TIME THE TREASURER TALKS TURKEY

Analysis in today’s Canberra Times suggests the real impact of the Federal Labor Government’s efficiency dividend is far worse than Treasury modelling has predicted.

The prediction of nearly 14,000 public service job cuts in the forward estimates will send a shudder down the spines of public servants across the ACT whose futures becomes more uncertain by the day.

“The Treasurer and Finance Minister urgently need to come clean and let everyone know just what this government has in store for the APS”, Senator Humphries said today.

“I’m very worried that the projections may be accurate, as it provides a great deal of uncertainty about jobs in Canberra”.

No ACT Labor member has been able to emphatically rule out job losses as part of the Government’s latest round of funding cuts, instead offering half-hearted assurances that job losses are not likely.

“The government is continuing to spend big, leading to the near-inevitability of job losses as it then desperately tries to deliver a balanced budget. Labor’s failure to maintain fiscal discipline will lead, as it so often has in the past, to Commonwealth employees wearing the brunt of their mismanagement.

“Wayne Swan and Penny Wong must step out of Parliament House in the first parliamentary sitting week and explain to the thousands of APS employees in Canberra just what the Labor party have planned for them.

“I call on Kate Lundy, Andrew Leigh and Gai Brodtmann to get on the phone to the their bosses and have them fess up on just how badly Canberra is going to lose out as a result of Labor’s fiscal incompetence”, Senator Humphries concluded.

01 February 2012

COALITION MOVES TO PROTECT CHILDREN ONLINE

Liberal Senator for the ACT, Gary Humphries, has been appointed as a member of a newly formed online Coalition working group aimed at assisting parents, carers and teachers to better protect children and young people from the risks associated with the internet and social media.

Senator Humphries joins Coalition colleagues from across the country to develop strong policy that will protect children from the risks of inappropriate or illegal online activity.

“As with any new frontier, there are opportunities and dangers”, Senator Humphries said today.

“Children are able to connect with the world, often from their own bedrooms, and we need to ensure we have appropriate mechanisms in place for our young people to feel safe online.”

The working group announced by the Leader of the Opposition today will consult with key technology, education and cyber-safety leaders, parents and young people, as well as other interested parties, to further develop its online safety policy in the areas of education, regulation and enforcement.

“I’m really looking forward to working with stake-holders and industry professionals to develop strong policy to help our children use the internet in the best way possible, without fear of cyber crime or online bullying.

“Part of making sure our children are safe is also ensuring teachers, parents and community leaders have the knowledge they need to be able to mentor children to use the internet confidently.”

The Online Safety Working group will report to the Opposition Leader by mid 2012.

“As a parent of two teenage boys, I know that online safety and awareness can weigh heavily on a parent’s mind, so we need to do everything we can to ensure the internet is the safest place for our children to venture into”, Senator Humphries concluded.

27 January 2012

AUSTRALIA DAY UNREST A SAD ATTACK ON FREE SPEECH

 “The violent reaction to the comments made by the Opposition Leader yesterday were disgraceful and have no place in Australian society”, Senator Humphries said today, referring to the protests at the Lobby Restaurant in Canberra yesterday.

“Yesterday’s actions that put the Prime Minister, the Opposition Leader, Federal Police and the press in harm’s way were completely inappropriate and do nothing to advance the protesters’ cause.

“The use of violence against a person for expressing their opinion is completely unacceptable.  Indeed it is an attack on the values that we celebrate on Australia Day.

“The move toward recognising Indigenous people in the Constitution will not be helped by yesterday’s shabby little display.

“The views expressed yesterday about the Tent Embassy by Tony Abbott align with comments I have heard from at least a dozen indigenous leaders over the years.  His comments were in no sense extreme or inappropriate.

“Actions by a small minority are certainly not representative of the dedicated community leaders I know, who seek to better the lives of indigenous Australians”.

Senator Humphries is the Coalition’s spokesman on emergency services and says the actions by the crowd marred the medals presentation on a day when members of the emergency services were to be honored.

“I’m disappointed that a function to honour the dedication of our emergency services personnel was ruined by the actions of these few”, Senator Humphries concluded.

27 January 2012

POKIES REFORM NEEDS PRIME MINISTER’S PRE-COMMITMENT

Liberal Senator for the ACT, Gary Humphries has called on the Prime Minister to ensure no donations are received from clubs in the ACT following the announced $37.1 million dollar clubs compensation package.

The package announced at the weekend will be delivered to clubs across Canberra, many of which are either owned by, or maintain strong links to the Australian Labor party.

The Labor party received about $600,000 before the last federal election, and continue to receive substantial donations from a number of clubs across the ACT.

“This trial was only announced three days ago, and already I have some very serious concerns”, Senator Humphries said today.

“If clubs in the ACT continue to make donations to the Labor Party once they receive the compensation package, it completely undermines the integrity of any trial, and any shred of integrity that the ALP may have left”.

Senator Humphries says that the only way that the Prime Minister can absolutely rule out any tax-payers dollars winding up back in the Labor Party pocket is to rule out donations from ACT clubs.

