In the News
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, said the passage of legislation through the House of Representatives to allow offshore processing at Nauru was a welcome step in restoring policies that work on our borders.
“This is a welcome first step to strengthening Australia’s borders – but more action will be required if we are to stop the boats and end the needless deaths at sea, said Alex Hawke.
“I believe the only way we can be fully confident of stopping the boats is to return to the complete policies of the last Coalition government when it comes to border protection.
“The fact is you can't get Howard government policy outcomes on border protection - a 99 per cent reduction in boat arrivals - if you don't implement the full Howard government policies.
“Offshore processing at Nauru is one part of the solution. The other parts of the solution are the reintroduction of temporary protection visas (TPVs) and turning back the boats where safe to do so.
“These policies work together and when combined, entirely destroy the people smuggler model.
“Australians want confidence that the borders are secure, they want confidence that government policies are working and they want an end to the uncertainty that has accompanied the four years of failure on our borders.
“Labor cannot be trusted to implement policies on our borders that they do not believe in and have been dragged kicking and screaming to adopt. Only the Coalition has the proven record of standing for and successfully implementing polices that stop the boats.
Alex Hawke said residents of Mitchell would welcome the change in policy by the Gillard Government on its position on offshore processing at Nauru, but they would be right to ask, why it took the Gillard Government four years to admit it got it so wrong on border protection.
“Four years ago, the Rudd-Gillard government overturned proven policies that work. Since then we have had 22,000 illegal arrivals, 1,000 deaths at sea, a battering of Australia’s international reputation and a $4.7 billion budget blowout. This was all so avoidable.
Alex Hawke said the Coalition had a clear plan to strengthen Australia’s borders and endless needless deaths at sea.
“The Coalition supports proven policies that work – this means offshore processing, temporary protection visas and turning the boats around. These policies work together to stop the boats and end the needless deaths at sea," Alex Hawke concluded.
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
Vietnam Veterans in Mitchell will pause this Saturday to commemorate Vietnam Veterans' Day and the 50th anniversary of the arrival of Australian troops in Vietnam.
Alex Hawke MP, Federal Member for Mitchell, paid tribute to veterans of the Vietnam War and to those men who paid the supreme sacrifice, were wounded and who have since suffered as a result of their service.
"Vietnam Veterans' Day is a special day on our nation's calendar as we pay tribute to the 521 men who died on active duty in the Vietnam War between 1962 and 1972, Alex Hawke said.
"This year's commemorations have added significance, as they commemorate the 50th anniversary of the arrival of the first Australian troops in Vietnam.
"In 1962, the Australian Government despatched the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) to South Vietnam to train South Vietnamese troops in military strategy."
"Australia's troop commitment would increase over that 10 year period. By the end of the conflict, more than 58,000 Australians, including many from our local community, had served their nation at their nation's request in the Vietnam War.
Alex Hawke said Saturday marked the anniversary of one of Australia's more iconic battles of the Vietnam War, the Battle of Long Tan.
"The Battle of Long Tan is best remembered as a classic Australian struggle against a bigger enemy. The 108 men of D Company, 6RAR fought against a much bigger opponent to win the day and be nationally and internationally recognised for their tenacity, courage and bravery under fire."
"This Saturday, whilst honouring the memory of the fallen men of D Company, 6RAR, we remember all who served in the Vietnam War, and particularly those who paid the supreme sacrifice."
"In particular, we remember those Australians who were deployed to South Vietnam 50 years ago as part of 'the Team' and who began Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War," Alex Hawke concluded.
Wednesday, 8 August 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, said Julia Gillard’s attempt at blaming others for surging electricity prices was laughable given that she introduced the world’s biggest carbon tax only weeks ago.
“The electricity bills are starting to arrive throughout Mitchell and families and businesses are starting to experience ‘bill shock’ from Julia Gillard’s carbon tax, said Alex Hawke.
“Since the Rudd-Gillard government was first elected, electricity prices have risen by a staggering 60%.
