Children at risk – Australian Family Law Act must be amended immediately: Greens

Family Law Act must be amended immediately: Greens

The Australian Greens are calling on the Attorney-General Robert McClelland to amend the Family Law Act as a matter of priority in light of the findings of the Chisholm report.

“The report confirms what many groups, including the Greens, said would happen,” said Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson on Family Law.

“We said at the time the Howard Government was forcing the changes through the Senate in 2006 that the amendments would put women and children at risk.

“It clearly put the rights of parents ahead of the interests of children. The Howard Government deliberately worded the amendments in such a way that there is a de facto presumption of equal time. That is exactly what the former government wanted,” Senator Siewert said.

“The notion of equal shared parenting as amended in the act reflects a commodification of children that fails to address the best interests of the child. It is no wonder that this is leading to very significant problems.

“It was also obvious at the time that the changes to the definition of domestic violence, together with the introducing of fines for making ‘unsubstantiated’ claims of abuse, were going to put women and children at risk.

“Unfortunately the warnings of family law experts to the Senate inquiry were ignored and three years on what they warned of has happened.

“The Government must now amend the Family Law Act. Consideration of shared care is an important starting point for family law, but the Howard amendments went beyond the concept of shared care to a de facto assumption of equal shared care.

“These changes need to be reversed as a matter of priority,” concluded Senator Siewert.

The Australian Greens dissenting report on the Howard Government changes http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/family_law/report/d02.htm

Fernando de Freitas
Media Advisor

Office of Scott Ludlam & Rachel Siewert

Australian Greens Senators for Western Australia

Suite S1.36 Parliament House, Canberra ACT
P: 02 6277 3467 |

Fernando.defreitas
www.GreensMPs.org.au

Australian PM backs down on Close the Gap for Indigenous promise: Greens

PM backs down on Close the Gap promise: Greens

The Australian Greens question the Rudd Government’s ability to Close the Gap in Aboriginal life expectancy and health disadvantage, if the PM can’t even keep his commitment to report to Parliament on the first day of sitting.

“The Greens are concerned it appears Mr Rudd won’t be reporting on progress in closing the gap on the first day of Parliament on Tuesday,” said Senator Rachel Siewert.

“Two years after making the commitment that while-ever he was Prime Minister, the first sitting day of parliament every year would be marked by a report on the government’s progress in “closing the gap” between black and white Australians – it looks like Mr Rudd will have a 100% failure rate, having never managed to keep this commitment.”

Mr Rudd made this promise in London in a speech reporting on the apology to the stolen generations a month after that event.

“Perhaps it is because Mr Rudd can’t put such a positive spin on progress?” suggests Senator Siewert.

“There have been few houses built, Aboriginal communities still don’t have access to essential services, and the health and education services till aren’t meeting Aboriginal needs,” she said.

Meanwhile the discriminatory Northern Territory Invention is still in place, and the Rudd Government is attempting to water down Native Title legislation yet again.

“Kevin Rudd should be embarrassed by situations such as occurred last year, when his Government refused to take the lead in resolving a dispute over essential dialysis services in Central Australia, and when his Minister for Indigenous Affairs was caught out deliberately misquoting figures to support the discriminatory NT Intervention.”

“Mr Rudd seemed very keen on Indigenous issues around the time of the apology when he claimed “…the mood of the nation on Indigenous policy and politics is now very simple” but since then he hasn’t found it so simple to restore the Racial Discrimination Act or to deliver reparations to the Stolen Generations.”

“Resolving Aboriginal disadvantage is not simple, and will take much more than spin to fix,” concluded Senator Siewert.

Media Contact: Fernando De Freitas

Fernando de Freitas
Media Advisor

Office of Scott Ludlam & Rachel Siewert

Australian Greens Senators for Western Australia

Suite S1.36 Parliament House, Canberra ACT
P: 02 6277 3467 |

Fernando.defreitas
www.GreensMPs.org.au

audio – New tactics from anti whaling ship MV Steve Irwin as she sails into the Southern Ocean

After replenishing in Fremantle (the port city of Perth, West Australia) the Seashepherd.org vessel MV Steve Irwin is making good headway south to again protect whales being hunted by a Japanese “research” fleet.

