media social justice education mental health journalism
Please have some fun and win prizes while you fight for justice (JusticeWA.com )
We’re standing at a decisive moment in the history of Australian democracy – and there’s a big reform agenda that we have the chance to make reality – if we act before Thursday. (Sept 2)
Nearly a year ago, GetUp launched a campaign to reduce the undue influence of political donations on our democracy. Almost 30,000 GetUp members signed the petition and since then we’ve been working with the country’s best experts and academics to brief politicians from all sides of Parliament on the issue.
Now, we have a unique opportunity. The Independents holding the balance of power in the lower house are passionate about forging a different kind of politics in Australia. They’ve expressed interest in serious reforms to strengthen our democracy and political processes – including reforming political donations law.
We’ve secured meetings this Thursday to present GetUp’s petition to senior officers from across the political spectrum including the Independents – can you add your name before the deadline?
Click here to sign the petition to end large-scale political donations.
Our democracy should not be for sale – but right now the people we’ve elected to govern us take money from those who stand to gain from government policy and contracts. When corporations and other organisations donate large sums to political parties it undermines public confidence in the integrity of those parties and candidates and can lead to perceived conflicts of interest, if not conflicts themselves.
This Thursday is the next big moment in our campaign. It’s time to support the Independents as they pursue reforms that will restore faith in our political system, like ending large-scale corporate influence. The more voices they have behind them, the more chance that Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott will both commit to reforming political donations law.
Sign the petition to end corporate influence on politics.
Here’s to a new chapter in Australian democracy.
With hope,
Simon Sheikh
National Director, GetUp
P.S. All of the large countries with parliaments based on the Westminster model – India, Canada, the UK, New Zealand and Australia – now have hung Parliaments. We’re seeing interesting opportunities arise in other countries to achieve long-sought after democratic reforms, and here in Australia we have an opportunity to strengthen our own democracy by ending large-scale political donations. Click here to sign the petition.
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The election results are still up in the air, but as they said on ABC news recently: "one clear winner this election has been GetUp." Congratulations. Check out this video showing what you achieved:
Just as important as the victories we’ve won is how we’ve done it. Together we’ve pioneered a new form of political action: one based not on the powerful few, but on the shared power of many.
The secret to our success this election? In the months before polling day, over 1,300 GetUp members committed to weekly or monthly contributions. The average donation was $7 a week, but together they made for a fighting fund which allowed us to react quickly and make the most of some amazing opportunities. It was a huge success. Because of those donations, GetUp members were able to:
Will you join them and keep our fighting fund going?
While the election result is still up in the air, one thing is for sure: our work is not done yet.
The next few months hold incredible opportunity for our movement to push for political reform, to make sure the next parliament commits to a price on pollution, funds better mental health services, and gives refugees a fair go.
Can you help us keep up the incredible momentum GetUp members have created by chipping in to our ongoing fighting fund?
By chipping in you’re investing in your own ability, and the capacity of over 370,000 fellow GetUp members, to create a better and fairer Australia. On its own our spare change doesn’t amount to much. With thousands of other GetUp donors, however, our small change can create lasting political change. Just a few dollars a week can make a huge impact. Can you be part of it?
Thanks for being part of this,
the GetUp team
Chris Marris currently just out of Norseman
The Flying Cyclist Chris Marris has almost reached Norseman. After leaving Perth at midnight on Saturday night, Chris stopped for his first 90 minute sleep at 1am this morning after completing 600km, including three hours of cycling in the rain. The weather has now improved and Chris has requested a hot pie on arrival at Norseman.
Chris is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest time to cycle trans-Australia from Perth to Sydney and is aiming to make the crossing in less than eight days. He is also aiming to raise more than $15,000 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service in the process.
To follow his progress, go to www.flyingcyclist.com.au
I will also provide brief updates every couple of days.
Kind regards
| Joeley Pettit-Scott Media & Public Relations Manager RFDS Western Operations 6B Eagle Drive Jandakot WA 6164 |
| T F M E > |
(08) 9417 6400 (08) 9417 6499 … Joeley.Pettit-Scott http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au |
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My late great mate Jody Robb – celebrated wonderfully by son Jarrod & daughter Kirsten – here as Ch 9 sports anchor ’80s http://ow.ly/i/3sI6
Great ideas – please tweet or email any NGOs & Not for Profits you know of, anywhere in the world.
We have great Mental health and Environment tweeters in US, UK, Australia and a few from elsewhere…but we’d love to connect with activist in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.
