In the News
Friday, 31 August 2012
Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke welcomes Telstra’s ‘top hats’ boost of the ADSL2+ infrastructure throughout Mitchell.
“As a resident of Rouse Hill myself, I know these upgrades to broadband availability will be welcomed by all our community.”
(Pictured at a 'top hats' in Rouse Hill, , Peter Rule, Telstra Business Development Specialist, Andrew Bogg, Sydney North Region, Area General Manager - Telstra Community Wide, Alex Hawke MP, Federal Member for Mitchell and Ray Williams MP, State Member for Hawkesbury.
“’Top Hats’ technology is being installed in Bella Vista, Beaumont Hills, Castle Hill, Kellyville, Rouse Hill and Winston Hills.
Telstra is integrating new technology, referred to as ‘top hats’, into the existing street cabinets that deliver telephone services to local residents and businesses. This will mean ADSL2+ technology will be available to many households and businesses that had no previous access to a fixed broadband service.
“This means households and businesses will have access to ADSL2+ broadband technology which will enable them to stream video, access their favourite internet sites and work from home.
The installation of a ‘top hats’ is part of a nationwide infrastructure investment where approximately 2,000 ‘top hats’ will be installed in street side cabinets over the course of 18 months. The rollout is expected to be completed by mid 2013.
“This new innovation will bring great benefits to the residents and businesses of Mitchell allowing them greater, faster and easier access online”, Alex Hawke concluded.
For further information the roll out process visit http://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/Home-Broadband/Tophat-ADSL2-Rollout-Status-amp-FAQs/td-p/14526
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke has paid tribute to the hard work and contribution of the Meals on Wheels staff and volunteers in Mitchell.
Hills Community Care celebrated the National Meals on Wheels Day by hosting a morning tea for their Meals on Wheels volunteers and also delivered gifts to clients as they delivered their meals.
“They do an excellent job with 180 dedicated volunteers who deliver 50 meals a day throughout the week, approximately 13,000 meals a year. Meals are delivered throughout the Hills district including, Castle Hill and as far as Maroota.
Alex Hawke said that Meals on Wheels volunteers did not only donate their time and skills but also their own vehicles to ensure that the community’s neediest receive meals at their home.
“National Meals on Wheels day (29 August) is a day to recognise the efforts of the organisations’ volunteers and staff.
“The Meals on Wheels initiative has meant that people who are housebound in Mitchell and unable to prepare or buy their food can have it delivered to their door.
Alex Hawke said many people have become dependent on the volunteers and not necessarily for the meals they deliver but also for the much needed social interaction.
“I would personally like to thank the Meals on Wheels volunteers for the difference they have made to the people in Mitchell”, Alex Hawke concluded.
For more information please visit: www.mealsonwheels.org.au. For enquiries about the service please contact 9761 7602 or email hcc@thehills.nsw.gov.au.
Wednesday, 29 August 2012
Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke, encourages residents of Mitchell to celebrate the 111th anniversary of the Australian National Flag on September 3, by displaying our flag or holding a flag raising ceremony.
“The National Flag is our chief national symbol, that we should be proud of, as it represents who we are as a nation and defines us on the world stage, said Alex Hawke.
Australian National Flag Day offers the opportunity for Australians to learn more about the history of our flag.
Some facts about our chief national symbol; it is the only flag to fly over an entire continent and the first to be chosen in an open public competition. Also the Australian National Flag is raised every morning at the school in Villiers-Bretonneux in France, in memory of the thousands of Australian casualties incurred in liberating their village in 1917 (during the First World War).
As our Governor-General, Her Excellency, Ms Quentin Bryce AC) has remarked:
“Since it was first unfurled from the Royal Exhibition Building in 1901, our Australian flag has been an icon of our shared identity, of what it means to belong to our country. It is much loved, worn and flown by Australians her and across the world…Wherever it is raised, it stirs in us a sense of unity…”.
“Australian National Flags are available from my electorate office to all community groups, schools, and organisations within the electorate of Mitchell.
