already spoken to Mr Vaile by telephone about his trip. Had it been brought to my attention I most certainly would have said to him that he should not be doing it. Whilst it’s technically okay for him to do it, it wouldn’t pass any pub test in Australia and I’ve told him that.
QUESTION:
But Wilson Tuckey’s also taking a trip, I mean….where….are you drawing a line somewhere on these sort of things?
DR NELSON:
Well Wilson Tuckey is a very good lecturer. I understand that he’s given these sort of lectures almost on an annual basis. But I’ve also spoken to our Chief Whip about it and I will be personally looking at requests for leave in the future.
QUESTION:
But you didn’t know about these trips so does this mean that you’ve lost control of the party?
DR NELSON:
Absolute nonsense. The Liberal Party Whip looks after applications for leave for Liberal MPs and the National Party Whip for National MPs. I just think it’s important that whilst everybody needs leave and should have leave at some point, I think it’s important that our first priority, apart from our families, is to our constituents; the men and women who elect us, who work dammed hard to pay taxes and pay our salaries and our first priority is them, nothing more and nothing less.
QUESTION:
So are you considering some sort of code of conduct on these sort of lobbying activities?
DR NELSON:
Oh well look what we need is the application of plain commonsense. If any Member of Parliament, whatever side of politics their on, is doing anything in addition to being a Member of Parliament, and doing the job for their constituents, it ought to be transparent, it should be declared and let Australians themselves make a judgement about whether someone is or isn’t working hard enough in their electorate. Mr Rudd, Mr Swan, myself, Mr Howard our former Prime Minister, and many others over the years as backbenchers have done various things which in addition to looking after their electorates, and I think we need to put in to perspective. But I have said to Mark Vaile that whilst he hasn’t done anything technically wrong it wouldn’t pass the pub test in any part of Australia, certainly not in my electorate.
QUESTION:
Are you concerned that Malcolm Turnbull clearly refuses to rule out a leadership challenge?
DR NELSON:
No of course not. Malcolm’s doing a terrific job keeping Mr Swan awake at night. It’s obvious even in the relatively early days of the government that Mr Swan is struggling being the Treasurer of Australia and as for millions of Australians that have got home loans, and credit cards, and car loans and children to feed and house, we desperately need Mr Swan to be up to the mark. We’ve already had two official rate increases from the Reserve Bank, one unofficial rise from the banks in addition to that, and we are very concerned that what the government is doing in slowing the economy and seeing increases in interest rates is that we will see an increase in unemployment.
QUESTION:
But don’t you think Malcolm Turnbull needs to rule it out.
DR NELSON:
Oh well look I think he’s made comments like that yesterday. But we are a team. We’re working very hard to make sure that the government is kept up to the plate. We’ve already commenced the process of developing policies as the alternative government of Australia and every one of us is determined to make sure that the government delivers on the expectations that it set, and one of those most certainly not was attacking carers.
QUESTION:
Nicola Roxon’s just announced this morning that they’re looking for a private operator for the Mersey Hospital down in Tasmania, what do you think about that?
DR NELSON:
Well we’ll need to have a look at the detail. It sounds pretty desperate to me. The government and Nicola Roxon have been playing cat and mouse with the Tasmanian Government in relation to the Mersey Hospital. The previous government committed more than $40 million for the Mersey Hospital. Now we’re seeing that some of that money which Labor did a ‘me too’ on is apparently going to the south of the state.
I think the important thing is that the nurses and the doctors and the patients who are serviced by the Mersey Hospital themselves, their views need to be given priority. We need to know what they think about the idea of having a private operator run the Mersey Hospital. I mean the important thing I think for the average Tasmanian, indeed the average Australian is, whoever’s running the hospital you want to make dam sure there’s a hospital there and it can provide the services to you and your family when you need them, in many cases desperately so.
QUESTION:
So do you think it’s a good idea to have a private operator running the hospital?
DR NELSON:
Well we’ve got models of private operation around Australia. We’ll have a look at the detail of precisely what’s being proposed by Nicola Roxon, the Health Minister, before we go any further with it and we’d also be very interested to know what the doctors, nurses and the local community actually thinks about the idea of a private operator. The end result has to be that the people who are serviced by the Mersey Hospital get the health services that they need and they want. And I’m very concerned that under the Rudd Government that appears increasingly every day not to be the case.