via Nonprofit Tech 2.0 :: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits
The biggest cause of death for Australians under 44 #suicide – pls share, RT this ABC story Helping people at risk – http://ht.ly/2vtnp
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#140Conf Update: From the RoadOn Sunday, I left New York City and flew to Cleveland where the #140Conf Road Trip originated and where I joined Alan Weinkrantz and Mo Krochmal, who are also part of the #140conf Road Trip team. Special thanks to Buick, Kodak, Doubletree Hotels Sprint, Glaseau and Waav for their support and sponsorship of this journey through the Midwest. I started out on a mission to connect with members of the #140conf community across the Midwest and at each stop I am reminded how much the advent of the real-time Internet is affecting business. The changes and opportunities brought upon the real-time touch cattle ranching, dairy farming, education, social services, car dealerships as much as advertising, real estate, fashion, design, politics and so many other industries. So far I have met with some amazing Characters from: Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Kansas City and Omaha. I appreciate the chance to drive across the Midwest and connect with people who are also interested in social media / social communications and the ongoing effects of these changes on the future of business. During the road trip, we have been broadcasting live on UStream (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/140roadtrip) from our Buick Enclave as often as the time and wireless mobile broadband connectivity has permitted. Friends are invited to Skype us with during the rest of our trip. You can find us on Skype with the SkypeID: roadtrip140conf. After breakfast in Omaha, we are heading to Souix Falls, SD, and then to Fargo, ND, tonight. Tomorrow, we will be visiting the Mall of America and having dinner near where the “Field of Dreams” took place in a corn field in Iowa. From there we will be traveling to Madison, Wi with a stop in Milwaukee ending up in Chicago. From Chicago we will be heading to Detroit to attend the Chevy Volt SXSW party on Aug 28th. If you will be in any of these cities, please RSVP for the reminder of the #140conf Road Trip gatherings over at: http://roadtrip.140conf.com/tweetups. The Ties That Bind Amidst the backdrop of what built this region of the U.S., you see warehouses that have been converted into work spaces and residential lofts. You see railroads tracks and 18 wheelers that are exporting America’s summer bounty. And you see that the Midwest’s location, lower cost of living, and quality of life is what is bringing people — to bebuild ties to childhood friends and family. We’re connecting with people who do work locally, regionally, nationally and around the world. Their marketplace is just an Ethernet connection, a wireless hotspot, or wireless network away. Even in this world of digital media and content creation, I was personally struck with a sense of pride when we visited the GM Fairfax Manufacturing facility near Kansas City. It was not about building cars. It was about this new sense of pride that was so clear to me, especially when we had production workers sharing their stories with our embedded journalist, Mo Krochmal. Going forward, there’s a reason we’re going to the Field of Dreams, the Mall of America, and a university town like Madison, Wisconsin. They all represent iconic symbols of this region of our great country. You can get a feel for the journey through content that we are producing and that is being curated by the community. - - Mo Krochmal’s Twitter Stream- Hope you are enjoying your week. Best regards, Jeff p.s. I woke up with #140conf LA on my mind. #140conf Los Angeles will be taking place on October 4-5 2010 at the Music Box theater. Register (http://lax.140conf.com/register ) by Friday, September 3rd to take advantage of the $140 “early bird” pricing for this two day event. With our 2010 #140conf ticket prices set at an affordable $140 a day, the #140conf events are 100% “word of mouth” events. I would greatly appreciate your direct help in contributing to the awareness of #140conf Los Angeles in the communities which you are active in. (c) #140conf Events Inc., All Rights Reserved |
Michael Palin’s classic travel documentary series, Around The World In 80 Days, exclusive to iView http://bit.ly/dqbcCw via @abciview:
I consult for A.I.M on social media and deliver the sought-after Professional Presentation course.
I look forward to seeing you in the two-day course, where I caringly take you out of your comfort zone with real, practical work in front of an audience.
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twitter - perthtones
WordPress.com Blogpost;
Starting today there is a new way for your readers to share the posts on your blog with friends. This feature allows you to add sharing functionality from a range of services to the bottom of your blog posts.
Click the following link “read more” for a quick video introduction: You can add your own custom services as well. Facebook Twitter … Read More
What an amazing weekend! A huge thank you to all the GetUp volunteers who worked on the GetUp election campaign, especially those who were out in force on Saturday handing out scorecards to voters all over the country, from Magnetic Island to Broome and hundreds of cities and towns in between.
Votes are still being counted, but it seems that neither major party earned the trust of the Australian people to govern in their own right. Almost 1 in 5 voted for independents and minor parties.
The tally in the Lower House currently stands at 72 seats each for Labor and the Coalition (with a few seats still undecided). 76 is needed to form Government and the most likely outcome is a minority Labor Government, formed by an agreement with the Greens and some or all of the independents — but this is far from certain.
This moment provides an historic opportunity for GetUp members to push for much needed parliamentary and democratic reform that would never happen under the usual two party dominance of parliament.
Just a few months ago, the balance of power in the UK’s new Parliament created the potential for desperately needed democratic reforms, giving new power to ideas like preferential voting, parliamentary process reform, political transparency and more. But despite early hopes, reform has stalled. In Australia we can’t let that happen. It is these moments that our movement is made for.
So who are these independents and what are their values? You might be surprised at what we’ve found.
Prior to the election, we organised a forum at the National Press Club for these independents, to be live-streamed on the internet this Wednesday. It’s a fantastic opportunity to hear where they stand on the issues that matter to you. We’ve also compiled some information about these independents and how they’ve voted on key issues including climate change. Click here to read more, or to RSVP for the webcast:
www.getup.org.au/campaign/independentsday
The end result of this election is still up in the air, but, one thing is for sure: GetUp members made a huge impact this election.
As just one example, through the High Court challenge brought by GetUp members, 98,138 Australians were able to vote yesterday who wouldn’t have otherwise had the chance. That’s a wonderful thing for democracy. And in the tightest electorates those extra votes are determining who forms Government.