The crew face increasingly violent opposition from the Japanese “research” ships illegally slaughtering whales.

They are there because the Australian Government has refused to do the right thing and force the whale killing to stop.

Click the blue link to hear the 8 minute interview on 6pr.com.au with

Pedro Montero on Jan 31st 0430 Perth time

pedro-montero-mv-steve-irwin.m4a

ABC News: Australian Mental health funding to double

Mental health funding to double

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon says funding for mental health care programs will double over the next four years, amid concerns that its rebate scheme is not reaching those in need.

The scheme allows people to claim a Medicare rebate on psychologist appointments if they are referred by their…

To read the full story on your mobile please use this link
http://m.abc.net.au/browse?page=11144&articleid=2805713&cat=Justin

To read the full story on a PC or Mac please use this link
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/30/2805713.htm

from @perthtones’ iPhone

WACOSS eNews edition 228

Thursday 28th January 2010- Edition 228
Welcome to WACOSS eNews Please feel free to circulate and distribute this newsletter to your networks. There is no cost for subscribing to this newsletter. CLICK HERE to subscribe online. WACOSS eNews is distributed to over 5,200 email addresses and then wider from these networks. The list continues to grow on a daily basis. Advertise your events, jobs, etc. through this newsletter. WACOSS eNews is published every second Thursday – email your items to WACOSS by 5pm on the Tuesday of that week. Next deadline for issue 229 of eNews is Tuesday 9th February, 5pm. Fees may apply for some advertisements. Please contact WACOSS on 08 9420 7222 for more details or email info
General WACOSS News
	Nominations Now Open for Community Service Excellence Awards
	Invitation to Sponsor an Exciting Event – WACOSS Conference
	WACOSS 2010 Conference- Registrations Open Next Week
	Sector Breakfast and Community Services Excellence Awards Launch
	NEW WACOSS TRAINING CALENDAR FOR 2010
	Community Services Staff to Make a Statement with CEWA Petition to Increase Salaries ..SIGN NOW
Social Policy News
	First report by Federal Social Inclusion Board highlights nature of Mutltiple Dissadvantage for most Vulnerable Australians
	Climate Change Readniness for Community Services
	ERA Committee Opportunity for Consumer Organisations
	ERA Paper: Decision on Proposed Amendments to the Code of Conduct for the Supply ofElectricity to Small Use Customers
	ISSUES PAPER: Strategic Energy Initiative
	ELECTRICITY CODE CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (ECCC): Opportunity for Interested Parties to Comment
	NOW OPEN FOR CONSULTATION: Expanded National Legislation For Appliance Energy Efficiency
	Opportunity to Comment: National Water Initiative (NWI) pricing principles and the consultation regulation impact statement for the NWI pricing principles
Sector Services and Development News
	New Help for the Community Services Sector
	Meeting Legal Obligations when Employing Staff Training- 11th Feb 2010
	Fundraising and Submission Training – 18th Feb 2010
	Communicating and Connecting with Aboriginal People in the Community and the Workplace Workshop – 25th Feb 2010
	Join in- Emergency Relief Forum
Corporate Services News
	WACOSS Members – Take advantage of free Not For Profit Network Membership now!
	Make a difference and become a WACOSS Member now!
Sector News
	ASeTTS Training Calendar for 2010
	MurdochLINK Workshops February 2010
	Broome Australian Red Cross Office Sublease Opportunity
	Society of Professional Social Workers: Professional Supervision Workshops
	Public Trustee’s Bulletin: Trust Matters Issue 4 January 2010
	Aluminimum Can Recycling Information Request
	New Gambling Help Online Service Operational – find out more
	Education Costs Assistance Scheme 2010 Applications Now Open
	Samaritans Crisis Line Training/Function Room for Hire
Community Sector Positions Vacant
	St Patrick’s Community Support Centre seeks Housing Support Worker
	St Patrick’s Community Support Centre seeks Assertive Outreach Workers
	Passages Resource Centre seeks Youth Worker
	McCusker Alzheimers Research Foundation seeks Executive Manager
	Salvation Army seeks Male Mobile Youth Worker
	KEYS seeks Family Support Officer
	Ruah seeks Tenancy Support Worker
	UnitingCare West seeks Housing Support Worker
	Advocare seeks Manager
Upcoming Sector Events
	The Spirit and Practice of Leadership Feb 16-17th
	Resilience Doughnut Accredited Training
	Society of Professional Social Workers Forum: Intra-familial Homicide and the Intergenerational Transmission of Trauma – Implications for Practice 18th March 2010
	Gimme Shelter Concert 20th February 2010
	Family Ryhme Time Training Opportunities
	Samaritans Crisis Line – Effective Listening Skills Training
	Gimme Shelter Fundraiser Registration Information
	Better Boards Conference 23-25th July 2010
	Self-Abuse Finally Ends Workshop: An Introduction To Working With Individuals Who Self Abuse, Perth and Bunbury February 2010

