In the News
A Coalition Government will introduce new indexation arrangements for Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme (DFRDB) members, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.
“This is an area of great concern which I have discussed with many local veterans and members of the ex-service community,” Mr Hawke said. “I have been pursuing this with the Shadow Ministry and spoke about this in Parliament earlier this year.”
Mr Hawke said that these changes recognise the unique nature of military service. Better indexation arrangements are a necessary part of a fair, equitable and fiscally responsible military superannuation system.
Under a Coalition government, from 1 July 2011 those DFRDB members aged 55 years or older will have their military superannuation pensions indexed to the greater of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE) or the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI).
Currently this superannuation scheme is indexed only in line with movements with the CPI.
Widows of DFRDB superannuates will also benefit from the announced changes.
“Australia’s service personnel, past and present, deserve to live out their lives in the knowledge that they have financial security,” Mr Hawke said.
“Labor broke its election promise to ‘fix’ the issue of military superannuation indexation and this has yet another example that the Labor Government is all talk and no action.
“This is a fully costed and fully funded policy. Savings already identified by the Coalition will be used to offset the $98 million cost over the forward estimates. A further $100 million will be invested into the Future Fund as a first step towards funding the new arrangements beyond the forward estimates.”
This change brings into line the indexation of DFRDB superannuation with the aged pension. Currently DFRDB superannuation is indexed according to the CPI.
If the indexation rate had increased in line with the aged pension, military superannuates would have received an extra $28.40 per fortnight to their pension (if they received the full pension rate) in March this year.
“We are committed to real action to support our veterans, and will ensure that those who have served their nation are properly looked after in their retirement,” Mr Hawke said.
“Military service is unique and unique solutions are required to recognise that service.”
Further evidence from Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and content providers at the Cyber Safety Committee roundtable in Melbourne today ought to spell the end of Labor’s deeply flawed proposal for mandatory internet filtering, said the Member for Mitchell, and Deputy Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety, Alex Hawke MP.
“In spite of serious opposition and ongoing concern expressed by virtually every sector, Senator Conroy and the Gillard Government appear bloody minded in their pursuit of mandatory internet filtering,” Mr Hawke said.
“Evidence from parent groups, ISP providers, teacher unions, internet peak bodies, such as the Safer Internet Group and the Internet Industry Association, has reinforced the need for better education of parents, teachers, and children and the need for greater resources for law enforcement such as the AFP.
“All of the evidence from key affected groups before the Committee has been that a filter is too simplistic, will not achieve the objectives the Government is seeking, and will do nothing to prevent illegal and inappropriate online behaviour.
“Senator Conroy should examine the evidence that the committee has heard, in particular that the best way to protect internet users online is to train children and adults to learn to use the filter between their ears.”
Mr Hawke said that today the Cyber Safety Committee has heard that content filtering does not solve problems of identity theft, cyber bullying, cyber stalking, and many of the other concerns of internet use.
“Senator Conroy’s claims that a mandatory internet filter is about child pornography are a complete sham in light of the evidence heard by the Cyber Safety Committee in recent weeks,” Mr Hawke said.
“His comments that people looking for alternative solutions are “opting in” to child pornography are particularly insulting to Australian internet users.
“This highly illegal content does need to be dealt with by strong and adequate law enforcement and effective partnership with industry and parents.
“In contrast to this, the action of the Rudd/Gillard Government has been to dump the free, voluntary NetAlert filtering software of the previous Government, described today as ‘one of those gems of Government policy that worked’, by Mr John Lindsay of Internode and supported as effective by the Internet Industry Association.
“It should also be noted that the Rudd Government cut funding to online enforcement by the AFP in 2008 in preparation for the online filter.”
Mr Hawke said that this week’s announcement that Labor will proceed to introduce legislation for Mandatory Internet Filtering if re-elected serve as a warning to internet users and in particular young people across Australia.