In the marginal seat of Brisbane the difference between Labor and Liberal is currently a few hundred votes, and GetUp’s High Court case added 1097 voters to the rolls. In Corangamite, where the margin may be in the hundreds, there were over 724 extra voters because of the success of GetUp members. And in McEwan, where the last election came down to 27 votes, there were an additional 1191 voters on the rolls this election. In 12 marginal electorates, the number of voters added to the rolls because of the High Court challenge was greater than the difference between the two parties last election.
Your work has made a huge impact.
In the last two days of the campaign GetUp members distributed over 1.1 million issue scorecards to voters, showing where the parties stand on key issues. At several booths in key marginal seats, GetUp members outnumbered volunteers for political parties!
While there is so much more to say about what we’ve just achieved, a balance of power situation brings its own set of challenges, and we all want to see an agreement for stability as soon as possible. But this is also an opportunity for some fresh voices, unconstrained by party politics, to give new force to important ideas, and call for the kind of reforms we so desperately need.
Whoever forms Government, Getup members will be there to keep them accountable and stand up for what’s right.
Thank you for being a part of this movement,
The GetUp team.
PS – For the nerd in you, here’s the current Lower House count in more detail:
Labor: 72 seats. Coalition: 69 seats (if you don’t count Tony Crook from the WA National Party), but Boothby, Brisbane and Hasluck are all still up for grabs and look likely to go their way. Tony Crook was the surprise winner in O’Connor, unseating longstanding Liberal MP Wilson Tuckey. Mr. Crook represents the West Australian Nationals party, which is separate from the Liberal National Party and the federal Nationals. He today declared that the coalition can "not at all" count on his vote to form government.
Independents Tony Windsor in New England, Bob Katter in Kennedy and Rob Oakshott in Lyon have all been reelected with huge margins. Andrew Wilkie, the former intelligence agent who fell out with John Howard over the Iraq war and formerly ran for the Greens in Bennelong, looks likely to be elected as an independent in the seat of Denison, Tasmania. And of course there’s Adam Bandt, the new Greens MP for Melbourne who won in a greenslide. That’s as many as 6 voices in the lower house singing from a whole new song sheet!
Tim Dunlop on ABC The Drum Unleashed – Don’t panic. This might just work http://ht.ly/2ta4k -> great piece Tim #ausvotes
Second audio link if in blog player fails Bob Katter late on election night
Second audio link if in blog player fails Ken Wyatt on Election night
Ken Wyatt
Ken is basically my Elder as well – I’m boat people, but I was born in Yamatji country and live now ( respectfully ) on Nyoongar land
The role of social media in the 2010 Australian Election « codenix.blog http://ht.ly/2t0tf Thanks to @kaz747 for the link 
Friday 20 August, 2010
Montara (West Atlas) Oil Spill
( see the link between the Oil operation and the murderous Burma generals here – http://tonyserve.wordpress.com/2009/09/01/australia-nw-oil-spill-company-links-to-burmas-military-dictatorship-are-we-financing-the-generals-as-we-pick-up-the-bill-for-their-mess-oped/ )
Perth
Saturday’s Federal Election coincides with the first anniversary of the Montara drilling rig disaster on 21st August 2009, which is estimated to have spilled oil across more than 90,000km2 of the Timor Sea.
“One year on from the Montara spill, the Australian people are still waiting for a response from the Commonwealth Government,” Australian Greens Marine spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“We have seen a swift and decisive response to the recent crisis in the Gulf of Mexico on the part of the US Government, but a full year after Montara, not only has Australia failed to act to fix the problems with our offshore oil and gas regulation, the report into the disaster is still nowhere to be seen,” Senator Siewert said.
“Meanwhile, polling conducted by the Australian Greens indicates that four out of five West Australians (78%) think that stronger regulations for the oil and gas industry are a good idea.
“When asked what they considered the most important issue, three out of five West Australians (61%) regarded better oil and gas regulation as ‘important’, with one in five (20%) saying it was their top priority.
“The West Australian community are clearly indicating that better oil and gas regulation are a major priority.
“We do not want to see another disaster like Montara threatening our precious marine environment and coastline.
“The response of both major parties on oil and gas regulation and marine protection issues in this election campaign has been totally pitiful.
“The ALP are promoting oil rigs just off the Margaret River coast and the Coalition are saying they will stop further marine protection. Only the Greens have come out with a clear and positive policy response,” said Senator Siewert.
The Greens policy calls for:
1. A moratorium on deepwater exploration and drilling of new wells
2. Regulatory overhaul of the offshore petroleum industry
3. A comprehensive international regime for offshore oil and gas activities
4. Comprehensive environmental impact assessments, baseline data and monitoring
5. A “polluter pays” statutory liability regime for offshore petroleum activities
6. Suspension of areas recently opened for exploration until the regional marine planning process is completed
7. A network of marine sanctuaries which includes the Naturaliste Plateau
“People clearly want stronger oil and gas regulation – if the Government aren’t prepared to act, then the Greens will introduce a Private Members Bill in the Senate,” concluded Senator Siewert.
* Polling of WA voters conducted by The Greens with the assistance of Research Now online polling company. 570 respondents were selected to represent the age and sex demographics of WA.