A little friday fun – don’t know the origin of these gems, but hope u enjoy – via my brother, Jordan

Good advice from a friend.

Five rules for men to follow for a happy life.

1. It’s important to have a woman who helps at home, cooks from time to
time, cleans up and has a job.

2. It’s important to have a woman who can make you laugh.

3. It’s important to have a woman who you can trust and who doesn’t lie
to you.

4. It’s important to have a woman who is good in bed and who likes to be
with you.

5. It’s very, very important that these four women do not know each
other.

Sincerely,

Tiger Woods

Research confirms that drinking gives you the same benefits yoga does !!!

Savasana
Position of total relaxation.
http://www.mdig.com.br/imagens/brincadeira/yoga_russa_01.jpg

Balasana
Position that brings the sensation of peace and calm.
http://www.mdig.com.br/imagens/brincadeira/yoga_russa_02.jpg

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana
This position calms the brain and heals tired legs.
http://www.mdig.com.br/imagens/brincadeira/yoga_russa_03.jpg

Marjayasana
Position stimulates the midirift area and the spinal comumn.
http://www.mdig.com.br/imagens/brincadeira/yoga_russa_04.jpg

Halasana
Excelent for back pain and imsomnia.
http://www.mdig.com.br/imagens/brincadeira/yoga_russa_05.jpg

Dolphin
Excelent for the shoulder area, thorax, legs, and arms.
http://www.mdig.com.br/imagens/brincadeira/yoga_russa_06.jpg

Salambhasana
Great excersice to stimulate the lumbar area, legs, and arms.
http://www.mdig.combr/imagens/brincadeira/yoga_russa_07.jpg

Ananda Balasana
This position is great for masaging the hip area.
http://www.mdig.com.br/imagens/brincadeira/yoga_russa_08.jpg

Malasana
This position, for ankles and back muscles.
http://www.mdig.com.br/imagens/brincadeira/yoga_russa_09.jpg
Pigeon
Tones the body, and builds flexibility and helps get rid of ‘stress’.

So, lets start drinking ………….

.

image0011

image0021

image003

image004

image005

image006

image007

image008

image009

Researchers question the ‘worrisome’ t

Researchers question the ‘worrisome’ trend of giving toddlers, teens antipsychotics http://bit.ly/6tRsW via @cynthiakasper @kevinpmiller

YouTube Empire – ‘War on terror’ throu

YouTube Empire – ‘War on terror’ through Muslim eyes http://ow.ly/11ExU

great “article” on animal protection p

great “article” on animal protection protest at bikie gathering – http://ow.ly/11DZu > u cain’t rollerskate in a buffalo herd! #satire

From the US, a call we need echoed in Australia – Get Corporate Money Out of Politics

