In the News
Thursday, 2 February 2012
John Wilks is a local Hills husband and father on a mission to raise funds in the fight against Breast Cancer. This Sunday he will participate in The Sydney Morning Herald Cole Classic, Australia’s largest ocean swim held over 1km, starting at Shelley Beach and finishing at Manly.
Alex Hawke MP, Federal Member for Mitchell, together with his colleague, David Elliott MP, State Member for Baulkham Hills met with this inspiring local recently.
“Last year John was motivated to enter the Sydney Morning Herald Cole Classic to support his wife & others suffering with Breast Cancer. This year, John is raising funds for the Breast Cancer Network and he is one of the Top 5 fundraisers,” Alex Hawke said.
John and his family have been personally affected by cancer with his wife Jane receiving ongoing treatment for this disease. John is not alone, Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among Australian women and accounts for approximately 27% of all cancer diagnosis.
Mr Hawke praised John Wilks for his efforts and for that of all others in our local community who put in the extra effort to help those in need of assistance.
“It is wonderful to meet John and hear his story. We have so many inspiring locals in Mitchell who work passionately for worthy causes and go above and beyond to make a difference in people’s lives,” Alex Hawke concluded.
Further information on The Sydney Morning Herald Cole Classic can be found at:
Friday, 20 January 2012
Local sporting clubs, scout groups and community organisations have been dealt a severe blow by the Gillard Labor Government and their attack on volunteers. As predicted by the Coalition, Labor’s new OH&S laws have turned volunteers into workers, effectively destroying the tradition of Australian volunteerism as we know it.
“Volunteers are a vital part of our local community,” Alex Hawke MP, Federal Member for Mitchell said. “The fact Labor would jeopardise such a fundamental cornerstone of Australian culture shows just how out of touch they are.
Under the OH&S changes volunteers are now considered to be workers in the eyes of the law, liable to severe fines and prison sentences if Labor’s OH&S red tape is breached.
These changes will have a chilling effect on the voluntary sector, whereby people will give up existing volunteer work or choose not to begin volunteering in the first place due to fear of attracting these harsh penalties.
“In November last year my colleague, Senator Eric Abetz, raised concerns in parliament about the effect that Labor’s changes would have on the volunteer sector,” Alex Hawke said. “As is typical of this government they failed to address those concerns. Concerns that are now becoming a reality.
“You see Volunteers where ever you go. We have great organisations such as the Lions and Rotary clubs, not to mention the countless mum and dad volunteers helping out at local sporting events every weekend or raising money for the sick, the elderly or others in need.
“Under these changes both community organisations and their volunteers will now be burden with strict regulations accompanied by harsh punishments for non compliance.
“This legislation makes a mockery of Labor and their supposed commitment to the voluntary sector.
Unlike Labor, the Coalition has constantly supported policies that will help rather than hinder the voluntary sector.
At the 2010 election, the Coalition proposed AUSCORPS, a program which would give university students a discount on their HELP debt in recognition of voluntary work in order to encourage a new generation of volunteers.
“The government’s goal should be to increase volunteerism, not destroy it,” Alex Hawke concluded.
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
“The Prime Minister has betrayed Andrew Wilkie on poker machine reform in the same way she betrayed the Australian people over a carbon tax, said Alex Hawke MP, Federal Member for Mitchell.
“The message that every Australian needs to take from this is that nothing this Prime Minister says can be trusted. Her agreement with Andrew Wilkie, was a drawn up legal document, rather than just a letter between two politicians. If the Prime Minister can back flip on this, then why should anyone take her seriously?, Alex Hawke said.
Late last year Alex Hawke attended the Blacktown Workers Club speaking as the Coalition’s representative at a rally against mandatory pre-commitment. In front of some 2000 members, MP’s on all sides heard from ordinary people just how badly a great local club like Blacktown Workers would be affected.
“Both Labor Representatives, Michelle Rowland (Greenway) and Ed Husic (Chifley) displayed a complete contempt for the views of the workers at the Blacktown Workers rally.”