“For what her word is now worth, the Prime Minister has to give assurances that not one single cent of the compensation finds its way back into the hands of the Labor party, and the easiest way for her to do that is to rule out any donations from ACT clubs”, Senator Humphries concluded.

24 January 2012

CENTENARY LACKS CENTS

With the Centenary of Canberra celebrations due to start in less than a year, vital funding must be restored to the National Capital Authority if the Centenary’s goals are to be achieved.

 The “lasting legacies” of the Centenary – known as Canberra 100 – include:

§  Increase the pride and ownership of Australians in their capital
§  Establish enduring international recognition of Canberra, and its role as the capital
§  Create impetus for future development of the National Capital

All these goals overlap with the mission of the NCA, but the Gillard Government’s recently announced increased efficiency dividend will see the NCA shed even more funding, despite having already been stripped of nearly half its funding since 2007.

“The more money this government takes from Canberra, the bleaker the celebrations look”, Senator Humphries said today.

“It’s hard to see how greater recognition for Canberra and more impetus for future development of the national capital can be achieved if the federal agency responsible for the ongoing delivery of these things doesn’t have the resources to carry them out.

“The NCA is already on its knees, and if this government thinks this crippled organisation can continue to provide vital services to the ACT as well as prepare for this once in a lifetime event, they are living in a dream world. 

“The Government continues to rob Peter to pay Paul by shaking every cent they can from the NCA while making out that the centenary of Canberra is something they actually have an interest in.

“When I look at the goals for Canberra 100, I really have my doubts that the Federal Labor Government actually wants to increase pride and ownership of Canberra.

“I’m very proud of this city, and I’m offended that the celebrations for the centenary of our national capital is being compromised by this government constantly dipping into the NCA’s pocket”, Senator Humphries concluded.

23 January 2012

SPELL OUT SCHOOLS POLICY NOW, GREENS

It remains anyone’s guess as to what the policy of the Australian Greens is on non-government schools.

Senator Brown’s latest mixed messages for non-government school funding speak a very clear message to the ACT, where more children per capita attend such schools than anywhere in Australia – Canberra families will lose out.

Liberal Senator Gary Humphries said today that the power of the Greens within the Gillard Labor Government meant that Australians are entitled to know what the Greens’ education policy actually is.

“Before the last federal election Senator Brown promised that their policy to slash millions of dollars from non-government schools would not proceed, but in the year and a half since then the Greens website has recorded no change in their policy” , Senator Humphries said.

“Senator Brown may be trying to distance himself from what the Greens took to the last election, but the fact remains that destroying non-government schools is still their official party position.

“Someone in the Greens needs to come clean on what their position is, and not try to hide it until the dying days of the next federal election as we saw them do in 2010.

“Funding cuts detailed in the Greens policies would devastate the Canberra community where non-government schools teach more than 40% of children”, Senator Humphries concluded.

19 January 2012

LABOR GIVES UP ON G20

The ACT’s Liberal Senator, Gary Humphries, has slammed Katy Gallagher’s support for New South Wales to host the 2014 G20 summit while only offering Canberra to host some side events in the lead up.

Senator Humphries has called for G20 to be hosted in Canberra, and pointed out Labor’s strong criticism of the Howard Government for failing to host the CHOGM meeting ten years ago in Canberra.

“I am appalled that the ACT Government has all but given up on Canberra to host this important event”, Senator Humphries said.

“The ALP are hypocrites to call for Canberra to host major international meetings in the national capital when in opposition but to then turn their back on the capital when in government.

“If Canberra was capable of hosting a meeting of 50-odd heads of government in 2000, it should certainly be able to host a meeting of 20 leaders in 2014”.

The ACT has continually missed opportunities to host international events.

“This should have been Canberra’s chance to shine.

“Labor was happy to talk big in opposition, but has gone to water in government,” Senator Humphries concluded.

16 January 2012

FEDERAL LABOR UNDERMINES ACT PROPERTY SENTIMENT

 In an alarming survey commissioned by the Property Council of Australia, the ACT has been found to have the worst investor confidence in Australia.

The survey polled 2800 property industry professionals across all states and territories and shows the ACT as the only capital city to record a shift from positive to negative sentiment between September and December 2011.

“The figures released by the Property Council are a major concern to our Territory”, Senator Gary Humphries said today.

 “This is yet another warning bell for the Government to ease the pressure on Canberra, yet all we are seeing is new taxes, eroding living standards and the Government burying its head in the sand.

“When well over half of the survey respondents indicate the federal political environment as having the largest impact on business decision making for the next quarter, it becomes very clear that Labor continue to get it wrong.

“The Federal Government’s actions have a very real impact on the ACT and continued Labor neglect and haphazard polices bode very poorly for the national capital’s future.

“It seems as though Labor are the only ones who aren’t getting it so, put clearly – Labor need to stop looting Canberra in search of a quick buck”, Senator Humphries concluded.

12 January 2012