NO TREES BEING SAVED BY LABOR'S PNG CARBON PARTNERSHIP
The Hon Greg Hunt MP
Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Urban Water
An examination into the detail of the Rudd Government’s carbon partnership with Papua New Guinea reveals that not one tree will be saved by the plan.
It shows the Government has failed in its task to protect the great forests of the world.
It indicates Australia's role in reducing the up to eight billion tonnes of CO2 which come from rainforest destruction every year has been abandoned.
The agreement with PNG is a big disappointment and a lost opportunity. It is simply talks about talks and in its current form will not save one tree.
The single largest opportunity for reducing global emissions over the coming five years is to halve rainforest destruction and to help stem the release of 20 per cent of total emissions.
It is the Coalition which recognised that a positive plan to tackle the deforestation problem was the fastest and most achievable method of reducing emissions.
At Bali we set out a Global Rainforest Recovery Plan based on three principles:
A recognition that the future UN Framework must directly include reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and that Australia should be the lead proponent of such a change.
Agreement for immediate action which does not wait until 2012. This means establishing an immediate global funding mechanism to protect the great forests of the world and to halve deforestation and to support reforestation.
A commitment that Australia will build on the $200 million under our Global Initiative for Forests and Climate and bring in the United States, Japan, Germany, the UK and other developed countries to match our funding.
The Rudd Government has been silent and inactive on the world's single best opportunity for immediate greenhouse reduction.
Now, while the PNG agreement finally represents the right direction, the text reveals that not one tree will be saved. Once again we have talks about talks not action about trees.
TOURISM WHITE PAPER WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL VISITOR EXPENDITURE UP 10 PC
Steven Ciobo MP
Shadow Minister for Small Business,
the Service Economy & Tourism
International tourists spent an extra $1.4 billion during their stay in Australia in 2007 according to new research figures released today.
The new report by Tourism Research Australia, International Visitors in Australia (December 2007) shows total trip expenditure for the year ended 31 December 2007 increased 10 per cent from the year ended 31 December 2006.
Shadow Tourism Minister Steven Ciobo said this increase in visitor spending shows the Tourism White Paper, introduced by the Coalition Government is working.
“International visitor expenditure has jumped 10 per cent in the twelve months to December 2007 which is a significant achievement, and clear indication the Tourism White Paper is working,” Mr Ciobo said.
“A key element of the Tourism White Paper is to drive up yield, and in these new figures, we can see international tourist spending is continuing its upward climb. More money is being pumped into local restaurants, hotels and shops.”
The average trip expenditure per visitor was $2,960 in 2007.
The Shadow Tourism Minister said the Rudd Labor Government needs to clarify whether it will slash tourism funding as part of its cherry picking approach to funding cuts.
“The Tourism White Paper is an essential part of boosting Tourism Australia’s capacity to market internationally, and after being in Government for more than 100 days, Labor still hasn’t confirmed if tourism funding is on its chopping list,” Mr Ciobo said.
The new report also showed many international visitors are choosing to re-discover Australia, with 57 per cent of all visitors having stayed in parts of the country before.
New South Wales recorded the largest share of visitor nights with 36 per cent, followed by Queensland with 23 per cent and Victoria with 20 per cent.
In 2007, the main reasons for visitors coming to Australia were:
Holiday 2,579,380 50%
Visiting friends and relatives 1,096,698 21%
Business 872,902 17%
Education 348,563 7%
Employment 115,288 2%
Other 183,688 4%
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING SUCCESS FOR IMMIGRATION OFFICERS AND THE AUST FEDERAL POLICE
Senator the Hon Christopher Ellison
Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship
Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate
“Another outstanding success for Immigration officers and the Australian Federal Police”
Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Ellison, today congratulated the Immigration officers and Australian Federal Police who were involved an anti human trafficking operation in Surry Hills yesterday.
“Successful operations of this nature require complex investigation, strong inter agency co-operation, and a high risk execution of the warrant by field officers,” said Senator Ellison.