<<Election date marks first anniversary of Montara oil disaster1.pdf>>
Chris Redman
Media Officer
Senator Rachel Siewert
Australian Greens Senator for WA
P: (08) 9228 3277
Election date marks first anniversary of Montara oil disaster1.pdf
Embedding cultural knowledge:
Indigenous education symposium at the University of SydneyThe Faculty of Education and Social Work, in collaboration with the Koori Centre at the University of Sydney, is presenting a symposium entitled “Bridging the Gap through contributions of Education and Social Work”, on August 27, 2010.
Eric Willmot and the Hon. Linda Burney MP will deliver keynote lectures.
Media is invited to attend. Or participants are available for pre-conference interviews.
Selected highlights, below (full program attached)
- Keynote The Hon MP Linda Burney NSW Minister for Community Services 9.15am:“Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Disadvantage in Indigenous Communities.”
- 11.20am: Katrina Thorpe, Cathie Burgess and Sharon Galleguillos from the University of Sydney: “What is the significance of mandatory and elective Indigenous education subjects in teacher education programs?”
- 12.25 Book launch Taking Our Placeby Janet Mooney and John Cleverley, published by Sydney University Press. A history of the Koori Centre.
- 1.45pm Eric Willmot, former Director-General, SA Department of Education; Secretary, ACT Department of Education and the Arts; Chief Education Officer, ACT Schools Authority; Professor and Head of School of Education, James Cook University; Deputy Secretary, Department of Aboriginal Affairs: “A Small Apocrypha of Indignenous Education”.
- 2.55pm: Lynette Riley, Senior Lecturer and Academic Co-ordinator, Koori Centre, University of Sydney and Michael Genner, NSW Dept of Education and Training. “Embedding cultural knowledge – the Bemel Gardoo Project”. At 25 schools in Sydney from 2005-2010, teachers and Aboriginal Education Officers collaborated in producing and teaching Aboriginal and Indigenous ideas to students from kindergarten to year 10.
- Event details
- What: “Bridging the Gap through the contributions of education and social work. Faculty of Education and Social Work and the Koori Centre.
- When: Friday, August 27, 2010.
- Where: Holme Building, Science Road, University of Sydney
- Cost: $220, $55 student concession
- Media: Free RSVP Britt Arnaud, 9352 8521, britt.arnaud@sydney.edu.au
To arrange interviews or for other media inquiries please contact Jacqueline Chowns at the University of Sydney media office, Jacqueline.chowns@sydney.edu.au
JACQUELINE CHOWNS | Media Advisor
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY Media and Communications
Marketing and Communications Division
Level 2, G12 | The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006
T +61 2 9036 5404 | F +61 2 9351 3737 | M +61 0434 605 018
E jacqueline.chowns@sydney.edu.au | W http://sydney.edu.au
[Works Tuesday-Friday]
✉ serve.tony
Skype – perthtones
Twitter 
WordPress 
Youtube 
LinkedinDecisions are made by those who show up. But this Saturday I’m not just asking you to show up and vote. I’m asking you to show up and influence hundreds of votes, by pulling on a GetUp t-shirt and handing out Issue Scorecards for an hour or two. Can you help?
10% of voters make up their mind at the polling booth – so a few hours of your Saturday can really help make a difference. And it can be a great thing to do with your family – you can bring your children along and teach them about democracy and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
We still have spots available to fill in Swan handing out our Issue Scorecards at the polling booths – and we need you there. Can you spare an hour? We’ll have another GetUp member there to greet you – just tell us what time is best:
Here’s 5 reasons to go for it:
1 – It only takes an hour or two. When you arrive a friendly booth coordinator will greet you, tell you what you need to do and give you a t-shirt and some Issue Scorecards.
2 – You won’t be alone. You’ll be joining dozens of GetUp members in your area, and local booth coordinators will let you know exactly what to do when you get there.
3 – You don’t have to do it at your local booth – in fact it’s probably best if you’re able to travel 10 minutes, because we’re prioritising the biggest polling places.
4 – It’s actually really fun – you can even bring your family along for a day out.
5 – We’re not clamouring to hand out how-to-vote cards, or telling anyone who to vote for – our helpful Issue Scorecard simply shows where the parties stand on fourteen important issues.Can you spare an hour on election day as you cast your vote?
If we want politicians to be thinking of progressive issues as they walk into the next Parliament, we need voters to be thinking of progressive issues as they walk in to polling booths. That’s why this Saturday is the most important day of the year for those of us who care about leaving our kids a safer environment, providing better health care and schools, protecting human rights, and building a fairer economy.
When can you come by?
Hoping to see you on Saturday,
Simon Sheikh
National Director, GetUp!PS – All around the country GetUp members are coming together on election night to see how the results unfold. Join us at a GetUp Election Night Party near you.
YouTube – Western Australian Greens MP says “Gay marriage no threat to me”! http://ht.ly/2rDXb pls RT & demand equality for ALL aussies
Thursday 19 August 2010
The Greening of mining: our place in the 21st century
Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlam is in Kalgoorlie to present a paper at the AusIMM Sustainable Mining conference which will focus on the place of mining in a sustainable economy.
