While parliament was sitting last week there were a number of groups who came into the parliament to brief MP's. ReconciliACTION (a network of indigenous and non indigenous young people) held a very successful forum discussing some of the success happening in indigenous education in NSW. My colleague Helen Westwood jointly hosted a forum about human trafficking and slavery. Check out the Don't Trade Lives campaign and the UTS Anti Slavery project about what needs to be done in Australia right now.
In the lead up to the ALP state conference I was able to get to the Bega, Marrickville and Sydney State Electorate Council (SEC) meetings and look forward to working with the SEC's in my duty electorates over the next 12 months. I also attended the Left's pre conference meeting that set the priorities for the Left in the lead up to conference including a number of important motions dealing with both state and federal matters.
Video's this week: For more about slavery in Australia check out the film the jammed, the latest Hugh Atkin Multiple Question Time, campaigning against poverty and campaigning for better education in the US
Regards
Penny
Labor in Government
In the parliament the Government debated the following bills:
- Clean Coal Administration Bill
- Workers Compensation Amendment Bill
- Dividing Fences and other Legislation Bill
- National Gas (NSW) Bill
- Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal Amendment Bill
- State Arms, Symbols and Emblems Amendment (Black Opal) Bill
- State Emergency and Rescue Management Amendment (Botany emergency Works) Bill
- Housing Amendment (Tenant Fraud) Bill
Penny in Parliament
In the past couple of weeks in parliament I:
- raised the issues of young people's representation in the media and youth homelessness and the stories of Asian Women at Work in NSW.
- spoke on the Gaming Machines Amendment (Temporary Freeze) Bill 2008
- asked questions about Youth Week and Arrive Alive and the new arrangements for teacher transfers
- outlined the new arrangements being proposed to tackle violence against women
Government in Action
- Premier Morris Iemma announced an international callout to designers for the Barangaroo project.
- The Minister for Roads, Eric Roozendaal, launched the Geared Up website for young drivers.
- John Della Bosca, the Minister for Education and Training, welcomed Julia Gillard's commitment to cooperating with the States on education funding.
- Minister for Water, Nathan Rees, said that NSW was leading Australia in water recycling competition, opened the $56 million Conjola Regional Sewerage Scheme, and, to protect the health of rivers, announced bans on new groundwater licences.
- Police Minister David Campbell congratulated the NSW Police Force on lower crime statistics.
- Matt Brown, the acting Minister for Fair Trading, backed the national Fuelwatch scheme, and announced the availability of research grants.
- Attorney-General John Hatzistergos announced the introduction of Victim Impact Statements into Children's Courts.
- Transport Minister John Watkins responded to Opposition claims that private bus operators were unhappy about World Youth Day.
- Community Services Minister Kevin Greene announced the appoinment of investigators into substandard childcare centres, and launched a nationally-renowned Positive Parenting scheme.
Blog of the week
A tapestry of tragedy and optimism
With these wise words from Daniel Swaine I attended the opening session of the NSW Anti Homophobia Interagency Conference - That's So Gay. Daniel spoke eloquently of the experience of students in our schools and the need for our school systems to tackle hompohobia head on to provide safety and recognition of identity for same sex attracted young people.
The conference also heard from Azlan Currie. Azlan is a primary school student from northern NSW who happens to have two mums. She gave a very funny insight into her life and how she explains the ordinary to those who consider her life extraordinary.
Back at the office I came across this video Somebody's Baby made by Andrew Stopps who has made a video in memory of the amercian teenager Larry King who was killed by a fellow student, primarily as a result of being gay.
Take Action
- Petition the Parliament - on any issue that you care about.
- Demand an end to the 58 federal laws that discriminate against same sex couples and their families. Support the NSW Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby 58 in 08 campaign.
- Join the Don't Trade Lives campaign to prevent human trafficking, advocate for trafficked victims and tackle the underlying causes of human trafficking. This issue touches us all.
Quote of the fortnight:
"I am sure she is being intimidated in the cabinet," Ms Goward told AAP.
"They would just be saying: 'Shut up, Verity, run away and make your announcements and don't bother us'.
"That's a cruel quote, but you can see it in the room. Pat her on the head, 'off you go little girl, go and announce your little policies but just don't get in the way'."
Opposition spokesperson on Women Pru Goward earns herself an Ernies nomination for her comments about Verity Firth, Member for Balmain, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Minister for Women, Minister for Science and Medical Research, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer)
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