Hawkesbury Heights, in the Blue Mountains, has no safe footpath to walk or ride the four kilometres to the local high school, the primary school, the shops or even to the local lookout and early learning centre.
Read MoreI feel a bit exasperated rising to speak on this topic, and it's not because the committee hasn't done terrific work in pulling together this report. But it does echo the recommendations that this government has received over many years about things that could be done to make a big difference to the arts sector. I fear that this is yet another report that they will largely ignore, cherry-picking only one or two recommendations for political ex...
Read MoreThis is a debate we should have had some time ago—not just a year ago but probably more like three years ago. I heard the member for North Sydney talk about how timely the legislation was, coming in the same week the Morrison government released its pamphlet on net-zero emissions by 2050. But actually it is years overdue, as was that so-called commitment to net zero. When you have a government that pretends that the need for climate action isn...
Read MorePeople who have to go to the post office to pick up parcels in the Hawkesbury, and small businesses in the Blue Mountains who Australia Post is refusing to collect parcels from, from, will be horrified to see the bonuses that executives have doled out to themselves, as will people struggling with the NBN.
Read MoreI think the last statement that the minister made highlights exactly what the problem is with the Building Better Regions Fund—or the 'building better rorts fund', as it is better known—and that is the comparison with the Stronger Communities Program. The point about Stronger Communities is that it is equal and fair. Every single MP is given an equal amount to share between the groups within their electorate. I hope every MP does what I do, an...
Read MoreI'm very pleased to be speaking on the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia's inquiry report into the Juukan Gorge disaster. I note that this is one of those examples where the committee, with its key recommendations, showed the sort of bipartisanship that's really good to see come out of our committee structure.
Read More