“Against a backdrop of climate change and the age of peak oil, we need to have a hard look at how resilient our mining communities are, the continuing dispossession of Aboriginal people, and the place of mining in the transition to a zero carbon economy,” Senator Ludlam said.
“If we are going to build wind, wave and solar energy farms, extend rail networks and drive electric cars, we are going to need metals such as steel, copper, nickel, aluminium and lithium, silica for solar photovoltaic panels, and metals such as gallium and indium used in modern electronics.
“We will need to get a lot better at conserving and recycling key resources, rather than assuming the country is a limitless source of raw materials.”
Greens Candidate for O’Connor, Andrew Huntley, a Goldfields mining industry worker for the past 10 years, has extensive experience in power generation, transmission and distribution, including renewable energy. Mr. Huntley is strongly supportive of the mining industry, but completely opposes uranium mining.
“The Australian Greens are calling for a massive investment in renewable energy infrastructure and jobs across Australia, including developing the massive potential for solar power, wind and wave energy, here in the Goldfields-Esperance region,” Mr Huntley said.
“Just one of the 111 wind turbines that are soon going to be built near Merredin, as part of the Collgar Wind Farm, requires more than 200 tonnes of steel. The materials can and will be recycled at the end of the Turbine’s design life, but the scale of the renewable energy and sustainability infrastructure ramp-up that we need, in Australia and worldwide, means there is going to be ongoing strong demand for steel and other metals.”
One mining industry that could never be sustainable, though, was uranium mining.
“Uranium mining pollutes the local landscape and groundwater for tens of thousands of years, endangers workers’ lives and the health of communities along transport routes, and supports the least sustainable industry in the world – the twin nuclear power and weapons industries,” Senator Ludlam said.
Following an address to the AusIMM Sustainable Mining conference in Kalgoorlie this morning (SUBS – Thurs 19 August) on the topic ‘What will this place look like in 2050?’, Greens Senator for WA, Scott Ludlam, will also address a community rally against uranium mining, starting at midday in St Barbara’s Square.
Fernando de Freitas
Media AdvisorOffice of Scott Ludlam
Australian Greens Senator for Western Australia
Suite S1.36 Parliament House, Canberra ACT
P: 02 6277 3467Fernando.defreitas
www.GreensMPs.org.au
CampaignTranscript
TRANSCRIPT OF PRESS CONFERENCE
PERTH
18 AUGUST 2010
E & O E – PROOF ONLY
Subjects: Financial literacy policy; election campaign; infrastructure; costings; border protection; health funding.
PM: Alright, it’s fantastic to be in WA, I’m joined by Sharryn Jackson, the Member for Hasluck, by our candidate for Swan, Tim Hammond and it’s great to be here talking to the people of Western Australia. And today I’m talking to the people of Western Australia about the big choices in this election campaign.
Today, adding on those big choices, I do want to also say, that we have announced, today I am announcing a policy, that if the Government is re-elected we will ensure that kids in schools get the ability to learn about financial literacy. I want kids in schools to understand the benefits of savings. I want them to understand what it’s like to have a mortgage and how you pay down debt. I want them to understand how to calculate how a credit card works and what it’s going to cost them; what a mobile phone plan costs them, how they can meet the bills. So we will be working with our experts at the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority to train six thousand teachers in Financial literacy to pass those skills on to other teachers, to pass those skills on to the kids. I want to make sure that kids of today have the skills they need to manage their money tomorrow.
Can I also say, as we count down the remaining days of this election campaign, as we draw to a close in the election campaign, I will go from here to Brisbane. I will go from here to Brisbane and I will be there at six o’clock tonight waiting to debate Mr Abbott on the economy. This is the debate that Australians deserve to have. My message today to Mr Abbott is: I will be there for a debate on the economy. He should join me to debate the issue at the centre of this campaign.
But I’m concerned as this campaign goes on, that it becomes increasingly clear that when the big economic decisions need to be made, Mr Abbott goes missing. Mr Abbott was missing during the global financial crisis when we needed to step up to support Australian jobs. He was missing on the day his party announced its shambolic policy the national broadband network when they announced their shambolic policy to cost Australians the jobs of the future. Mr Abbott is apparently going to go missing today when the Liberal Party releases its costings for its promises in the election campaign. He’s going to go missing when the consequences of his $1 billion a day expenditure are finally revealed to the Australian people. And he’s apparently going to go missing tonight, denying Australians the debate that they deserve on the economy.
So I’m going to say to Mr Abbott, you can’t be Prime Minister and go missing when the big judgments on the economy need to be made. We have a $1.3 trillion economy. Saturday about more than anything else is about who runs that economy for the future to give people the benefit of jobs, to make sure as a nation we can afford great schools and decent health care. You can’t go missing when the big calls need to be made.
To the people of Western Australia can I say this – every vote around the nation counts, every vote here counts on Saturday. It counts in the support of the great candidates who are with me today. It counts in this state about the future of its economy and support for jobs. It counts in this state for the construction of the National Broadband Network. The $2 billion in infrastructure. For better health care, for decent schools. It counts on Saturday here in Western Australia. That’s my message to the people of WA on my last visit here before voting starts on Saturday.
JOURNALIST: (inaudible) Some commentators are saying that you’ve pressed the panic button by going to Brisbane with Tony Abbott?