“It is of concern that it is alleged that the victims were in Australia on valid visas and had fallen prey to those accused of sex slavery. Each year hundreds of young women from overseas are located working legally in the sex industry, often however they are working in appalling conditions,” said Senator Ellison.
Whilst Senator Ellison welcomed the comments by Immigration Minister, Senator Chris Evans that the Government was serious about cracking down on sex trafficking, he said the Coalition believes that the Rudd Government should immediately investigate whether temporary visa holders should be permitted to work in the sex industry.
“We do not want to see the emergence of underground outfits that put the welfare of young women at risk. However we have to ask whether the welfare of these young women is protected when they are working and often living in simply appalling conditions,” said Senator Ellison.
Senator Ellison said that the Coalition Government had been at the forefront of initiatives to combat local and international people trafficking. Comprehensive initiatives had addressed the four key areas of prevention, detection and investigation, criminal prosecution and victim support.
Before the development of the UN Protocol on Trafficking in Persons, the Coalition Government introduced strong legislation to criminalise slavery, sexual servitude, and deceptive recruiting for sexual services. Progressively these provisions were strengthened, including interception of telecommunications powers for the Australian Federal Police.
Two key law enforcement measures included an Australian Federal Police mobile strike team to investigate trafficking and sexual servitude and improved collaboration between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (then DIMIA) on the detection and investigation of trafficking, with specialist training for AFP and DIAC officers.
Regional cooperation was a key part of the Coalition action plan on people trafficking, initiatives introduced included the establishment of a senior migration officer position in Bangkok to investigate people trafficking in South-East Asia and regional cooperation through the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime and the Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues.
LABOR SPENDS MILLIONS ON DEAD TREE AND DINOSAURS, NOTHING ON CARERS
The Hon Chris Pearce MP
Scrutiny of Government Spokesman
Labor Spends Millions on Dead Tree and Dinosaurs, Nothing on Carers
Chris Pearce MP, the Opposition’s Scrutiny of Government Spokesman, has today condemned Kevin Rudd’s reported decision to slash the $1600 Carers’ bonus from those who support and love the most vulnerable in our community.
“Kevin Rudd is either the most heartless prime minister this nation has had to suffer through or he has made a fundamental error. To rip away $1600 from carers and their families could literally be taking food out of their mouths. I hope the Prime Minister hasn’t forgotten what it’s like for people who aren’t millionaires,” Mr Pearce said.
This decision comes after Mr Rudd committed $2.6 million to Labor’s dead Tree of Knowledge, and a million dollars to a dinosaur park. Both of these projects are to be located in a Labor held marginal seat in Kevin Rudd’s home state of Queensland.
“Australians are a compassionate lot. And I think Australians would prefer the millions of dollars to be spent on carers and their loved ones, rather than prop up Labor marginal seats with grants for Labor party dead wood and dinosaur parks.
“Kevin Rudd has only been in the job of Prime Minister for 100 days and he’s already forgetting the most vulnerable. Australians deserve better than what Mr Rudd has provided.
Chris Pearce has made a personal plea to Prime Minister Rudd.
“Come on, Prime Minister. If you were going to take this action, admit the mistake and give the money back to those carers who need it most. This goes beyond posturing and politics – it’s about the quality of life for Australia’s most vulnerable,” said Mr Pearce.
BUSHRANGER CONROY'S SHAM SUPPORT FOR TELCO REVIEW COMMITTEE
The Hon Bruce Billson MP
Shadow Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
At the same time Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is out promoting the important work of the Regional Telecommunications Review Committee, he is moving to raid the very $2 billion Communications Fund which was set up to give life to the committee's recommendations.
Yesterday, Senator Conroy issued a statement urging the people of South Australia to "have their say" about the adequacy of regional, rural and remote telecommunications, through public meetings to be held by the review committee Whyalla and Naracoorte.
On February 18 Senator Conroy issued a similar statement promoting public meetings in Victoria and Tasmania and on February 4 another statement welcoming the launch of the committee's program of public meetings, with 18 scheduled over four months.
The review committee, led by the highly regarded Dr Bill Glasson AO, was established by the previous government to identify telecommunications issues in regional, rural and remote Australia. The $2 billion Communications Fund - plus the substantial interest stream it generates (approximately $400 million every three years) - was established to provide a funding source to address concerns identified by the committee.
