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.
State Labor funding green activists to destroy jobs
THE State Labor Government needs to explain why they have given Mackay Conservation Group $5 for every job they kill off for workers desperate for employment.There are some serious questions which need to be answered by the Palaszczuk Government regarding their $50,000 donation to Mackay Conservation Group in the wake of the latest delay to Adani’s Carmichael Coal Project.The Premier of this state needs to explain why she wants to fund a group who are hell-bent on destroying the biggest job-creating project on the table.
Extreme greens put skink and snake ahead of workers desperate for jobs
THE Mackay Conservation Group are feeling victorious about their misguided campaign to put the welfare of the Yakka Skink and Ornamental Snake ahead of thousands of Mackay and Bowen workers desperate for jobs, but the court case victory they are crowing about today is a hollow one.I have spoken to Minister Greg Hunt’s office this morning and what has happened here is largely an administrative issue which should be resolved within six to eight weeks.
Program exposes students to predators
4 AUGUST 2015: I HAVE asked the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, to immediately close down a school program potentially exposing students to sexual predators.
NQ sugar jobs worth fighting for
8 AUGUST 2015: AS FAR as North Queensland is concerned, sugar in the deal-breaker in negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Trade Minister Andrew Robb left negotiations in Hawaii without a deal on the weekend and without sugar on the table that’s a good thing.
Bruce Highway fix to create 100 jobs
8 AUGUST 2015: A BRUCE Highway fix at Yellow Gin Creek (between Bowen and Ayr) will create around 100 jobs over the life of the project.
Green Army a tool for young job-seekers
YOUNG people looking for jobs are urged to consider joining the Green Army and groups with ideas for projects should come forward as applications for Round 4 of the program are now open.We’ve had some great projects undertaken locally by the Green Army, which is a program which benefits both the environment and young people keen to gain some more skills which might lead to permanent jobs.Participants aged between 17 and 24 will be able to undertake accredited training such as work readiness, conservation and land management, heritage conservation, project and human resource management and heritage trade skills.They will be supported to obtain Certificate I or II qualifications or nationally endorsed skills to help them prepare for the workforce or improve their career opportunities, and they’ll also receive a Green Army allowance while they do so.
Legal counter-offensive needed to save jobs
THE predictable extreme green tactic of mounting legal challenges to derail coal projects and stop the flow of jobs needs to be eliminated with a legal counter-offensive.I question the authority of those mounting court actions which currently hold seven Queensland projects to ransom, costing an estimated $1million a day in lost production.Who gives these self-styled guardians of the environment the authority to mount these court challenges which have been going on for more than two years?
LNP backs George for third term
28 JULY 2015: THE Liberal National Party executive today affirmed its commitment to me as the Federal Member for Dawson, recommending my endorsement as the LNP candidate at the next federal election. It has been an honour to represent North Queensland in the electorate for the past two terms and I look forward to continuing to fight for jobs and better outcomes for families in the North.
Grants to support practical environment projects
28 JULY 2015: PRACTICAL measures to improve the environment will be backed by a new round of funding through the Liberal National Government’s National Landcare Programme. A total of $135,000 will be offered through the Mackay-Whitsunday-Isaac region by Reef Catchments through their Looking After Local Landscapes initiative.
Demanding a fair deal on ring road contracts
27 JULY 2015: JOBS and contracts generated by the Mackay Ring Road Project need to flow to Mackay workers and Mackay businesses, and contractors have the right to expect they will be paid a competitive rate.
Next step in ice fight
AN interim report from the National Ice Taskforce which has been presented to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) by the Prime Minister has identified six key areas which need attention in the fight against the drug scourge.These are welcome findings, and they are largely those which were raised at the two Ice Forums I conducted in Mackay and Bowen last month.The difficulties faced by family members battling to help someone who has fallen prey to the addiction, and the ease of access to a drug which has such devastating effects. were two things which stood out for me.
Disunity over Labor's promised power price hike
23 JULY 2015: Labor leader Bill Shorten’s promise to raise electricity prices has driven a wedge between himself and the unions, with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) issuing a warning against the move.
Calling on our allies to seal a sweet deal
I'M urging our allies on many battlefields to once again recognise the historically strong relationship between Australia and the United States and come up with a sweet deal for sugar in the US Trans Pacific Partnership.Negotiators head to Hawaii next week for what could be the final round of talks, and we need a strengthened sugar trading relationship.Queensland sugar cane growers will be understandably devastated if we do not see an outcome of a commercially significant agreement on sugar with the US.
No support for new taxes
PEOPLE don’t want a hip-pocket hit; they want to see governments live within their means.State premiers have gathered in Sydney today for a Council of Australian Governments (COAG) retreat.Some premiers are making noises about raising the GST, while others are suggested a hip-pocket hit by raising the Medicare levy.I’m opposed to both because people want governments to live within their means and stop wasteful spending.