In the News
With unemployment rapidly rising there must be no higher priority for the Commonwealth than securing jobs. It is a fact that well paid, skilled and secure jobs are dependent on innovation and enterprise, along with low taxes and incentives that make it easy for businesses to invest in people.
Through Malcolm Turnbull's Jobs for Australia initiative, all Australians can now discuss their ideas on how to create, presever and enhance jobs in an online forum at www.jobsforaustralia.com. I encourage you to visit and participate in this site.
In addition to the online Jobs for Australia forum, I will be holding a Mitchell Jobs Forum in the near future with key members of our business community to hear their ideas and suggestions. If you are interested in taking part please contact my office.
Recently, I met with local retirees, representatives from the Association of Independent Retirees and members from the Hills National Seniors Australia to hear their concerns regarding proposed changes to the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC).
Self-funded retirees who have planned prudently for their retirement with little dependence on Government support will be hit hard by the proposed changes to their eligibility for the CSHC.
I took the concerns I heard to Shadow Cabinet and am happy to announce that the Coalition will be opposing the legislation. I spoke on the Bill on Tuesday, 17 March, sharing the concerns of Mitchell residents with the Parliament. My speech is below or copies are available from my office.
Mr HAWKE (Mitchell) (12.34 pm)—I rise to speak on the Social Security and Veterans’ Entitlements Amendment (Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2009. The government is continually reminding us that people are being stripped of their entitlements, that they are unable to claim their redundancy entitlements and that they are suffering because of the global financial downturn, so it is extraordinary that we have before us today a piece of legislation which will effectively cut the entitlement of 22,000 people to a concession card that provides them with significant benefits which allow them to continue to fund their own retirements.
Mr HAWKE (Mitchell) (12.34 pm)—I rise to speak on the Social Security and Veterans’ Entitlements Amendment (Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) Bill 2009. The government is continually reminding us that people are being stripped of their entitlements, that they are unable to claim their redundancy entitlements and that they are suffering because of the global financial downturn, so it is extraordinary that we have before us today a piece of legislation which will effectively cut the entitlement of 22,000 people to a concession card that provides them with significant benefits which allow them to continue to fund their own retirements.
Mr HAWKE (Mitchell) (11.11 am)—It is a privilege to rise today to oppose this bill. Let us be clear here today about what this government is seeking the parliament’s permission to do.
The government is asking the parliament to validate a tariff—a new tax, an excise, whatever you want to call it—when we know clearly that the intentions of this measure have been a total and utter failure. We know that this is a complete policy failure. We have had member after member on the government benches tell us today that this is all about the health of the Australian community, that these bills are somehow tied integrally to the health of Australians, to the consumption levels of alcohol and to health outcomes that the government is seeking to change or alter. But what is really going on is that this government is seeking to increase the excise, the tax, collected on one category of alcohol—ready-to-drink beverages.
Mr HAWKE (Mitchell) (11.11 am)—It is a privilege to rise today to oppose this bill. Let us be clear here today about what this government is seeking the parliament’s permission to do.
The government is asking the parliament to validate a tariff—a new tax, an excise, whatever you want to call it—when we know clearly that the intentions of this measure have been a total and utter failure. We know that this is a complete policy failure. We have had member after member on the government benches tell us today that this is all about the health of the Australian community, that these bills are somehow tied integrally to the health of Australians, to the consumption levels of alcohol and to health outcomes that the government is seeking to change or alter. But what is really going on is that this government is seeking to increase the excise, the tax, collected on one category of alcohol—ready-to-drink beverages.