Advocating for Fraser

Federal Member for Fraser Bob McMullan, Federal Member for Canberra Annette Ellis and Senator for the ACT Kate Lundy have expressed their deep concern about apparent plans from Shadow Minister for Finance Senator Barnaby Joyce to take an axe to Canberra’s public service.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Canberra, Senator Joyce said that with respect to public service jobs it was essential to “control costs now”. Senator Joyce stated: “You’ve got to cut the suit to fit the wearer.”

Earlier today on ABC radio, Senator Joyce was asked what areas the money would be cut from to fund the Coalition’s climate change policy. 

He said:  “If you have a look at the, their explosion of their costings, for instance, in the public service.”

The ACT Labor representatives said they were concerned but not surprised to learn about Senator Joyce’s intentions.

“When the Howard Government took power in 1996, they took an axe to the public service in Canberra, cut tens of thousands of local jobs, and helped cause a local recession,” the ACT representatives said.

“It now seems clear that if an Abbott Government were elected later this year, Senator Joyce would be all too happy to do the same again.

“I think we stand for every local Canberra family in saying that Abbott and Joyce should come clean on how many ACT-based public service jobs they intend to cut.”

The ACT Labor representatives called upon ACT Liberal Senator Gary Humphries to speak out against Senator Joyce’s radical plans.

I have today advised the Prime Minister, the Australian Labor Party and my staff that I have decided not to contest the next general election.

I intend to continue as Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance until the next election and the Prime Minister has advised me that he wishes me to do so.

This decision has been difficult.

I previously announced my intention to seek one more term. While I have found my engagement with international development assistance issues particularly satisfying and the local constituency work in Fraser both rewarding and enjoyable, I have concluded that I can make my best contribution to those issues to which I have dedicated my adult life by moving on while I am still fit, healthy and able to meet a new challenge.

The challenge of global poverty and global economic development is one which I hope to make the focus of the next stage of my life.

However, it is not appropriate to take any steps to seek opportunities in this area until I have completed my role as Member for Fraser and Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance.

After the election Robin and I intend to take some long overdue holidays and then commence the process of starting the new stage in our lives.

I would like to thank the people of the ACT and the people of Fraser in particular for their support over the last twenty two years. I would also like to thank the hard working members of the Australian Labor Party who have supported me so ably over those years.

Without the support of my party and the electorate I could not have achieved any of the things I have been able to do during my career.

I will continue to serve the Government and the people of Fraser wholeheartedly and actively every day until the election.

The ACT branch of the Vietnam Veterans Federation will receive $7046 in funding from the Australian Government to support the health and wellbeing of the local ex-service community, the Member for Fraser, Bob McMullan, announced today.

Mr McMullan welcomed the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin’s approval of the funding as part of the Australian Government’s Veteran & Community Grants program.

“Veteran & Community Grants provide on-the-ground funding for local projects that promote health and wellbeing in the veteran community,” Mr McMullan said.

“Projects funded through the grants program include initiatives that encourage veterans, war widows and widowers to learn new life skills to help them remain independent, as well as social activities and support for carers.”

This grant will contribute to the purchase of a new surface grinder machine for Vietnam Veterans Federation metal workshop.

Veteran & Community Grants are available to ex-service and community organisations, veteran representative groups and private organisations that contribute to the health and welfare of the veteran community.

“I congratulate the ACT Vietnam Veterans Federation on its good work, and this valuable initiative to support veterans in the ACT,” Mr McMullan said.

For more information on the Veteran & Community Grants program visit www.dva.gov.au/grants or contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs office on 133 254 (for metro callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metro callers).

Federal Member for Fraser, Bob McMullan, has called on ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope and Federal Minister for Finance Lindsay Tanner to consider utilising available office space in Gunghalin as a way of easing pressure on the ACT construction industry.

Mr McMullan’s comments come in the wake of Mr Stanhope’s decision to delay ‘non urgent’ capital works in the ACT after the construction industry warned of critical skills shortages.

“I welcome the high level of capital investment in Canberra by the Rudd Government. This is contributing to Canberra’s strong economic growth and low unemployment.”

“However we have a situation where capital works, including construction of public service offices, are putting serious pressure on the ACT construction industry, and all the while there is 3000 square metres of fully furnished offices empty and gathering dust in Gunghalin.” Mr McMullan said.

“Not only does this space offer significant value for money for taxpayers, using it will also ease the pressure on the construction industry and provide a boost to Gunghalin’s economy.”

“In a situation where the ACT and Commonwealth governments are trying to reduce costs, this is an opportunity which is too good to be missed.”

Mr McMullan said he shared the Chief Minister’s belief in the need for long-term strategic planning for Commonwealth investment in ACT capital works to avoid peak and troughs and to provide better value for money.

“Obviously we need to figure out a better way of doing business in the future.”

Minister for Employment Participation Senator Mark Arbib and the Member for Fraser, Bob McMullan, today announced the second round of Innovation Fund projects that will help disadvantaged job seekers in Canberra.