Get Corporate Money Out of Politics Dear tony, In President Obama’s State of the Union address last night, he spoke about the grave threat our country faces from the influence of corporate money in politics. The President spoke specifically about last week’s Supreme Court decision in the case Citizens United vs. FEC, which overturned over a century of precedent and opened the floodgates for unlimited amounts of corporate money to flow into our political system. Shockingly, the court’s decision may even allow foreign corporations and large multinationals to manipulate our elections. Progress on any issue we care about depends upon our ability to stop the corporate takeover of our electoral process. If we do nothing, this ruling has the potential to undermine the very foundation of our democracy. Click here to demand that Congressional leadership enact strong laws to save our democracy from the influence of corporate money. Representative Alan Grayson has been one the most forceful voices in responding to this crisis. He has introduced a number of bills as part of a "Save Our Democracy" initiative to blunt some of the worst implications of the Supreme Court’s decision. These bills would include a 500% excise tax on corporate contributions to political committees, prevent for-profit corporations that receive government money from making political contributions, and apply antitrust law to industry Political Action Committees. Click here for more information. Without these types of laws, it will be even harder for candidates and elected officials to stand up to big business. Even before the decision, we too often saw the interests of Main Street subverted in favor of the interests of Wall Street. But with the Citizens United decision now law, large corporations have the power to spend unlimited amounts of money from their general treasuries to buy elections. To put things in perspective, the roughly $745 million Barack Obama raised to run for President (which was the most money raised by any candidate ever to run for office in the U.S.) is dwarfed by the $45 billion in profits a single company (ExxonMobil) made in 2008. We have heard that the Democratic leadership in the House and the Senate will be deciding in the next few weeks upon a legislative package to push in response to the Citizens United decision. We need to ensure they respond boldly. Click here to tell the leaders of Congress that you support legislation to stop the flood of corporate donations in the political process. Thank you for working to build a better world. - The Change.org Team in partnership with CREDO Action

Click here to sign your name We need to stop the corporate takeover of our electoral process.

Australian Greens Call for Amendments to Family Law that may put Mums & Kids at risk

Greens Call for Amendments to Family Law

The Australian Greens are calling on the Attorney-General Robert McClelland to amend the Family Law Act as a matter of priority in light of the findings of the Chisholm report – highlighting that the Greens opposed the Howard Government’s amendments at the time because of these very concerns.

"The Greens said at the time the Howard Government was forcing the changes through the Senate that the amendments would put women and children at risk," said Senator Rachel Siewert Australian Greens spokesperson on Family Law today.

"The amendments clearly put the rights of parents ahead of the interests of children. The Howard Government deliberately worded the amendments in such a way that there is a de facto presumption of equal time. That is exactly what the Howard Government wanted," she said.

"The notion of equal shared parenting as amended in the act reflects a commodification of children that fails to address the best interests of the child. It is no wonder that this is leading to very significant problems.

"It was also obvious at the time that the changes to the definition of domestic violence, together with the introducing of fines for making ‘unsubstantiated’ claims of abuse, were going to put women and children at risk.

"Unfortunately the warnings of family law experts to the Senate inquiry were ignored and three years on what they warned of has happened.

"The Government must now amend the Family Law Act. Consideration of shared care is an important starting point for family law, but the Howard amendments went beyond the concept of shared care to a de facto assumption of equal shared care.

"These changes need to be reversed as a matter of priority," concluded Senator Siewert.

The Australian Greens dissenting report on the Howard Government changes http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/legcon_ctte/completed_inquiries/2004-07/family_law/report/d02.htm

Fernando de Freitas
Media Advisor

Office of Scott Ludlam & Rachel Siewert

Australian Greens Senators for Western Australia

Suite S1.36 Parliament House, Canberra ACT
P: 02 6277 3467 | M: 0417 174 302

Fernando.defreitas
www.GreensMPs.org.au

BBC News – Taliban talks plans gather pa

BBC News – Taliban talks plans gather pace as London summit held http://ow.ly/11D4H

#mining & #unions face off over accomoda

#mining & #unions face off over accomodation – Picket lines as Pluto dispute escalates – ABC News #Australia http://ow.ly/11D2p

WordPress Blog post – Post by Email Wrapup

from @perthtones’ iPhone

Post by Email Wrapup John | January 28, 2010 at 11:07 am | Tags: Email, geotag, polldaddy | Categories: Features | URL: http://wp.me/pf2B5-Vj

Since our Post by Email feature opened last year the emails have been coming in fast and furious. Here’s a wrap-up of some of the latest improvements.

Bigger attachments
We like to see photos and video in your posts, so we’ve increased the size of emails that can be sent, now up to 50MB. Anything you can upload to WordPress.com can be sent in an email and will be neatly placed on your post.