“Julia Gillard has shown no interest in household prices during the past five years and now, after introducing the world’s biggest carbon tax, she wants the people of Mitchell to believe she understands what households and businesses are facing.
“How can the Prime Minister who said “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead” be believed when it comes to claims about electricity prices now?
“The carbon tax is an electricity tax, it’s a gas tax and a tax on the essentials of life.
“Five weeks after introducing this tax, it’s simply not good enough for Julia Gillard to point the finger elsewhere.
Alex Hawke said Julia Gillard had designed a carbon tax that would go up and up – putting more pressure on electricity prices with every year.
“The carbon tax is now $23 a tonne, it will rise to $37 a tonne by 2020 and $350 a tonne by 2050. According to the government’s own figures, the carbon tax will wipe a cumulative one trillion dollars from Australia’s GDP by 2050 – that’s like closing down the country for a year.
“The best way to tackle rising electricity prices is to scrap the carbon tax. Only the Coalition has a plan to scrap the carbon tax and that plan starts on day one of a Coalition Government.
“In addition to carbon tax price pressures, Julia Gillard’s own electricity regulator, the Australian Energy Regulator, had approved all electricity network price rises over recent years.
“The Rudd-Gillard Government has been in office for five years and during that time they have approved all electricity network price increases and introduced the world’s biggest carbon tax.
“When it comes to electricity prices, the culprit for rising electricity prices is Julia Gillard and her government,” concluded Alex Hawke.
Thursday, 2 August 2012
Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP and Senator Arthur Sinodinos AO, Chairman of the Coalition Small Business and Deregulation Taskforce, today met with 70 local businesses to discuss red tape reduction and deregulation policy.
Joining Arthur Sinodinos and Alex Hawke were a local business panel including Tony Eades, Chairman of the Sydney Hills Business Chamber, Mark Halford, owner/operator of Macy Pty Ltd and David Elliott MP, Chair of the NSW Committee on Economic Development, to discuss and articulate the views of local businesses.
“This meeting was an excellent opportunity for local business men and women to express their views and concerns directly with a person who will be around the Cabinet table in a future Liberal Government”, Alex Hawke said.
“Under the Rudd/ Gillard governments there have been over 18,000 new regulations affecting small business with the removal of just 80”.
“A Liberal Government will be focussed on red tape reduction and deregulation for small business from day one.” Alex Hawke said
“These consultative forums are important for ‘time poor’ business men and women to express their concerns and to get answer’s quickly. Issues raised included online retailers paying the GST, workers compensation, red tape reduction and how to make it easier for people to start their own business.
“These forums are a great opportunity for the Coalition to hear the concerns of local businesses and develop policy to quickly reduce the burden on our small businesses” said Arthur Sinodinos.
“Small business is the lifeblood of the Australian community and I am a passionate advocate to ensure that small businesses get better treatment from Government,” concluded Alex Hawke.
Earlier this year the Coalition Leader Tony Abbott established a Deregulation Taskforce to answer the call from the small business sector to address burdens currently being experienced by poorly designed regulation.
The Coalition Taskforce will hand down its final report in August 2012.
Thursday, 2 August 2012
Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, held a presentation ceremony for 8 young Australians from Mitchell, who are winners of the Australian Student Prize for 2011.
The Australian Student Prize is a highly prestigious inaugural award programme that began in 1991 and only 500 prizes are awarded each year, which includes $2,000 to assist the students to pursue their future aspirations.
“Winners of these prizes are of the highest academic calibre and I am proud of this recognition of academic achievement, Alex Hawke said.
The 2011 winners are: Sanjitha Fernando, Jimmy Wei Jian Huang, Yu Ying Shirley Huang, Andrew Lee, Andrew Li, Michael Lin, Edward Ao Yu Lo-Cao and Babitha Selvananthan.
“It gave me great pleasure to present the successful applicants with their certificates and to hear about their hopes for the future,” Alex Hawke concluded.