The Australian Government has provided $700,000 for the “Home to Work” program which will offer counselling and employment assistance to the participants.

“This innovative project will support 80 long-term unemployed job seekers in gaining the skills needed to become job-ready,” Mr McMullan said.

“The ‘Home to Work’ project will integrate support services to ACT public housing tenants and include social networking activities through a ‘Jobs Club’, and culminate in work experience placements with local employers.”

The Innovation Fund provides $41 million for competitive grants over three years to encourage inventive employment and training solutions for disadvantaged job seekers.

Fourteen projects around Australia, totalling more than $6 million, will be funded in the second round. This is in addition to the $20.4 million announced by the Prime Minister in June for earlier projects taking the total to $26.5 million funding a total of 47 projects.

“The Government is committed to supporting disadvantaged job seekers increase their chances of finding sustainable employment,” Mr McMullan said.

“Already disadvantaged job seekers are receiving support and training to successfully obtain and keep employment through projects currently being undertaken from the first round of the Innovation Fund.”

As a component of Job Services Australia, the Innovation Fund projects lead the way in supporting people in areas with entrenched disadvantage, the homeless, people with mental health conditions, Indigenous job seekers and families with generational unemployment.

Further information on the round two Innovation Fund projects can be found at www.deewr.gov.au

The Lion’s Club of Gungahlin and the Tuggeranong BMX Club are amongst 121 community organisations in the ACT to share in almost $490,000 in funding from the Australian Government’s Volunteer Grants 2009 initiative.

Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, and Parliamentary Secretary for the voluntary sector, Senator Ursula Stephens, announced more than 6700 community organisations across Australia will benefit from $21 million in volunteer grants.

“Under this initiative, grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 are provided to non-profit organisations to support their volunteers and encourage volunteering,” Minister Macklin said.
“Every day volunteers are out in our local community doing what they do best– helping those in need, nurturing our environment and fostering our nation’s sporting and cultural life” said Senator Stephens.
The Member for Canberra, Annette Ellis, Member for Fraser, Bob McMullan and ACT Labor Senator Kate Ellis welcomed the announcement of the 121 local volunteer organisations receiving Australian Government support.

“The Australian Government’s volunteer grants provide valuable support to organisations that keep the ACT community together,”

“For many local volunteer organisations these grants provide the opportunity to purchase new equipment and cover the cost of fuel.

The grants will be used to purchase small equipment such as computers, cameras, first aid and safety equipment and marquees.

“Volunteers are the backbone of so many of our non-profit organisations and make a real and lasting difference in the lives of so many people in our community.
“The Australian Government values the enormous contribution volunteers in the ACT and this funding will ease the financial pressure on non-profit organisations and their volunteers.”
For the full list of successful organisations, please go to
http://tinyurl.com/lha8qy

Federal Member for Fraser Bob McMullan, Federal Member for Canberra Annette Ellis and Senator for the ACT Kate Lundy have expressed their disappointment on behalf of the ACT at the Liberal Party’s decision to block the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in the Senate today.

 “Today’s reckless act by the Liberal Party marks a gigantic step backwards in the battle to tackle climate change, and a gigantic step backwards for Australia’s national interest.”

Australia is one of the hottest and driest continents on earth which means our environment and economy will be hit hard in the future by climate change. That is why the Rudd Government is taking action on climate change.

The potential impacts and costs to the Territory’s industries, infrastructure, environment and people is significant. The ACT is likely to experience rising temperatures, increases in extreme weather events including high-intensity rainfall, flood, drought and bush fire risk. By 2070 the annual average number of days over 35°C in the ACT could grow from the current 5 days to 8-25 days.

“We must take decisive action on climate change for our children, grandchildren and future generations of Australians.

“The Rudd Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is the most effective, responsible way to reduce carbon pollution and help families and businesses make the transition to a greener economy.

“The climate change extremists in the Liberal Party have stopped Australia from taking decisive action on climate change.”

32 countries already have national emissions trading schemes, 4 other major economies are moving towards emissions trading and 27 states and provinces in the US and Canada are introducing emissions trading.

Media contact:   Annika Hutchins – 0407 458 882 (Lundy)

                 Sam Casey –  0421 697 660 (McMullan)

                 Brenton Sloane – 0431 252 698 (Ellis)

Federal Member for Fraser Bob McMullan and Senator for the ACT Kate Lundy today congratulated the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the Australian National University (ANU) and the University of Canberra (UC) and their hard working researchers on receiving a total of $40,742,839 to fund 107 outstanding research projects from the Rudd Government.

Funding for these projects comes from the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development, Discovery Projects and Linkage Projects schemes – announced today for funding commencing in 2010.

Federal Member for Fraser Bob McMullan and Senator for the ACT Kate Lundy have welcomed the announcement of Australian Government funding of $5,000,000 to help improve the higher education facilities of the University of Canberra (UC).

The funding will be allocated to the Innovative Sustainable Practical Interactive Research in Education (InSPIRE) Centre, under the $71.5 million Capital Development Pool (CDP) program, that will help UC deliver important infrastructure.