In the News
Friday, 4 May 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, said he expected next Tuesday’s Budget will produce an artificial surplus and will do nothing to help Mitchell families and businesses.
“This will be a ‘cook the books’ budget rather than a ‘kitchen table’ budget”, said Alex Hawke.
“The Budget will be all about Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan’s future rather than the futures of local families and business who are about to be hit with the world’s biggest carbon tax”.
“The Government has been borrowing $100 million every day and we are now paying the price for Wayne Swan’s waste and mismanagement.
“I expect the Government will claim to deliver a nominal surplus, but this is only because the Government is shuffling billions off the balance sheet. The Government has even shuffled the multi-billion NBN off its balance sheet.
“Labor has cooked the books and artificially boosted the budget position by $10 billion. The real starting point for next week’s budget is not a $1.5 billion surplus but an $8.5 billion deficit.
“Families don’t pretend the credit card bill or the car lease is not in the family Budget, but somehow the Gillard government can pretend billions of dollars in wasteful spending is not occurring and not in the Budget.
“I am sure we will also see more broken promises. Julia Gillard promised “there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead” and she promised to protect the private health insurance rebate. She broke her word to the people of Mitchell just like she broke her word to Kevin Rudd.
Alex Hawke said the Budget will be the first ‘carbon tax budget’ that will be delivered on the eve of major electricity and gas price increases and price increases to private health insurance due to changes to the private health insurance rebate.
“Double digit electricity prices will skyrocket from 1 July due to the world’s biggest carbon tax and this will flow on to price increases on all of the necessities of life.
“The price of food, transportation, clothing, eating out, dry cleaning, council rates and every item in household budgets will go up and up. The only items that will have no carbon tax will be imports as the carbon tax acts as a reverse tariff.
“The Government’s broken promise on the private health insurance rebate will also see the cost of private health insurance increase by up to $1,000 a year. It will also increase pressure on the cost of premiums and increase waiting lists at public hospitals as people quit or downgrade their private health insurance.
“The real impact of this year’s budget on Mitchell households and business will be felt after 1 July when the world’s biggest carbon tax commences,” concluded Alex Hawke.
Thursday, 3 May 2012
Alex Hawke, President of the Mitchell Youth Leadership Forum (MYLF) & Ronie Quinn CEO of the MYLF and 200 supporters recently celebrated 10 years of local achievement at a Ten Year Anniversary Dinner.
“This celebration marks an incredible milestone in excellence in leadership in the Mitchell electorate. The celebration bought together past and present students, leaders, speakers, sponsors, principals, volunteers and committee members, said Alex Hawke.
The MYLF was founded in 2002, by the Hon Alan Cadman OAM, with the aim to help young people with the pressures of their final year at school and increase their leadership capacity. Every high school in the Mitchell electorate participates each year in MYLF.
“The Anniversary Dinner was a great opportunity for everyone to reflect and remember their own participation at a Forum but also to see how far the Forum has grown, Alex Hawke said.
“Miss Ronie Quinn, Chief Executive Officer and I, were proud to present the Hon Alan Cadman OAM with a plaque in honour of his vision and in celebration of the 10 year anniversary of MYLF.
“In 2002, 95 students attended the Forum, representing 15 schools. In 2012, 160 students from 21 schools are expected to attend the Mitchell Youth Leadership Forum, Alex Hawke said.
The Forum is a 2 ½ day live-in program for Year 11 students. Students are generally nominated be their schools, churches, sports groups or service organisations. The program is strongly based around the values of service, integrity and courage.
“MYLF is a not-for-profit community based organisation and does not receive any government funding. Part of the funding of MYLF is due to the generosity of sponsors, many of them are local businesses that are passionate about investing in our youth.
“Many of the former students commented on how significant their participation in the Forum shaped where they are today,” concluded Alex Hawke.
2012 MYLF will be held from October 11-13, for more information visit www.mitchellylf.org.au
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, has said the announcement of Stage 1 of the large-scale rollout of the National Broadband Network recently by NBN Co and the Government is a big slap in the face to the residents of Mitchell.
“The Rollout shows work scheduled to be started within the next three years, yet 75% of suburbs in our electorate are simply not on the map. Too bad if you live in Baulkham Hills, Beaumont Hills, Bella Vista, Kellyville, Maraylya, Northmead, North Rocks, Rouse Hill or Winston Hills, said Alex Hawke.
“In comparison the neighbouring marginal electorate of Greenway which sits on just a 0.88% margin will see more than double the amount of suburbs connected with 58% of the electorate set to be connected within 3 years. But also too bad if you live in Acacia Gardens, Glenwood, Kellyville Ridge, Parklea, Stanhope Gardens, The Ponds or Quakers Hill, you’re set to miss out.
“Coming in second, the electorate of Parramatta, which sits on a bigger margin for Labor at 4.37% will see 35% of suburbs within the electorate connected in 3 years. But again, too bad if you live in Dundas Valley, Carlingford, Granville, South Granville, Holroyd, North Parramatta, Oatlands, Rosehill, Rydalmere, Telopea, Dundas, Ermington, Guilford, Merrylands, Merrylands West or Northmead.
“Looking at these comparisons it is clear that Labor is distributing the NBN first to the most marginal suburbs in the most marginal seats. But even then, this distribution sees many suburbs miss out altogether, Alex Hawke said.
“For $37.3billion of government expenditure that Labor has poured into this project that it is not good enough. The Labor party continues to play a game of post code pick and choose when it comes to Western Sydney. Local families and small businesses should send a message to Labor that this is not good enough,” concluded Alex Hawke.
Friday, 20 April 2012
Federal Member for Mitchell Alex Hawke MP, is encouraging all constituents of Mitchell to help celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee this year by collecting a free Diamond Jubilee Poster.
“Her Majesty The Queen has been a large part of our history and this year it is a time to reflect upon what can only be described as a truly remarkable reign ” said Mr Hawke.
At the tender age of just 21, the then Princess Elizabeth made what would become a historic promise ‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service and the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong’ she vowed.
This year as we pay tribute to Her Majesty, as she celebrates 60 years on the throne, we can see that she has kept her promise. She has fulfilled her duty, serving her people always with honour integrity and commitment, Alex Hawke said.
“Australia’s relationship with the Queen has been a special one, strengthened through Her Majesty’s regular visits, from her first in 1954, to her most recent just last year. You only need to look at the large crowds that gathered last year, to catch a glimpse of The Queen to recognise just how much admiration and respect Australia hold for our Monarch, said Alex Hawke.
“I encourage all constituents to take up the fantastic opportunity to secure a piece of history with an official Diamond Jubilee poster, and experience first hand the magic of monarchy,” concluded Alex Hawke.
There are two Official Diamond Jubilee portraits available, one of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and one of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh.
To request a copy click here.
“To have this criminal activity in the suburbs of North West Sydney is appalling. The residents of Mitchell have the right to know they will be safe when they go to sleep at night, said Alex Hawke.
Alex re-iterated his calls on the Federal government to increase funding and staff to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
“Under the Howard government 60% of air cargo consignments and 5.7% of sea cargo were inspected. Now only 8.3% of air cargo and 3.8 sea cargo is inspected.
“I urge the Gillard government to reinstate the funding to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service for air cargo and sea cargo screening. To stop the illegal importation of weapons, illicit drugs and contraband that is being smuggled into Sydney.
All three tiers of Government in The Hills are committed to work together to stop this criminal activity occurring in our suburbs,” concluded Alex Hawke MP.