E-Brief #26

E-Brief #26

Introduction

Parliament returned last week with budget estimates preparation, many caucus committees and a lengthy legislative program.

In the past fortnight I have:

• Opened new TAFE facilities in Lismore to support the local creative arts, retail, business industries as well as improving the facilities for general education students
• Hosted a forum with Senator Joe Ludwig, Anthony Albanese, Tanya Plibersek and George Newhouse to discuss the ALP's policies in the relation to the LGBTI community.
• Spoken at a rally in support of the restoration of democracy in Burma. As stories continue to leak out of the atrocities being committed against monks and other protestors in Burma, keep in touch with what you can do through the Australian Coalition for Burma Facebook Page.

Best video of the week goes to the Manic Times for their liberal party ad warning. Others worth a watch are the AEU's Public Education advertisement, an anti-Howard tribute to Bob Dylan, and the Chaser's satire on Tim Freedman.

Regards

Penny

Take Action

• Nominate a person or organisation for a Violence Against Women Award, to recognise their contribution to the prevention of violence against women.
• Check out the TAFE ads being shown and broadcast by the NSW Teachers Federation.
• Check out the new Ricki Lake film The Business Of Being Born to be shown at the Home Birth Australia conference.

Last Week in the House

The government outlined how it is improving the protection of children in our community, securing our water supply, investing in infrastructure, new clean coal initiatives and recruiting nurses to the mental health system.

Introduced the anti discrimination breast feeding bill, motor dealers amendment bill, associations incorporation amendment (cancellation of incorporation) bill 2007, National parks and Wildlife (Leasing and Licensing), and daylight saving bill.

The Legislative Council:

• passed a motion condemning the Leader of the National Party for his consistent criticism of the values of public education, passed a motion in support of the trade union movement and unanimously passed a motion in support of the protests in Burma.
• I was able to ask a question about the Federal Government's latest foray into TAFE
• Passed the Crimes Amendment Bill and extended trading hours for the Rugby World Cup.

I was able to put on record in the parliament the work done by branch members who have recently won McKell Awards: Christine Harcourt, Graham Ashton and George Sykes.

Government Action

• Independent research shows that NSW is leading the country in new apprenticeships and traineeships.
• 40 members of the NSW Parliament gathered with Disability Services Minsiter Kristina Keneally to discuss the challenges of ageing.
• NSW will be seeking to attract more investment from biotechnology, a $10bn worldwide industry.
• The Premier announced $46.5 millon in funding for flashing lights to make the zones around public schools safer, and launched a campaign for cashless motorways across Sydney-including a YouTube video.
• The Community Services Minister, Kevin Greene, announced a new unit to protect children from drug abusing parents.
• Disability Services Minister Kristina Keneally launched the Macular Degeneration
  Foundation's new Navigator Library Access Project at the State Library of NSW.
• Minister for Housing, Matt Brown, congratulated the returning chair of the Aboriginal Housing Organisation, Tom Slocke, welcomed the 2008 National Housing Conference in Darling Harbour, announced a number of $2,000 scholarships to HSC students, and called on the Commonwealth to continue its funding to the Commonwealth State Housing Agreement.
• New rules will apply to owners of modified or excessively noisy cars.
• More than $21 billion has been made in investments in public projects, said Planning Minister Frank Sartor.

Events

• 'Labor and the Law' with Bob Debus

Quote of the Fortnight

It's about personal cult following... It's about power control, power for the sake of power.

--Alan Cadman, Member for Mitchell, quoted in The Australian, speaking about the NSW Liberal Party's Right