In the News
Friday, 13 April 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP encourages residents of Mitchell to attend an ANZAC Day ceremony this year in support of veterans’ and serving Defence Force men and women in the lead up to the centenary of ANZAC.
There are a number of local ANZAC services held in the Hills district; Annangrove, Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill and Rouse Hill. (Service venues and times are listed at the end of the article).
Residents of Mitchell may also like to send a message of support to our current deployed personnel by email to messagestothetroops@defence.gov.au or by regular mail to:
Messages to the Troops
Media Section
39 Personnel Support Battalion
Building 217
Randwick Barracks NSW 2031
“The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, mateship, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity. We honour them and the families who supported them. We remember their service for our nation, said Alex Hawke.
“The government recently wasted money on commissioning two reports which questions the cultural appropriateness to the community and what the commemoration of the Centenary of ANZAC means to Australians. We can show our support in honouring our veterans’ by attending a local service, sending a strong message to the author of these reports.
“This ANZAC Day I urge all Australians to take a moment to remember the sacrifices made by our diggers of yesteryear and to support Australia’s Defence Force personnel currently deployed around the globe,” concluded Alex Hawke.
Local ANZAC services held in Mitchell:
Sunday 22 April
9.00am Sunday Parade and Commemorative Service
Arthur Whitling Park, Cnr Old Northern Road & McMullen Avenue, Castle Hill
Wednesday 25 April
6.00am ANZAC Day Dawn Service
Veterans assemble to march at 5.45am,Arthur Whitling Park, Cnr Old Northern Road & McMullen Avenue, Castle Hill
11.00am Annangrove Progress Association ANZAC Day Service
Annangrove Park War Memorial - Cnr Currie Avenue & Annangrove Road, Annangrove
(afterwards light lunch served in the park)
11.00am NorthWest Uniting Church ANZAC Commemoration Service
Aberdoon House, Cnr Aberdour Avenue & Clower Avenue, Rouse Hill
12.30pm The Hills Club ANZAC Day Commemoration Luncheon. 1pm - Wreath Laying Ceremony
2 Jenner Street, Baulkham Hills
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, recently visited NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) headquarters and Afghanistan as part of an Australian Parliamentary delegation. The NATO visit was the first information visit by Australian parliamentarians.
“The NATO Secretary General, Mr Anders Fogh Rasmussen expressed words of welcome to the visiting delegation in saying ‘You are a highly appreciated partner and contributor’, in appreciation of the Australian role in the NATO led mission in Afghanistan. Australia is the 10th largest contributor of troops to Afghanistan outside of NATO members.
“Our current key mutual interest is Afghanistan and it is important that, as a NATO partner, Australia has a seat at the table where decisions are made and planning is undertaken, said Mr Hawke.
“Our meetings with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and other high level leaders left us in no doubt NATO appreciates Australia’s vital contribution to Afghanistan and to discourse about broader global security issues, said Alex Hawke.
“We also witnessed the high level of engagement and access that Australia’s Ambassador to NATO, HE Dr Brendan Nelson, has in Europe. Ambassador Nelson is an influential advocate for Australia, Alex Hawke said.
The members of the delegation challenged NATO officials on a range of issues in Afghanistan and Central Asia more generally.
“We now look forward to the outcomes of the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago in May”, concluded Alex Hawke.
Thursday, 29 March 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP has called on Julia Gillard and Kate Ellis to rule out a means test or further cuts to the Child Care Rebate in this year’s budget.
“Labor has had child care in its sights in recent budgets. The broken promises on child care have already impacted parents and I fear they will again attack the Child Care Rebate in this year’s Budget, possibly with a means test”, said Alex Hawke.
“Families are paying for Labor’s record of debt and deficits. I fear they will again attack child care in this year’s Budget.
“Labor’s record on child care is abysmal. They broke their promise to build 260 child care and early childhood education centres on school sites and community land. Instead they only built 38.
“Last year, they cut the Child Care Rebate from $8,179 to $7,500 and then froze indexation of the rebate. This means that parents receiving the maximum amount of the Child Care Rebate would be liable for around $300 in additional child care costs per year for each child in care.
“Kate Ellis has to rule out even more cuts, including means testing, in this year’s budget.