The Rudd Government has introduced legislation designed to allow it to raid the $2 billion Communications Fund; which is due to be vigorously debated by the Parliament next week. Labor wants to use the fund, plus its interest, to pay for its vague fibre to the node network, which will predominantly service people in and around our capital cities.
The legislation introduced would even allow the Rudd Government to issue unconditional grants to telcos for broadband work or even see the Labor Government buy hardware itself. There are very real fears that this money, responsibly locked away by the former government, for use in rural and regional Australia in perpetuity, will be recklessly used to displace private sector investment in sectors of the market that are already commercially viable.
To promote the committee's work on one hand, but to strip its funding with the other, amounts to hypocrisy and deception of the highest order and also a betrayal of the people of rural, regional and remote Australia.
Senator Conroy must explain how the Rudd Government plans to implement the Review Committee's recommendations without the resources of the Communications Fund.
Note: Relevant footage - 16 min 16 sec into Senators Conroy's speech via the below link, you can see him preparing for his role as bushranger.
http://iia.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=624&Itemid=32
WORKING FAMILIES THE LOSERS AS MEDICARE DENTAL GETS THE AXE
The Hon Joe Hockey MP
Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing
The most vulnerable Australians are once again set to be sidelined by the Rudd government as it axes Medicare Dental at the end of March.
The new Medicare dental scheme which lasted only three months was taken up by 16,000 Australians in the last two months of 2007 alone. The scheme allowed people with complex health problems to access private dental procedures to a value of up to $4500 over two years.
Dentistry remains out of reach to those on low incomes with around 30 percent of Australians unable to see a dentist because of cost.
Dental problems cause pain and suffering for those who can’t get their problems sorted out. Living with constant pain can really take its toll on your day to day life, from the way you work to your most important relationships.
Not only that but dental disease can contribute to the burden from diabetes, heart disease and stroke. People with dental problems often can’t eat properly, meaning worse nutrition in the very group who need to look after themselves the most.
Instead of the Coalition’s successful Medicare dental scheme, Nicola Roxon is going to allocate $290 million to push dental patients into the overburdened and inefficient State health system.
Kevin Rudd clearly said that when it comes to health the buck stops with him, and yet he’s clearly passing the buck on dental to the States. The States have shown themselves to be incompetent in the administration of public dental care.
The Rudd Government has also promised dental check-ups for teens in need at $150 a pop, but without funding dental treatment if it’s required. How’s that going to do anything for anyone?
Less than 10 percent of dentists currently work in the public dental system, leaving 90 percent to provide care for only those who can afford it.
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - "WE HAVE TO DO MORE"
The Hon Sussan Ley MP
Shadow Minister for Housing, Status of Women
International Women's Day (IWD) will be celebrated across the world on 8 March and provides an opportunity to recognise the achievements of women and their contribution to society.
Shadow Minister for Women, Sussan Ley said IWD is an opportunity to celebrate the progress that has been made by women but also to contemplate and promote areas in which they are able to have an impact or be treated more equally.
“Access to education, health care and entry into the labour force has improved, and legislation that promises equal opportunities for women and respect for their human rights has been adopted in many countries.
“However, nowhere in the world can women claim to have all the same rights and opportunities as men, and until we all work together to secure the rights and full potential of women, lasting solutions to social, economic and political problems are unlikely to be found,” Ms Ley said.
“I want to promote changes that transform business and personal relationships between women and men, so women will be able to take greater financial, political and physical control of their lives; that equalise their influence on issues that are important to them, their families and the community, Ms Ley said.
“For me, this means working within Parliament to ensure that women’s experiences, women’s issues, women’s perspectives are firmly embedded in the planning and policy process of the current government.
“I will hold them accountable for their promises and their promotion of the differences between working men and women. Unfortunately, so far I have seen no indication from Mr Rudd’s Government as to how they intend to address issues facing women,” she said.
“Only recently, the Prime Minister highlighted the lack of women’s input into high level decision making in this country when he selected only one female representative on the steering committee of the 2020 Summit.
“It is this attitude that we need to change - in short we need to ensure the women’s business is everybody’s business,” Ms Ley said.
For more information on local events please visit www.internationalwomensday.com
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