Turnbull Doorstop - Mumbai terrorist attacks, death of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan, computers in schools blowout, economic management...
Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, and their families, of this appalling terrorist attack in Mumbai. We have had confirmation that two Australians have been killed. One of them, Doug Markell, was a constituent of mine and a former Deputy Mayor of Woollahra, and our prayers and condolences go to his family as indeed they go to the families of all those who have been killed or injured in this dreadful, murderous outbreak of terrorism.
Labor's 66% computers in schools cost blow-out driving the budget into deficit
Revelations today of a 66% blow-out in the cost of the Computers in Schools program proves the Rudd Government is incapable of running Education or the economy.
Death of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan
Like all Australians I was saddened with the news that an Australian soldier was killed in action in Afghanistan yesterday. My thoughts and prayers are with the soldier’s family, his friends and his colleagues.
Snowy River secure under Coalition plan
Efforts to save the iconic Snowy River have been specifically secured as a result of Opposition amendments in the Senate to the Water Amendment Bill 2008.
Death of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan
I was deeply saddened to learn of the death of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan today. The thoughts and prayers of all Australians are with the soldier’s family, his friends and his colleagues.
Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan
The Shadow Minister for Defence Science, Personnel and Assisting Shadow Minister for Defence The Hon. Bob Baldwin, has tonight extended his condolences to the family and colleagues of a young Australian soldier killed in Afghanistan.
Mumbai terrorist attacks
The Coalition joins the Australian Government in resolutely condemning the shocking multiple and co-ordinated attacks that are continuing in Mumbai, India.
Private capital expenditure exceeds expectations and new house sales rise
New economic data released today indicates that business is continuing to invest in productive buildings and equipment while more individuals are purchasing new houses.
ADF families caught in ABC uncertainty
The men and women of the ADF make an extraordinary contribution and sacrifice to the defence of our Nation. It is astounding that not one of the Defence ABC Learning Centres has been confirmed to remain open in 2009. It is absolutely vital that the Government have a coherent strategy to assist and support those defence families that may face centre closures in the New Year.
Bob Maumill allegations are totally false
The allegations made by Bob Maumill in his blog on the 6PR radio website and on radio this morning are totally false.
Gillard must correct the record on Computers in Schools
The Deputy Prime Minister has been caught out after calling for me to tell a local high school in my electorate of Sturt to ‘send back the funding for their 416 computers’ as it was revealed today they have no funding and no computers.
Pacific Island harvest labour missed the boat
Confusion and inefficiency has dogged the pilot, with the involvement of 3 government departments (DEEWR, DIAC and DFAT) unable to cobble together a program to honour commitments made to desperate Australian growers and at least four Pacific Island nations. The pilot was supposed to commence for this season. It may not even commence next year.
Senate Report into Schools Assistance Bill confirms schools' fears
Diversity and choice are important in education. These are fundamental points that the Labor Party neither understands nor cares about.
Silent Shorten finally speaks out
Senator Cory Bernardi, Coalition spokesman for Disabilities, has welcomed Bill Shorten breaking his silence on the valuable contribution that people with a disability make to the Australian community.
Increasing trend of DVD piracy highlighted but no solution offered
Considering the seriousness of these organised criminal gangs, it is unfortunate that the Rudd Labor Government is not taking the issue more seriously.
Confirmed: Labor’s broadband stops at city limits
Not one of the carriers bidding to build the National Broadband Network will meet the Government’s election commitment to deliver fibre to the node broadband to 98 percent of the Australian population.
OECD delivers a positive economic outlook for Australia
The OECD Economic Outlook report released overnight warns that the $10.4 billion stimulus package will not achieve maximum economic benefit if confidence in our economy is not restored.
Conroy misleads Senate to cover up broadband fiasco
In a media release today, Telstra states in black and white that its “proposal outlines what would be achieved by the fully detailed bid that Telstra has prepared but could not be submitted due to a number of unresolved issues.
Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson makes another hypocritical statement
Martin Ferguson’s bagging of Britain’s extra tourism tax completely hypocritical, when back in the May Budget, the Minister announced almost $1 billion in extra tourism taxes, which have put pressure on Australian tourism operators.
Government survey shows parents don't consider publishing schools finances important
The Deputy Prime Minister’s desire to publish non-government schools private funding sources isn’t considered a priority by parents according to the Government’s own survey
It's all downhill for jobs under Labor
With the OECD’s latest economic outlook indicating 200,000 jobs are forecast to be lost by 2010 in Australia, the outlook for jobs is looking increasingly dire under Labor.
Woolcott confirms what Rudd cannot
Special Envoy Richard Woolcott this morning confirmed what Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith and their representatives in the Senate have been unable to do – that Australia’s regional neighbours have no interest in forming a new Asia Pacific Community.
Rudd government dismisses business concerns over emissions trading...again
The Rudd Government’s consultation process with business over their rushed emissions trading scheme has been exposed as a complete sham by the fact that the zinc producing company Nyrstar was not even present at a government roundtable to discuss the concerns they have raised.
Labor's Short Selling Bill fails to address key issues
Key stakeholders are greatly concerned about how the disclosure provisions would actually work in practice. This is understandable, as no detail is provided in the Bill as to how the Government would actually regulate covered short selling.
Opposition moves to protect interests of Australian television viewers
The Opposition will move amendments to the Government’s Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Television Switch-over) Bill in a bid to safeguard the interests of the Australian viewing public.
Senator Bernardi welcomes decision to grant Moeller family permanent residency
This announcement is good news for Dr Moeller and his family, as well as for the wider Horsham community.