Better image handling
In conjunction with this we’ve also improved our image handling so your photos look even better, particularly when teamed up with duotone, a great new photo theme.

Perfect for mobile photo blogging
If you have a camera-enabled mobile phone this makes for a very powerful photo blogging tool. If you need some inspiration check out Matt on his one-man-and-his-phone photo and video journey around the world. We’ll even geotag any posts, if sent from a GPS enabled phone.

Now with polls
Opinions are an important part of any blog and you can now create PollDaddy polls by email. Just include a special shortcode:

We’ll do the rest so you end up with a poll like this:

View Poll

Tell Twitter and Yahoo
If you’re using our Publicize service to send updates to Twitter or Yahoo you can customize the message in your email, and enable or disable specific targets.

Location enabled
Are you a keen trekker and have a Spot GPS device? Send your emails to WordPress.com and we’ll show them on a map so people can follow your journey.

Details, details, details
Don’t forget that you can also set the post title, tags, and category of any email:

On a final open-source note, we’ll be releasing the code for Post by Email soon, so all you WordPress.org users can install it on your own self-hosted sites.

Add a comment to this post

WordPress.com | Thanks for flying with WordPress!

New Call for Mental Health focus in australia – ABC News: Son’s death spurs mental health crusade

Australia’s Health system is a shambles.

Mental Health is a basket case! ( see abc story below )

It’s time to focus away from sport, celebrities and other shiny distractions in mainstream media and demand MORE focus on getting health policy right for the short, medium and long term.

The waste, corruption, little empires, rorts and political failure of decades is now costing our lives.

We know the critical need for acute care, the pressing need for community based, peer-led facilities and the longer term need of cultural change, inside and outside our various “health” systems.

When the next state or federal election comes, email your candidates and let them know that they only get your vote if they actually tackle our short, medium and long term health needs, and it will be one short term if they don’t deliver a meaningful change.

It is a matter of life and death for too many australians.

No one in their right mind ignores mental health

Out of Darkness – the Overnight Walk to Prevent Suicide – an AFSP event we need in every Australian Capital – please contact me to help

tony serve

advocate/advisor

mental health “consumer”

Australian Broadcasting Corporation story immediately below

Son’s death spurs mental health crusade Jan 27, 2010

A NSW couple are still fighting for more acute mental health hospital beds two years after their son killed himself in the emergency department of a hospital while waiting for a bed. Alison Middleton looks at what’s been done since the tragedy and the picture for mental health services in the state.

To read the full story on your mobile please use this link

http://m.abc.net.au/browse?page=11144&articleid=2803075&cat=Justin

To read the full story on a PC or Mac please use this link

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/27/2803075.htm

Health & Wellness | Care2 Healthy & Gree

Health & Wellness | Care2 Healthy & Green Living http://ow.ly/10PmI

Tactical Philanthropy Daily Digest http:

Tactical Philanthropy Daily Digest http://bit.ly/7fID42 #charity #disasterrelief #nonprofits

American Public broadcaster PBS responds

American Public broadcaster PBS responds to FAIR Petition on program quality http://ow.ly/10PiT #media #journalism

Australian charity rescues girls from #trafficking

Australian charity rescues girls from #trafficking – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) http://ow.ly/10w4i

There are many effective child advocates online – on twitter use the #trafficking hashtag and you’ll find other groups and other keywords to network for an even more effective global network… tony

other tags and links – #StopSlaveryNow #Humantrafficking #slave#trafficking info-link http://bit.ly/5CbiUW españolhttp://bit.ly/6gq0aC english via @cheli_c

pls RT, spare a $ or 2 #environment #wil

pls RT, spare a $ or 2 #environment #wilderness, help W. #Australia save the Kimberley – http://www.wilderness.org.au new TV ad needs airtime

Australian Greens support The Great Australian Internet Blackout against net censorship

Monday, 25 January 2010

Greens support The Great Australian Internet Blackout against net censorship

Greens Senator Scott Ludlam is supporting over 500 websites that will mark this Australia Day by fading to black in protest against the Federal Government’s proposed internet filter.

