In the News
The ineffectiveness of the Gillard Government’s approach to border protection is being continuously exposed and more than 11,000 people have now arrived in 220 boats since the abandonment of the policies of the Howard Government, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.
“How we manage our borders, and appropriately assess the claims of those who have arrived in Australia illegally, are consistently raised with me by residents of the Mitchell community,” Mr Hawke said.
“There is much pride in the history and legacy of Australia’s humanitarian programs and clearly no-one takes any pleasure from seeing other people in distress or in difficulty. But frustration with the Gillard Government’s approach is increasing.”
Mr Hawke said that in December 2007 there were just four people in immigration detention who had arrived in Australia illegally by boat. Now there are more than 6,500.
“Not only is there overcrowding, but we have also seen footage of riots in Villawood and Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centres,” Mr Hawke said.
“Much time has also been wasted on the Gillard Government’s so-called ‘East Timor solution’. The sentiment passed on to me from residents in our community is that this East Timor solution seems to be a political fix to try and address the increasing number of people who are illegally arriving in Australia by boat.”
Mr Hawke said the Federal Coalition is calling on the Government to reintroduce measures that had worked effectively under the Howard Government. These include the reintroduction of temporary protection visas for all who come illegally by boat, better and stronger relationships with close countries like Indonesia, and rigorous offshore processing including reopening of the detention centre in Nauru. The Coalition also believes that the Government should reserve for itself the right to turn around boats should that be practical.
“Since the Government abandoned the Howard Government’s approach to border protection people smugglers have been doing an increasing trade in arranging people to arrive in Australia illegally by boat,” Mr Hawke said.
“The surge in the number of people who have arrived, and continue to arrive illegally by boat, makes us ask whether the Gillard Government is adequately protecting Australia’s borders.”
Residents of Northwest Sydney urgently need a Northwest rail line, not more delays, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.
“The case for a Northwest rail line has been outlined, discussed, and analysed for decades,” Mr Hawke said.
“Comments by the Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland, (RHT, 20 April 2011) that the NSW Government is required to put a ‘detailed proposal’ to Infrastructure Australia ‘to help push the case forward’, are a concern.
“The need for a Northwest rail line has been recognised by experts in the transport sector. The need has been recognised by Ron Christie, who has been described as ‘the state’s most respected transport bureaucrat,’ and who ran the State Rail Authority, the Roads and Traffic Authority, the Department of Public Works and the Olympic Roads and Traffic Authority.
“The need has been recognised by local councils, business and community groups, and successive state Labor Governments.
“And most importantly, the need has been recognised by residents throughout our community who labour each day on the clogged M2 and local roads.”
Mr Hawke said Ms Rowland should put the compelling case to redirect Federal Government funding for construction of a Northwest rail line directly to the Minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, and without delay.
“Our local community is long past justifying the need for the Northwest rail line,” Mr Hawke said.
“The standard that is being asked of the NSW Government for Federal Government funding seems far greater than that of Federal Labor during the last Federal election campaign when they found $2.1 billion for the Epping to Parramatta link.
“Why must we again seek an explanation of the blatantly obvious.”
It is with great sadness that I learned Pauline Talty had passed away on Friday, 29 April 2011.
Pauline was a young woman of great determination and courage and she fought hard against illness at different stages of her life. Her enduring spirit, particularly as she undertook ongoing and arduous treatment, affected people throughout our local community and around Australia.
Thank you to the many people from different backgrounds in our Hills community who provided support and encouragement for Pauline and her family. Be it making a donation, attending a fundraising concert, or passing on best wishes, Pauline’s fight inspired people to help.
Thank you also to the Shadow Minister for Health, the Hon. Peter Dutton MP. Peter’s critical intervention in this matter in 2009 ensured Pauline received then life-saving funding for a bowel transplant in the face of an intransigent bureaucracy.
Our health system must be about caring for our community. We should not have to battle both illness and bureaucracy. Pauline Talty has left a great legacy, and part of this legacy is to remind us that our health system must focus on the needs of patients. It was a privilege to assist Pauline in the challenges she faced against a sometimes intransigent bureaucracy.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends, and loved ones of Pauline Talty at this difficult time.
Federal Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Anthony Albanese, must treat Hills residents with respect and not engage in political games involving billions of dollars in funding for rail infrastructure for North West Sydney, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.
“We urgently need a North West rail line, yet Mr Albanese still persists with the Gillard Government mantra about only funding an Epping to Parramatta rail link,” Mr Hawke said.
“This current version of the Epping to Parramatta rail link was a hastily cobbled together election announcement in 2010. It fails to take into account the urgent transport priorities facing all of North West Sydney.
“Mr Albanese must reconsider this funding and allow it to be used for a North West rail line should an O’Farrell Coalition Government be elected in New South Wales on March 26.”
Mr Hawke said he was concerned that the Gillard Government is treating the Hills community with the same disdain we have been treated by the New South Wales Government for the last 16 years.
“In early February of this year I put questions to Mr Albanese about the North West rail line and the construction of an Epping to Chatswood rail link on the House of Representatives Notice Paper,” Mr Hawke said.
“I am yet to receive a response from the Minister. Hills residents sitting in their cars in congested traffic, or waiting for buses to the City, want action. Surely it is not asking too much for the Federal Government to respond to the concerns of our community. “
Mr Hawke said he was a strong supporter of the policy of New South Wales Opposition Leader, Barry O’Farrell, to make construction of a North West rail line a priority.
“Following 16 years of New South Wales Labor Government, there are critical infrastructure projects in need of funding support throughout our State, including the North West rail line, as well as an Epping to Parramatta rail link,” Mr Hawke said.
“But for more than a decade Labor has broken its promises to construct a North West rail line. We are out of time, our transport infrastructure is choking and we cannot wait any longer for New South Wales Labor to honour their commitments.
“Mr O’Farrell has made it quite clear that a North West rail line is a higher priority for a New South Wales Coalition Government than an Epping to Parramatta rail link. Mr O’Farrell is taking this policy to the election on March 26.
“It would be crass for Mr Albanese and the Federal Labor Government to ignore the will of the public should an O’Farrell State Government be elected.”
Mr Hawke said he was deeply concerned that this was a sign that the Federal Government was now looking for excuses not to spend the $2.1 billion already committed for a Parramatta to Epping rail link.
“From recent reports Mr Albanese seems to be avoiding a sincere discussion on Sydney’s transport needs.
“Funding for rail infrastructure is not about semantics, it is about the greatest need, and the greatest need is for a North West rail line,” Mr Hawke said.
During the final week of last year’s election campaign both Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Treasurer Wayne Swan promised they would not introduce a Carbon Tax.
It was the key message they wanted in the public’s mind. But now they are going to impose a new tax that will stifle economic growth and put key Australian industries at a distinct disadvantage to overseas rivals.
The Gillard Government’s Carbon Tax will lead to increases in fuel and electricity prices for local families, many already at the limit of what they can afford to pay.