PM: I’ve got no idea what that’s a reference to.
JOURNALIST: They’re saying that you must be panicking by going to Brisbane – last desperate attempt to sort of sure up support in that state.
PM: I’ve got no idea what that’s a reference to. I’ve said consistently – let’s be absolutely clear here – the Courier Mail said that it would host an event tonight in Brisbane, I said fantastic, and I said, and I said, let’s make it a debate on the economy, because that’s the debate Australians deserve to hear in this election campaign. Mr Abbott is going missing, he won’t debate the economy. Of course I’m happy to speak to the Brisbane in a town hall style event, but what the people of Brisbane deserve, what the nation deserves is Mr Abbott fronting up at six o’clock, an hour long debate on the economy followed by an hour long town hall style meeting. I’ll be there in Brisbane for that. Where is Mr Abbott going to be? Will he front up to that debate?
JOURNALIST: (inaudible) Mining tax is hurting Labor’s campaign in WA?
PM: This trip is about me saying to the people of Western Australia their votes count on Saturday. They count to determine whether or not they’ll have great representatives in the Federal Parliament. People like Sharryn Jackson and Tim Hammond and our Labor team here in Western Australia. They count for jobs. They count for health care. They count for schools. They count for the National Broadband Network. They count for $2 billion of expenditure on infrastructure here in WA. That’s why I’m here today.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister why are your infrastructure commitments in WA contingent on the passage of a mining tax? Whereas your commitment infrastructure commitments to other states, like your $2 billion dollar rail line in Sydney are unconditional and they’re not conditional on that same condition.
PM: We’ve made direct infrastructure investments in Western Australia. Direct infrastructure investments that are in no way conditional on the Minerals Resource Rent Tax. But if we look at what we have invested in this state in infrastructure, what we have invested in this state in infrastructure in ports in roads right across the state in works in Perth that Colin Barnett, you know, spruiked to the Federal Government as very important for the future shape of the city. In health care, in schools right around this state, we have been delivering infrastructure. In addition to that infrastructure, on top of that infrastructure, on top of us continuing to invest in infrastructure in this state, I want to deliver two things. $2 billion extra dollars to deal with the stresses and strains that growth in mining brings and the National Broadband Network. Under Mr Abbott, neither of those things will ever happen and I want to keep delivering for this state, Trades Training Centre in schools. GP Super Clinics, investments in health care. That will not happen if Mr Abbott is elected.
JOURNALIST: (inaudible) Tony Abbott’s releasing his election costings today. Do you know if he can achieve a bigger surplus than Labor?
PM: Tony Abbott’s not releasing his election costings today, Tony Abbott’s going to be missing. He’s going to delegate releasing his election costings to a member of his team. Now once again, this is telling you everything you need to know about Mr Abbott and the economy. When the big decisions for the nation’s future need to be made, Mr Abbott goes missing. Today he is going to go missing in the costings of his $1 billion a day expenditure are finally revealed to the Australian public. He’s going to go missing tonight when it comes to debating me in Brisbane on the economy. What this shows is Mr Abbott is a risk to our $1.3 trillion economy. It seems remarkable to me, and Australians should be thinking about what risk this means to them, that Mr Abbott, a man who wants to be Prime Minister, won’t go and front his party’s costings of his policies in this campaign. The risk to the budget bottom line, to the budget surplus, the risk to debt and deficit in this election is Mr Abbott.
JOURNALIST: (inaudible) Isn’t this already (inaudible) to do this anyway and then also another (inaudible) there’s a report today that there’s a pipeline coming out of India now of asylum seekers coming to Australia (inaudible) what are your comments on that?
PM: On asylum seekers first, my aim is to stop the boats before they leave foreign shores. I want to make sure we’ve got a regional framework with a regional processing centre, so there’s no incentive to get on a boat, because if you do, you still end up in the regional processing centre. I want to take away from people smugglers the very product that they sell. I want to make sure we don’t see boats leaving foreign shores to get here because there’s no reason to get on a boat. That will be my approach as Prime Minister. On financial –
JOURNALIST: – Are you alarmed about reports that there could be now be a pipeline coming from India, not just from the traditional ports in Indonesia.
PM: Look, obviously on any reports about asylum seekers, my mind goes to the solution and the solution is, how do we stop boats leaving foreign shores. Well we’ve got to take away any incentive to get on a boat. That’s what the regional processing centre is about. On financial literacy, (inaudible) but we are going to turbo-charge it with new investment. Six thousand teachers trained, training other teachers, providing financial literacy to kids. I want them to understand what it is to save, to save for a goal like a home deposit. I want them to understand how to calculate a mortgage and what it means you’re going to pay. I want them to understand what credit cards are, what overdrafts are, what the limits are, what the burden on the repayment is, to understand their exposure when they enter a mobile phone plan. I want them to have those skills so personally they can manage their finances and not get into trouble.
JOURNALIST: (inaudible)
PM: I think giving people the skills they need to run their lives is enabling.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you must be worried about you know taking a hit here over the mining tax, surely, I mean that’s why you’re here isn’t it?