“The Coalition believes child care must be more accessible and affordable, Alex Hawke said.
“There are up to 70,000 Australian women, including hundreds in Mitchell who cannot access employment simply because they cannot find suitable child care. This is a lost opportunity for women, families and our local economy.
“I am pleased that Tony Abbott this week committed a future Coalition Government to undertaking a Productivity Commission review into child care. Improving access and affordability in child care, is very much part of our positive plan to improve workforce participation and to strengthen the economy.
“In particular, we have to make the system more accessible for shift workers, workers in regional and remote areas and parents who do not have the support of an extended family.
“The Productivity Commission review would consider the current impediments to a family friendly child care system, including how parents can better access existing services including long day care, occasional care, in-home care, family care and budget based care.
“Families are under great pressure from cost of living pressures and the Coalition is determined to make child care more responsive to parent needs and more affordable for household budgets” concluded Alex Hawke.
Tuesday, 21 March 2012
Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP said the Gillard Government’s mining tax, to commence on 1 July with the carbon tax, will do great damage to the Australian economy and he remained committed to repealing the tax.
“The carbon tax and the mining tax are the evil twins of the Australian economy – they will make Australian exports less competitive, cost jobs and harm the budget”, said Alex Hawke.
“You don’t create jobs by lifting taxes and you don’t strengthen an economy by making its most successful sector weaker.
“The Coalition opposes the mining tax because it makes mining investment in every other country more attractive – our international competitors will be popping the champagne corks over this new tax.
“Australian mining companies now pay a trifecta of taxation – company tax, state government royalties and the mining tax.
Alex Hawke said the mining tax also worsened the position of the Federal Budget.
“Labor’s mining tax has created a budget black hole of about $4 billion and growing.
“There is a very clear difference between the Coalition and Labor on taxation.
“Labor wants a carbon tax and mining tax. The Coalition will repeal the carbon tax and mining tax because we believe in hope, reward and opportunity,” concluded Alex Hawke.
Tuesday, 17 April 2012
Local Federal Member for Mitchell Alex Hawke, State Member David Elliott and Hills Shire Mayor Greg Burnett will work together using all legal means to prevent further shootings at the site of the Baulkham Hills tattoo parlour.
Mr Hawke said he would today be writing to Federal Ministers to ensure compliance with all Federal legislation and will call on the Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare to reinstate the damaging budget cuts that have allowed illegal weapons to flow through our borders and onto our streets.
"The fact that there have been multiple shootings in two months at this venue says to me that we, as a community, need to take action against what is happening at this site." Mr Hawke said.
Mr Hawke expressed his ongoing concern regarding Federal Labor’s drastic cutbacks to the Customs cargo screening program. Prominent media reports have attributed Sydney's recent spate of shootings to firearms being illegally smuggled into Sydney due to Labor’s cutbacks to Customs and the Australian Federal Police in recent Commonwealth budgets. This means that, often, guns and ammunition used in criminal activity have slipped through our borders undetected.
Baulkham Hills MP David Elliott said he was embarrassed to admit that he has now seen more shootings in his leafy electorate in less than two months than he witnessed in five months Peacekeeping in Bougainville twelve years ago.
"This latest shooting has endangered my community and it's time to take up to the fight to these criminals.
"I have today written to the Premier seeking his advice as to what multi jurisdictional approaches can be made, I have also written to the Treasurer, the Police Minister and the Minister for Finance and Services seeking advice on powers which may be invoked to ensure the legal and safe operation of this business.
"The people of The Hills expect nothing less of us".
Mr Elliott said he was also concerned about the double standards that applied to licensed premises when violence occurred within their venues.
"I think it is completely unreasonable to demand the closure of licensed premises when patrons, who are under the influence of alcohol, get into a brawl, yet no action is taken when a shop is the target of gunfire on two separate occasions."
Hills Shire Mayor Greg Burnett has also expressed his horror at this morning's events, demanding a better approach from all tiers of government to protect public safety.
"I will be asking the General Manager to brief Councillors on what options we have available to improve public safety at Baulkham Hills."
"The well being of our citizens is paramount and I will remain open minded to all recommendations." Mayor Burnett said.
Mr Elliott said he will be seeking the installation of CCTV in the Baulkham Hills Business District as a short term solution.