“As the saying goes—‘the road to hell is paved with good intentions’— and the Government in this bloody minded pursuit of a deeply flawed policy will have major ramifications for all internet users with little to no benefit. Good intentions need to be supported by good evidence based policy,” Mr Hawke said.
“Australian internet users need to be aware that if the Gillard Government is re-elected they will pursue mandatory internet filtering regardless of the strong evidence emerging that it will not achieve their own objectives.”
The Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, and the Shadow Minister for Education, Christopher Pyne, joined Alex Hawke to announce the Coalition’s Real Action Plan to Stop Labor’s School Halls Waste.
Under the Coalition’s plan principals will decide on the priorities for each school, not the state bureaucracy. In addition, once the planned construction is complete, schools will retain any remaining money for other education or infrastructure initiatives.
Mr Abbott and Mr Pyne were able to meet members of the local community at Annangrove where the school community had sought a new hall under the BER, but was offered a library, despite already having a library. Annangrove public school is a clear example of the need for taxpayers’ money to be spent wisely.
Growing up in the Hills, the Orange Blossom Festival was something which was always an important occasion on our community’s calendar.
Be it the street parades, the garden competition, the Crestwood Fair, or the other festivals—these events were an important cultural exchange in our local community.
The Orange Blossom Festival was significant to many locals, especially those who had lived in the Hills Shire for a long time and can still recall the open spaces and agricultural areas that covered the entire district.
Each year many local residents volunteered to serve on boards, help to organise events, and spent countless hours ensuring the success of events making up the Orange Blossom Festival.
The name Orange Blossom Festival reflects an ongoing tradition that stretches back some 40- 50 years and reflects the importance of the citrus industry to our past and an ongoing link with our agricultural history.
But the changing the name of the Orange Blossom Festival to ‘Hills Fest’ has led to much disappointment among many residents in the Hills Shire. At best, Hills Fest is underwhelming and it is a name that I believe will take a long time to receive even a moderate amount of recognition or support.
Can you imagine other areas abandoning their identities? For example the Ryde Council dropping the name Granny Smith Festival, held each year in Eastwood in favour of Eastwood Fest?
There should not be a rush away from the names and traditions which are important to many in our community. I fear this name change is more to do with modern marketing-speak than accurately reflecting community sentiment.
Council should reconsider this re-branding decision, recognise the importance of this festival to our past, and retain the name Orange Blossom Festival. It a distinct, unique name that reflects our Shire’s history and tradition.
There is clear disappointment among many residents in the Hills Shire about changing the name of the Orange Blossom Festival, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.
“The name Orange Blossom Festival reflects an ongoing tradition that stretches back some 40- 50 years and reflects the importance of the citrus industry to our past. It remains an important part of our identity today and an ongoing link with our agricultural history,” Mr Hawke said.
“Growing up in the Hills, the Orange Blossom Festival was something which was always an important occasion on our local calendar.
“Whether it be the street parades, the garden competition, the Crestwood Fair or the other festivals, these events form an important cultural exchange for local communities.
“The Orange Blossom Festival means a lot to long time locals and many who grew up in the Hills can still remember the open spaces and agricultural areas that covered the entire district.
“Many locals have served on boards, helped organise events, and spent countless hours ensuring the success of events each year.
“At best, the new name ‘Hills Fest’ is underwhelming,” Mr Hawke said.
“Hills Fest is a name without meaning and does not impress. I believe it is a term that will take a long time to receive recognition and support.
“Can you imagine other areas abandoning their identities? For example the Ryde Council dropping the name Granny Smith Festival, held each year in Eastwood in favour of Eastwood Fest?
“There must not be a rush to move away from names and traditions which are important to many in our community. I fear this name change is more to do with modern marketing-speak than accurately reflecting community sentiment.
“In the Hills District we have a distinct, unique name that reflects our Shire’s past and it is the ‘Orange Blossom Festival’.
“I urge Council to reconsider this re-branding decision, recognise the importance of this festival to our past, and retain the name Orange Blossom Festival,” Mr Hawke said.