PM: Look, obviously, I’ve travelled to Perth a number of times this year and I understand that people were concerned about the resources super profits tax, I listen to those concerns from Western Australia and having listened to those concerns from Western Australia, the first thing I did as Prime Minister, the very first thing, was enter a breakthrough agreement with our biggest mining companies with the Minerals Resource Rent Tax. The biggest miners in our nation have entered an agreement with the Government about this tax. What that will enable us to do – two billion dollars for infrastructure here, cutting company tax, Mr Abbott wants to put it up so you pay more in the shop. It enables us to back in superannuation changes so the workers around me retire with a better retirement income. It enables me to provide tax breaks for small businesses. These are important things.
JOURNALIST: (inaudible) concerned about ALP polling that you’re getting (inaudible) on a knife edge?
PM: I’m concerned about the future of the nation. I’m concerned for the risk that Mr Abbott poses to the budget. I’m concerned that on Sunday the 22nd of August, Mr Abbott will be prime minister. No plans for the economy, polices that haven’t been properly costed and he hasn’t even bothered to front for costings, posing a risk for the budget coming back to surplus in 2013. No National Broadband Network so we export jobs to Singapore, Korea and Japan. No investments in schools like Trades Training Centres, no GP Super Clinics, no GP Afterhours Hotline. These are the things that I’m concerned about and of course the risk of a return to WorkChoices.
JOURNALIST: Back to WA, how confident are you that you can keep those seats?
PM: Look this is a decision for Western Australians and I’m here today talking about that decision that people will make on Saturday. My message to the people of Western Australia, my message to Australians generally is every vote counts. Every vote will decide the future of our $1.3 trillion national economy. Every vote will decide whether we’ve got new investments in schools and health care, whether we build the National Broadband Network, whether we cut company tax or put it up and pay higher prices for it, whether people get decent superannuation, whether we continue Fair Work or go to WorkChoices. That’s what Saturday’s about.
JOURNALIST: (inaudible) latest polling shows a net loss for Labor of about 10 seats?
PM: Well every vote on Saturday is important. The issues that I’ve described are the issues people will be voting on and they will also be voting considering Mr Abbott and his track record on the economy. Mr Abbott’s went missing during the global financial crisis that could have cost more than 200,000 Australians their jobs. He went missing with the National Broadband Network announcement in his campaign so pivotal to the jobs of the future. He’s going missing today when their costings are released; he’s going missing tonight, doesn’t want to give Australians the debate on the economy that they deserve.
JOURNALIST: (inaudible) what do you say to Colin Barnett (inaudible) prefer a fairer share of the GST rather than (inaudible)?
PM: I understand that Premier Barnett believes that, he will pursue that on behalf of the people of Western Australia. What I can say, if I’m elected prime minister I will be investing in Western Australia an extra $2 billion of infrastructure, the National Broadband Network. People will never see these things if Mr Abbott is elected.
JOURNALIST: putting that aside Prime Minister -
PM: (inaudible) direct to my heart –
JOURNALIST: (inaudible) what is the real Julia Gillard’s message to those undecided voters in those key marginal seats –
PM: Well the premise of your question is absolutely wrong. All of my life, all of my life I’ve believed that having a job, having the benefits of work, having the dignity of work is what makes your life. I’m fighting for that in this campaign, I’m fighting for who will run our $1.3 trillion economy, who stood up for jobs in the global financial crisis, who will stand up for jobs again. All of my life, I’ve believed in the transformative power of education; it made me. And at the centre of this campaign is whether we invest in schools or cut schools. All of my life I’ve believed we should show care and concern for each other. Do we want to go back to the days of Mr Abbott ripping $1 billion out of health care or go forward with new investments in health? All of my life I’ve believed we shouldn’t be afraid of the future. That’s what the National Broadband Network is all about.
JOURNALIST: Is that one of the reasons you’ve made this mad dash to Perth, because there are seats here on a knife edge?
PM: I’m here in Perth, speaking to the people of Western Australia as they make a final decision for voting on Saturday about the biggest issues in this campaign. Nothing more important than this for this campaign than the strength of our economy – we’ve got a strong economy, people have work, we can make investments in education and health. That’s what’s at the centre of this campaign. Where is Mr Abbott? He’s missing whenever the going gets tough and big judgments need to be made on the economy.
JOURNALIST: On health, you are still withholding hundreds of millions of dollars (inaudible) sign up to the health deal –
PM: Well that’s actually not completely factually correct, either. We’re investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Western Australia –
JOURNALIST: (inaudible)
PM: But let’s talk about our total health investment. What you’ve just said now is not true. We are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in Western Australia in new money in health, and I want to invest even more. I want to invest even more by entering into an agreement with Premier Barnett. We are investing now and I want to invest even more in the future. What’s the choice on Saturday on health care? My additional investment plus even more when we reach an agreement with the Premier, versus Mr Abbott’s track record of cuts. You look at any Perth hospital now and you ask yourself why is it struggling, go back to the billion dollars that Tony Abbott ripped out of health care. He was one of the longest serving Health ministers the nation has ever seen. What did he achieve as Health Minister? He cut $1 billion out of public hospitals and he cut back GP training places. You can’t get an appointment with a GP today – thank Tony Abbott. It takes a long time to make a General Practitioner. The reason we’re short now is because of Mr Abbott’s cutbacks. Ok, thank you very much.