Labor splits to keep the music alive at the Australian National Academy of Music
A delegation of Labor MP’s has come out supporting Coalition policy and is opposing Arts Minister Peter Garrett’s decision to axe funding for the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM).
Public opinion may force Immigration Minister to act (finally) on Down syndrome case, but others languish on his desk
German born Dr Bernhard Moeller’s bid to remain in Australia, serving the Horsham community as their only specialist physician, can now lurch to the final stage, where he can appeal to Minister Evans personally to intervene in his case.
Britain's taxman reaches out to slug Aussie travellers
The new tax announced by the Britain this week is being painted as a new charge to combat climate change but is in reality nothing more than naked protectionism and an attempt to prop up Britain’s ailing economy with a new source of tax revenue.
Telstra bid snub exposes Labor's broadband con
Telstra, Australia’s largest telecommunications company, refused to submit a bid because of a number of unresolved issues in the tender documents.
Senator Bernardi supports young carers forum
The Rudd Government must take the opportunity of the Young Carers Forum to implement services to recognise and address the needs of young carers in Australia.
Leader of the Opposition Press Conference with Michael Keenan - Fair Work Bill 2008, bank wholesale funding guarantee, Telstra, infrastructure
We will not oppose the Government’s Fair Work Bill in the House of Representatives but we reserve our right to propose amendments to improve the operation of the Bill following the Senate Committee process without seeking to frustrate the Government’s election commitment to implement its Forward with Fairness election policy.
Labor's arbitrary internet filter plan misguided and deeply unpopular
There is no technical substitute for appropriate adult supervision when it comes to keeping our children safe online and most parents and teachers take that responsibility very seriously and any suggestions to the contrary are patronising and offensive. Labor’s plan to implement a mandatory Internet filter at ISP level has been roundly attacked with valid concerns raised about its likely effectiveness, the adverse impact it would have on Internet speeds and performance and also the precise nature of the content the Government plans to filter.
Swan denies telling Australians to go to Centrelink
Confronted with the reality that thousands of Australians have had their savings frozen as a direct result of the Government’s panicked and ill considered bank guarantee Treasurer Swan told Australians to go to Centrelink.
Fair Work Bill 2008
The Government’s changes to workplace relations come at a very difficult time for the Australian economy. We take the Government on trust that these changes have been carefully considered and will not cost jobs.
The Rudd Government must refuse entry to convicted racist
The Federal Opposition is urgently calling on the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Evans, to refuse any further visa application from British national, Nick Griffin.
Conroy's extraordinary arrogance in relation to broadband bid confirmation
In an extraordinary display of arrogance Communications Minister Stephen Conroy has told the Senate that his Government will not be providing the Australian public with any detail whatsoever regarding bids for his National Broadband Network (NBN).
Tax Laws Amendment (Luxury Car Tax – Minor Amendments Labor Incompetence Correction) Bill
Today’s introduction of so-called “minor amendments” to the Rudd Labor Government’s ill-considered Luxury Car Tax surcharge is a humiliating demonstration of Labor’s incompetence.
Rudd's desperate plan to salvage GroceryChoice ignores the $13 million waste of taxpayer's money
The Coalition has no objection to providing helpful information to consumers but the problem is - this is $13 million of taxpayer’s money.
Freedom of information exposes massive computers in schools cost for States
Freedom of information documents have revealed what the Federal Government has been trying to hide. The $51,000,000 that will be given to the Western Australian State Government for Computers in Schools will cost the state an additional $167,000,000.
Surplus spending puts dent in Nation-Buliding plans
The Nation Building Funds will suffer a tremendous $14.7 billion shortfall due to the Government’s decision to spend the majority of the anticipated surplus for 2008-2009.
Senate plugs the north-south pipeline controversial diversion of Murray water to rest with Kevin Rudd
The Senate last night passed the Coalition’s amendments to plug the North-South pipeline in Victoria from taking water from the parched Goulburn River, Murray River and Lower Lakes.
Coalition seeks to improve infrastructure legislation
The Coalition will be moving a number of amendments to the Government’s Nation Building Funds Bills to provide transparency, guarantee productivity, reveal total costs and to stop revenue gouging by the State Governments.
White Ribbon Day- all sections of the community must take a stand to end violence
White Ribbon Day was an opportunity for all sectors of the Australian community to commit to eliminating the incidence of violence against women.
Nuclear fuel to Russia, still no uranium for India
Should these reports be correct and Australia indeed goes ahead with providing nuclear fuel to Russia, Mr Rudd will need to explain why his Government has chosen to largely ignore India, a country with a safe record of handling civilian nuclear activities.
Julie Bishop Fairfax Blog - Debt and unemployment
The key to ensuring as few people as possible are placed under financial pressure is for the Government to focus all its efforts on maintaining high levels of employment.
Coalition acts to protect Communications Fund
Rudd Labor must end its war on rural and regional Australia and guarantee the future of the $2.4 billion Communications Fund.
Leader of the Opposition Address to the National Press Club
Given the strong public finances Mr Rudd has inherited and the growth forecasts we are relying on for next year, Australians rightly regard the prospect of a deficit budget next year as a failure in economic management – an admission that Mr Rudd could not maintain a strong economy and above all could not live within his means.
No mention of that war
Having spent the first nine months of this year focusing on inflation and egging the Reserve Bank to raise interest rates to combat inflation, the Rudd Government made no mention at all of inflation in its self assessment of its first twelve months in office.
Gillard attempts to steal second without touching first
Ms Gillard’s announcement that she is taking the education revolution to the ‘next step’ is a cynical effort to shift the focus from the failing elements of this so-called revolution to date.
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