“If the booing and jeering of the crowd and the palpable anger in the room did not tell Michelle Rowland and Ed Husic something, perhaps they could have looked at the signs that read, ‘I am an Adult’ , I do not need the Government to make my choices for me’ or ‘Leave our club members alone’, said Alex Hawke.
“The Coalition has had a consistent position on poker machine reform all along. Problem gambling destroys families and affects society as a whole. It is an issue that needs to be addressed and the best way to deal with problem gambling is with voluntary pre-commitment, through more counselling and through tackling online gambling. The trouble with online gambling is that you can lose your house without ever leaving your home”, Alex Hawke concluded.
Friday, 27 January 2012
The Hills was awash with Aussie Pride as Australia Day celebrations took place all around the local area last week.
Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, attended a number of Australia Day celebrations and was heartened by the levels of national pride that were on display throughout the day.
“Australia Day is a fantastic day to celebrate who we are as a nation and to reflect on how far we have come,” Mr Hawke said.
“We are fortunate to live in a nation with opportunities for all. It is inspirational to see those who have been Australian Citizens for greater than fifty years joining together with those who have been Australian’s for less than one year get together and share the Aussie virtues of hard work and mateship.”
Mr Hawke began the day by attending a ceremony hosted by Castle Hill RSL Club at Castlebrook Memorial Park to pay tribute to former servicemen and women by placing Australian flags at their gravesites.
The Castle Hill Flag Raising Ceremony was held inside Castle Towers. The Australia Day Ambassador for the Hills, Dr Paul Brock AM, gave an inspiring speech which well received by the Hills community.
The Hills was very well represented on the Australia Day Honours List which Mr Hawke believes is fitting due to the number of hardworking committed Australians that make up our local community.
“The Australia Day Honours list is an opportunity for the community to say thank you to those who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of others,” Mr Hawke said. “Congratulations to those who were honoured by the Hills Shire Council Australia Day Awards and the Australia Day Honours List.”
The list of Mitchell residents on the Honours list is as follows.
Ms Inaam Tabbaa AM
Clr Raymond Harty OAM
Mr Barry Moynahan OAM
Mr Ronald Wright OAM
Monday, 30 January 2012
The Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott MP, and the Coalition have established an Online Safety Working group to assist parents, carers and teachers to better protect children and young people from risks associated with the internet and social media.
Alex Hawke MP, The Federal Member for Mitchell was sought out by Mr Abbott to join the working group which consists of nine Coalition members and Senators.
Alex Hawke has been a long term advocate of cyber-safety issues. Mr Hawke has been Deputy Chair of the Parliament’s Joint Select Committee on Cyber-Safety since 2010 which authored the ‘High-Wire Act: Cyber-Safety and the Young’ which made 22 critical recommendations to the government on this issue.
“Social Media and the Internet are evolving at an exponential rate,” Alex Hawke said. “This brings countless new opportunities for learning and development to young people. However, with this new technology there are dangers that need to be considered, especially for young people.
“The ease of access to illegal or inappropriate content and the use of social media as a forum for online bullying are an example of issues that need to be addressed.
“We are not interested in repeating Labor’s ill-conceived attempt to put a filter on the internet. The Coalition’s goal is to assist parents and teachers in their work of protecting children and preparing them for adulthood.
“This is to protect cyber-privacy. It’s not about trying to enforce cyber-censorship.”
Mr Hawke is calling on residents from the Mitchell electorate to have their say on this important issue.
“We have a lot of young families and young adults in the Mitchell electorate. I call on anybody who has an opinion or idea regarding online safety to contact my office and make their views known. Online safety is an issue which affects everyone in one way or another. It is important that everyone has an opportunity to have their say either by contacting my office or attending one of the Community Forums the Working Group will be holding (details to follow).”
If you would like to contact Mr Hawke to offer any comments or suggestions on Online Safety please contact the electorate office or alternatively you can add Alex Hawke as a friend on Facebook or follow AlexHawkeMP on Twitter.