COMMUNICATIONS UNIT: Phone: (02) 9384 2220 | Fax: (02) 9264 2213
AUTHORISED N.MARTIN for the ALP, 5/9 Sydney Ave. Barton ACT.
✉ serve.tony
Skype – perthtones
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Undecided voters in marginal seats will determine the outcome of this election. When they open their newspaper on Friday & Saturday, make sure they see our Issue Scorecard–an independent guide to where the parties stand on the issues.
Dear tony,
The policy drought this election has kicked up a dusty cloud of spin. Many voters don’t know where to turn, or what their vote will mean for the next Parliament. But you can provide a ray of clarity in the pivotal days and moments before they cast their ballot.
Our Issue Scorecards cut through the spin and tell voters where the parties stand on the issues that matter to Australians–on climate change, on mental health, the environment, the economy and refugees–from an independent, non-partisan source.
We have more than one million Issue Scorecards ready to print (on recycled paper), to be inserted in major newspapers covering key marginal seats and handed out to voters on Election Day in polling booths around the country–the most powerful time to influence and educate voters.
Can you help cover the costs before election day? Check out our Issue Scorecard here, and if you can, donate to deliver them straight to Australians in newspapers across the country:
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/TellThemTheScore
With your donation we’ll be able to reach undecided voters in marginal seats by advertising in The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail, The Canberra Times and The Australian before election day.
And on election day itself, thousands of GetUp members have signed up to be at polling booths around the country, ready with a friendly voice, a smile and an Issue Scorecard telling their neighbours the real story about their vote. Can you help us by donating so we can print the material in time for it to get to polling booths across the country?
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/TellThemTheScore
In the end, it isn’t the politicians or the media voters trust most–it’s people in their own communities.
Thank you for sparking this movement,
The GetUp Team
PS – Our latest TV ad starring GetUp members pressuring Tony Abbott to update his views on women in society is still running on screens across the country and tonight (Wednesday) it can be seen on Seven and Nine News at 6pm in Sydney and Brisbane, as well as shows like Home and Away and The 7pm Project.
✉ serve.tony
Skype – perthtones
Twitter WordPress Youtube LinkedinHamas operatives were responsible for the two rocket attacks on Eilat and Aqaba. http://ht.ly/2qHdx #israel
In the final week, the polls show this election resting on a knife’s edge. Anything can happen. That’s why this is such an important question: The day after Election Day, will you be complaining about the outcome, asking why you didn’t do more, or telling your friends how you made the difference?
The election could be decided by less than a few hundred undecided voters in key marginal seats, like Swan. Working with other GetUp members at polling booths across Swan, you can influence thousands of voters.
By highlighting issues like climate change, refugees and mental health with the issue scorecard you’ll be handing out, you have the power to turn this election on those issues and write the story of this election campaign.
Click here to see our issue scorecard and join us on a polling booth:
http://www.getup.org.au/campaign/adoptaboothSwan
Set the mandate for the next government by joining us on Saturday, August 21st.
Hope to see you at the booths on election day,
Oliver, for the GetUp Team
PS – Whatever you’re doing on Election Day, join us on at a GetUp Election Night Party to watch the election TV coverage and celebrate all the work GetUp members have put in during the campaign.
✉ serve.tony
Skype – perthtones
Twitter WordPress Youtube LinkedinJoin your voice to the thousands of Australians
concerned about mental health
40,000 People Missing Out On Mental Health Services
The Government’s own estimates are that more than 50,000 Australians with severe and persistent mental illness are in urgent need of support from community mental health services. In the last three years, new funds obtained through the 2005/6 COAG initiatives appear to have reached 10,000 people. 40,000 Australians are still waiting.
We need increased investment if we are going to get serious about meeting the needs of Australians with a mental illness, their family members, friends and carers.
In 2007, our National organisation, the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) undertook the “Australians Talk Mental Illness” survey. MIFA received more than 2,000 responses from people with mental illness, family members and carers, and others. They presented a compelling snapshot of what needs to be done about mental illness. The key issues identified included:
• Appropriate housing and support;
• Consumer and carer education and support;
• Social security impacts on consumers and carers;
• Employment opportunities; and
• Research to develop evidence based service models delivered in the community.
In 2010 MIFA has commissioned research to provide an update of progress on these issues in the last three years. The result is a series of 5 position papers which are available on the MIFA website (www.mifa.org.au).
We are calling organisations to assist with a pre-election campaign and to join their voices to the thousands of Australians concerned about mental health.
Please find attached background on the Federal Election campaign and some suggestions and hints for advocating with politicians.
The attached booklet summarises the policy issues that still need urgent attention in 2010. If you require any more copies of the booklet, please visit our office.
Yours sincerely,
Sandra Vidot
Chief Executive Officer
Mental Illness Fellowship of WA Inc
Annika Wallace
Administration Officer
Mental Illness Fellowship of WA
110 Edward Street
Perth WA 6000
Phone: 9228 0200
Fax: 9228 0022
admin@mifwa.org.au
www.mifwa.org.au
“Tony Abbott never mentioned a special boatphone. Accurate version of my story is on Herald Sun website.” http://tiny.cc/r5y8g #ausvotes via @PhillipMHudson:
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August 31, 2010
tony serve
