Lone Labor MP recognises importance of mine
AUGUST 20, 2015: STRONG support for the $16.5 billion Carmichael mine project in Central Queensland from Labor’s key resources spokesperson has been hailed as a win for the workers of Central and North Queensland.
MP’s call to stop court action against jobs heeded by AG & PM
MY call for a legal counter-offensive to stop extreme green groups from taking job-creating projects to court has been heeded with both the Attorney General and the Prime Minister agreeing that action needed to be taken.I spoke to the Attorney General George Brandis shortly after the Carmichael mine approval was overturned in the courts at the instigation of an extreme green group.I told him that it was unacceptable that groups that had nothing to do with this project were able to hold up and try to kill off jobs by waging warfare through the legal system.In an interview on Sunday the Attorney General said he wanted to stop such ‘vigilante litigation’.
Referendum will resolve marriage question
THE people should determine the definition of marriage in a constitutional referendum that offers voters two clear choices about that definition.I believe there should be a constitutional referendum and it should offer the people the choice between two definitions of marriage to be inserted into the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia.At present, the Constitution does not define marriage in Section 51 (xxi); it merely states that the Commonwealth has the power to make laws with respect to marriage.
Moves to create fairer child support system
A REPORT presented in Parliament House yesterday has recommended a number of changes to the Child Support Program to make the system fairer for both fathers and mothers and ultimately, the children caught up in relationship breakdowns.We have recommended the government consider allowing paying parents keep more of their income by increasing the self-support amount that is used in the child support formula and we have also asked for consideration of child support income management where there are substantial allegations of payments not being spent on meeting the needs of the child.
All people should have their say on marriage
FOLLOWING a mammoth meeting of the Liberal National Coalition Government last night, it is highly likely that the issue of gay marriage will be put to the people to vote on.I have been calling for this option since before the last election and have had several discussions with Prime Minister Tony Abbott and his advisers on the idea.I am hopeful we can resolve the issue of same sex marriage by committing to putting it to the people to vote on and then it can be resolved once and for all.
State holds up flow of jobs at Abbot Point
JOBS that would have been created at Abbot Point will be on hold this year because the State Labor Government continues to drag the chain on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the port expansion.I have been advised by Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt that the State government had not submitted an EIS for the port expansion despite State Mines Minister Anthony Lynham claiming on ABC radio today that the EIS had been lodged with the Commonwealth.This unacceptable delay by the State Labor government has cost jobs this year and these are jobs so desperately needed right now by communities across North Queensland such as Mackay, Bowen and Townsville.
Nats call for ban on green court action
UNDER a stance taken by the National Party at a meeting in Rockhampton yesterday, the Mackay Conservation Group would not be allowed to challenge job-creating projects such as the Carmichael Mine in the courts.Why should a group which is not directly impacted by the establishment of a mine have so much to say about the value of a projectThese self-styled guardians should have no authority before the courts.
Jobs for region is top priority for Nationals
IN a meeting of the Nationals Party Room in Rockhampton yesterday, Member for Dawson George Christensen spearheaded a move to affirm the party’s position on a range of issues pertaining to jobs.The position statement, which covered regional investment and job assistance programs through to controversial matters such as foreign workers and 100% FIFO, was adopted jointly by the Nationals and a statement was issued by the party leader, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss.The statement spelt out in clear terms that the Nationals support Australian workers getting Australian jobs, and only when it can be proven that there are no available Australian workers to fill job vacancies should foreign workers be considered.It also affirmed the Nationals’ stance that companies locking workers out of jobs based on where they live amounted to geographic discrimination; Central Queensland workers should always have the ability to apply for Central Queensland jobs.