In the News
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Alex Hawke MP, Federal Member for Mitchell, said that the passing of a Coalition motion in the Senate calling for the fair indexation of military superannuation would be welcomed by many veterans in Mitchell.
“The passing of the Coalition’s motion by the Senate today in support of fair indexation for Australia’s 57,000 military superannuants is a clear message to the Prime Minister and the Government she leads.
“The Gillard Labor Government can no longer hide from its 2007 pre-election commitment to support fair indexation.
“We need real action on this issue sooner rather than later. This is an issue that I am particularly passionate about and one is raised again and again in the many conversations I have with veterans in our community, Alex Hawke said.
“Today’s motion won’t of itself lift pensions, but it is a powerful vote of confidence for fair indexation and a powerful vote of no confidence in the Gillard Labor Government.
“Labor must now stop delaying the consideration of the Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, where the Coalition has proposed Fair Indexation amendments, and finally live up to its 2007 pre-election position of supporting Fair Indexation.
“I know that while veterans in Mitchell will welcome this motion in support of fair indexation, the only way to see it enacted is to change the government at the next election,” Alex Hawke concluded.
Below: Copy of Coalition motion agreed to in the Senate today.
That the Senate:
a) notes that the average annual DFRDB military superannuation pension in 2011-12 was $24,603;
b) condemns the Gillard Labor Government for Its ongoing and stubborn refusal to grant 57,000 Australian military superannuants and their families a fair go;
c) denounces the Labor Party for misleading veterans before the 2007 election into believing that Labor would actually deliver fair indexation, a point highlighted by Senator Lundy and Minister Kelly in their letter to former finance minister Tanner of 14 September 2009; and
d) criticises the Government for its ongoing failure to schedule a time for the Senate to consider the Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 and thus denying the Senate the opportunity to debate and vote on the Coalition’s amendments to provide fair indexation for these men and women who have served their nation.
Please click on the links below to read my speeches:
Australian Education Bill 2012
National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012
Media Reform "This so-called reform is a great sham. I am pleased to put on the record my strong opposition to what the government is doing".
"I rise to speak about the circus that visited Western Sydney last week on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Australian Labor Party". To read the rest of the speech click here.
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Alex Hawke MP, Federal Member for Mitchell was inundated with calls and emails from patients of the Winston Hills Family Practice who have been left in the lurch by the recent closure of the Practice by Primary Healthcare.
“My constituents, many of whom are elderly and frail and all of whom have medical conditions, have received a misleading letter which advises a substantial fee will be required to obtain access to their own medical records.”
Doctors locally will continue to operate a medical centre at Winston Hills. However following the recent closure of the Primary Healthcare Facility at Winston Hills, all patient records and office equipment have been removed. Patients who are choosing to remain with their current Doctors at Winston Hills are now in limbo with no records available on site.
Primary Healthcare is further seeking to impose a so called ‘administration fee’ to access a copy of their medical records and refuses to address the issue of the closure with local residents.
“For Primary Healthcare to be charging a $55 fee for patients aged 18 to 65 and a $27.50 fee for patients aged under 18 and over 65 to access their own records is unacceptable. An average family of two adults and two children who visit the practice could end up paying $165 to get access to the family medical records.”
“It is not fair for patients to have their medical records in effect held hostage because of a dispute between Primary Healthcare and the medical professionals at the practice. These fees are simply unnecessary. The best outcome for all is the swift transfer of records between health practitioners and Primary Healthcare’s profiteering is not assisting.”
“This administration fee, stated to cover the cost of record retrieval and forwarding of the copy on to your nominated practice, is exorbitant. I have personally contacted Primary Healthcare and have advised them of my view in this regard. I have even offered to copy and transport any records myself if they will not relent on fees”, Alex Hawke said
“I am hoping that common sense prevails and Primary Healthcare makes the best decision in the interests of our community” concluded Alex Hawke.
Motion - Iran 11.02.2013
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Sky Lunchtime Agenda
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