“Flags are also available for students participating in overseas exchange programs, visiting Australian war memorials overseas and for those who are representing Australia overseas”, concluded Alex Hawke.
To obtain a flag please contact my office on 9899 7211. For further information on the Australian National Flag visit www.flagaustnat.asn.au.
Wednesday, 22 August 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke said he stood up for Fair Indexation in the Parliament today.
"Today the House of Representatives voted against a Coalition proposal to give our veterans a fair go", Alex Hawke said.
"The Coalition moved to prevent further debate on the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 until the Gillard Labor Government introduces Fair Indexation legislation. However, Labor, Greens MP Adam Bandt and Independent MPs Tony Windsor, Craig Thomson and Bob Katter voted against the amendment.
"Independent MP Rob Oakeshott failed to show up for the vote.
"Today was the day for the House of Representatives to draw a line in the sand and tell the Gillard Labor Government it was time to deliver a fair go. That Labor failed to do that is a shameful decision.
"The Coalition is committed to delivering fair indexation for military superannuants. The Coalition believes DFRB and DFRDB military superannuation pensioners aged 55 and over should have their pensions indexed in the same way as aged and service pensioners.
"At the 2010 election we committed to fair indexation. Despite losing the election, the Coalition introduced legislation into the Senate to provide fairness, justice and equity. Sadly, the Greens and the Labor Party opposed the legislation.
"Local military superannuants are fighting for a fair go. I took this stand in the House of Representatives today to show that I am serious about delivering the fair go my local constituents deserve.
"It is no longer acceptable that this Labor Government continues to fiddle about the edges of policy while at the same time wholly dismissing the everyday concerns of veterans, ex-service personnel and their families.
"Six weeks ago, many local veterans received letters from the government giving them a few extra cents per fortnight in their pensions. This is deeply unfair. Had the Coalition's Fair Indexation legislation passed the Senate last year, these increases would have been nine times higher.
"Local veterans who are DFRB and DFRDB military superannuants have proudly served their nation. It's time the nation recognised the unique nature of military service and delivered fair pension indexation to these men and women, and their families.
"It is now even clearer that we must change the Government in order to deliver this important reform for our veterans, " Alex Hawke concluded.
Wednesday, 15 August 2012
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, said the passage of legislation through the House of Representatives to allow offshore processing at Nauru was a welcome step in restoring policies that work on our borders.
“This is a welcome first step to strengthening Australia’s borders – but more action will be required if we are to stop the boats and end the needless deaths at sea, said Alex Hawke.
“I believe the only way we can be fully confident of stopping the boats is to return to the complete policies of the last Coalition government when it comes to border protection.
“The fact is you can't get Howard government policy outcomes on border protection - a 99 per cent reduction in boat arrivals - if you don't implement the full Howard government policies.
“Offshore processing at Nauru is one part of the solution. The other parts of the solution are the reintroduction of temporary protection visas (TPVs) and turning back the boats where safe to do so.
“These policies work together and when combined, entirely destroy the people smuggler model.
“Australians want confidence that the borders are secure, they want confidence that government policies are working and they want an end to the uncertainty that has accompanied the four years of failure on our borders.
“Labor cannot be trusted to implement policies on our borders that they do not believe in and have been dragged kicking and screaming to adopt. Only the Coalition has the proven record of standing for and successfully implementing polices that stop the boats.
Alex Hawke said residents of Mitchell would welcome the change in policy by the Gillard Government on its position on offshore processing at Nauru, but they would be right to ask, why it took the Gillard Government four years to admit it got it so wrong on border protection.
“Four years ago, the Rudd-Gillard government overturned proven policies that work. Since then we have had 22,000 illegal arrivals, 1,000 deaths at sea, a battering of Australia’s international reputation and a $4.7 billion budget blowout. This was all so avoidable.
Alex Hawke said the Coalition had a clear plan to strengthen Australia’s borders and endless needless deaths at sea.
“The Coalition supports proven policies that work – this means offshore processing, temporary protection visas and turning the boats around. These policies work together to stop the boats and end the needless deaths at sea," Alex Hawke concluded.