In the News
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Local veterans need the Gillard Labor Government to start showing leadership ahead of the Centenary of ANZAC commemorations to ensure they are the success they must be.
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, said the silence from Labor about the Centenary of ANZAC needed to end so that veterans and community groups across Mitchell can plan local events.
“The Coalition is concerned about Labor’s silence and lack of public agenda for the Centenary of ANZAC”, Alex Hawke said.
“The Centenary of ANZAC provides our nation with a once in a generation opportunity to ensure that all Australians, particularly young Australians, understand the sacrifices that have been made by so many to protect the values and ideals that we as a nation must never take for granted.
“Delivered well, it will engage all Australians and leave a legacy for future generations who will understand the sacrifices made by those who have served this country and the unique nature of military service.
“However, the Coalition is worried that Labor has given the Centenary commemorations a lower priority than they deserve. I know that veterans and communities across Mitchell are busy thinking about how they can best commemorate this our most significant period of national commemoration.
“Whilst the Government has announced a $9.5 million ‘community commemoration’ fund, there are no details about how much, when and what the money can be spent on in our community.
“Many local projects require collaboration between different organisations, including our local councils and other groups to ensure that local events are successful and leave a lasting community legacy long after the Centenary commemoration activities conclude in 2018.
Alex Hawke said the Coalition was committed to making grass roots community commemoration the central focus of the Centenary of ANZAC commemorations under a Coalition Government.
“The Coalition is determined to ensure the Centenary of ANZAC commemoration is driven locally, enabling all Australians, no matter where they live, the opportunity to reflect, remember and commemorate the service and sacrifice of those who have served in the Australian Defence Force.
“The Coalition wants to ensure that the legacy of the Centenary of ANZAC is a renewed understanding of the unique nature of military service and a rededication of our local community to the covenant which exists between a nation served and those who serve and have served it”, concluded Alex Hawke.
Thursday, 29 November 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, is inviting residents to download Tony Abbott’s book A Strong Australia so they can read for themselves the Coalition’s positive plans for a strong and prosperous economy and a safe and secure Australia.
“This is a terrific free e-book which details all of the Coalition’s plans to help families and make the economy stronger, said Alex Hawke.
“It sets out the plan to build a powerhouse economy through lower taxes, more efficient government and more productive businesses that will deliver more jobs, higher wages and better services for Australian families.
“A Strong Australia can be read on your iPad, iPhone, Kindle, Kobo e-reader as well as being available as a PDF and I do hope many local people take the time to read this e-book.
Alex Hawke said he had been reading A Strong Australia which covers the major speeches given by Tony Abbott during 2012.
“What you see are the strong, intellectual underpinnings of our plans for Australia and the competence and experience of the Coalition team.
“If you want to know what the next Coalition government will be like, you should read this book. It’s the plan for government that the Coalition has been developing to give everyone the hope, reward and opportunity that Australians deserve,” concluded Alex Hawke.
The e-book can be downloaded from www.liberal.org.au or www.tonyabbott.com.au and in coming days it will also be available from iTunes and other e-book sites.
Thursday, 22 November 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, is calling on the Gillard Government to come clean and tell hard working Australians in Mitchell that they will finance this Government’s economic mismanagement.
“Wayne Swan is at it again, removing incentives for hard working Australians to secure their economic future. It is bad enough that the Gillard Government has spent this nation into a $173 billion budget black hole, but now he is hitting those with self-managed superannuation funds with higher fees.
“Over the forward estimates released in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook, over half of the Gillard Government’s so called “iron-clad” surplus will be delivered by ripping even more money out of superannuation, said Alex Hawke.
The government’s increase to the Self Managed Superannuation Fund Levy from $191 to $259 will hit 480,000 self managed superannuation funds nationwide, including 7,500 self managed superannuation funds in Mitchell, raising $320 million.
This latest tax grab comes on top of previous tax increases targeting those Australians saving for their retirement, such as Labor's dramatic reduction in concessional contribution caps down from $50,000 and $100,000 to $25,000 and savage cutbacks to the successful and popular co-contribution scheme which was introduced by the Howard Coalition government.
“I have spoken with many people in our local community who are concerned that after working hard for many years to achieve financial independence in retirement that this Government is going to take that away from them with increases to the Self Managed Superannuation Fund Levy.
“These short-sighted actions will end up costing Government more money in the long run, and reek of a desperate government which is out of ideas, out of money and that has a blatant disregard for the future. A Coalition Government will get Australia back on track by rewarding these hard-working Australians” concluded Alex Hawke.
Background
Australia has almost 2,400 uniformed Defence personnel in the Middle East, including 1,550 in Afghanistan as part of Operation Slipper. Furthermore there are close to 400 troops in East Timor and 80 in the Solomon Islands and small numbers in South Sudan, Sinai and Egypt. These committed men and women are serving our nation and will miss out on spending Christmas at home with family and friends.
The aim of ‘Christmas for the Troops’ is to provide an Aussie Christmas for our deployed forces through the provision of care packages that contain donated items including magazines, lollies or toiletries.
Concept
Australia Post offers a free postal service for care packages, up to 2kg (cubed), to all Australian Forces Postal Offices (AFPO). This service includes our forces in the Middle East, including Afghanistan, as well to East Timor and the Solomon Islands. The service helps to boost the morale of deployed troops through the provision of care packages and letters of support within the package. Including a stamped self addressed envelope will also allow the recipient to send a letter of thanks back to the sender.
How to Donate
Defence has amended its guidance since 2011 with relation to the sending of care packages, including what can be sent, so please be sure to read the following information carefully.
A care package can be sent free of charge to the below AFPO address so long as it strictly complies with Australia Post guidelines.
In order to qualify for free postage, care packages can weigh no more than 2kg (cubed) and should be packaged within a “BM” size box, which is available from Australia Post for approximately two dollars. You will also be required to present photographic identification, fill in some customs forms and it is suggested that you use a liberal amount of packing tape to ensure that all of the contents arrive at their destination.
In order to ensure parcels reach the widest possible number of personnel, please ensure they are gender neutral and address all parcels to “An Australian Defence Member” and not to a specific job title, trade or unit.
Additionally, please note that Defence is no longer able to accept care packages for Military Working Dogs or Explosive Detection Dogs due to their strict diet and training requirements.
The unique Australian Forces Post Office (AFPO) box will be open from 22 October until 7 December 2012. In order to ensure the packages reach the troops by Christmas, all packages should be lodged with Australia Post no later than 7 December 2012.
Address Details
To send a care package or letter of support to an ADF member posted overseas, address the package or letter to:
An Australian Defence Member
AFPO 60
ADF NSW 2890
What can be included in Care Packages
|
Be creative with donations while being mindful of Australia Post’s guidelines for the free delivery of care packages. Some suggestions are listed below, as are the general restrictions. It is recommended that any donated goods collected by EOs, and which are unable to be sent due to size or weight, be donated to local charities. Food • Anzac biscuits • Salted peanuts • Muesli bars • Instant Noodles • Lollies • Small tinned consumables • Other commercially manufactured and packaged foods that are non-perishable |
Toiletries • Deodorant (non aerosol) • Shaving cream (non aerosol) • Small bottle of talcum powder • Disposable razors • Shower Gel • Lip Balm |
National Gambling Reform 28 Nov 2012
{flv img="/images/stories/videos/Nat-Gamb-Reform-121128.jpg" width="300" height="211"}Nat-Gamb-Reform-121128{/flv}