“I am proud to be part of this week-long national action – The Great Australian Internet Blackout,” said Australian Greens spokesperson for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Senator Scott Ludlam.

“The government’s plan will not protect children, will do nothing to crack down on criminal activity online, and sets a dangerous precedent of centralised net censorship,” Senator Ludlam said.

“Communications Minister Stephen Conroy should start paying attention to the almost universal condemnation of this scheme and pursue alternatives rather than pushing ahead with the mandatory filter.”

To take part visit the campaign’s website internetblackout.com.au which features instructions to turn websites black for the duration of the protest, but the dark covering won’t prevent people from seeing participating websites: it can be removed with just one click.

Media Contact: Fernando de Freitas 0417 174 302

Fernando de Freitas
Media Advisor

Australian Greens

Suite S1.36 Parliament House, Canberra ACT
P: 02 6277 3467 | M: 0417 174 302

Fernando.defreitas
www.GreensMPs.org.au

Last chance to meet Dr Rubin HURRICANE Carter in Perth Saturday night – details below, andAward winning Journalist Estelle Blackburn talks about Justice WA and the visit of the HURRICANE

Some Tickets still left for Saturday night’s gala Dinner to

meet and hear Dr. Rubin Hurricane Carter

Justice WA Gala dinner VIP guest Ruben HURRICANE Carter

Click the blue link  to hear Tony Serve’s interview with Estelle Blackburn from justiceWA and the visit in Feb of Ruben HURRICANE Carter

John Hammond - Justice WA

Estelle Blackburn

Reporters put #Twitter, Facebook to ‘Bi

Reporters put #Twitter, Facebook to ‘Big Brother’ test | News.com.au http://ow.ly/ZwZl

Australian Army reservists face front li

Australian Army reservists face front line under secret plan | News.com.au http://ow.ly/ZwXR let’s hope @kevinruddPM get’s their pay right!

media, news, analysis, activism- Best of the FAIR Blog–Weekly Roundup

Best of the Blog–Weekly Roundup The FAIR Blog provides a daily forum for media criticism and discussion by FAIR’s media analysts–as well as commentary by readers like you. Here are some recent highlights: MLK: ‘There’s Something Wrong With That Press!’ Of Course You Need 60 Votes–for Now For ‘Liberal’ NYT, Taxing the Rich Is a Fringe Idea Politico’s Allen Warns Democrats Against GOP’s Winning Strategy Lake Wobegon Nation Pedophiles, Terrorists and the Massachusetts Senate Race O’Reilly’s Lament: We Can’t Make Fun of Arabs Anymore Newspeak 2010 Harper’s Questions Gitmo ‘Suicides’ ‘You Can’t Write These Things About People You Respect’ Help promote the FAIR Blog: Use the "share" link at the bottom of each post to recommend FAIR’s work through social networking sites–and spread the word to new readers. P.S. We’ve recently gotten some complaints about people having trouble unsubscribing from this list, because the "Unsubscribe" link was going to the wrong url. It should be fixed now. We’re very sorry for the inconvenience; we know how frustrating that can be.

From Robin Chapple’s recent coverage of

From Robin Chapple’s recent coverage of he NW Australian Cyclone – Cyclone Laurence.

This footage, which contains some disturbing images, was taken at the Eighty Mile Beach Caravan Park and Wallal Station on 22nd December 2009

Robin Chapple | Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region

http://ow.ly/ZcVE

t r u t h o u t | When the Media Is the

t r u t h o u t | When the Media Is the Disaster: Covering Haiti http://ow.ly/Z10y

RT @animalactionist: The 1st Animal Acti

RT @animalactionist: The 1st Animal Action Alert for 2010! http://eepurl.com/gSGN Please read & RT xx #adoptapet #australia

Remote Support Scam Warning RT @jasonjor

Remote Support Scam Warning RT @jasonjordan: RT @pcgurusupport: http://is.gd/6IjE7

damiencrippsband.wordpress.com: Press Re

damiencrippsband.wordpress.com: Press Release: Damien Cripps Band to broadcast Live via ‘Jam Cam’ Jan 25/26: Damien Cripps Band broadcast via ‘JamC… http://wp.me/pzrHg-3U