Tag Archives: Parramatta

The Week that Was – November 8 to November 14

Posted on by

The possibility of tax reform is still floating around, with the Opposition calling the proposed changes are an attack on the poor, while the Greens would like the parliamentary library to do research into the GST. There have also been suggestions that the government would get more revenue by re-implementing a Carbon Tax than they would a rise in the GST. Meanwhile there are concerns about the uptake of health insurance, after it was reported that the number of people taking out private health insurance has fallen. Health Minister Sussan Ley wants to know if this is an affordability issue, and if so, what factors are affecting that and whether those factors are fair.

The Christmas Island Detention Centre was the scene of rioting earlier this week after a refugee died escaping the centre. The main issues appear to be related to access to services, such as medication. It was finally brought under control after armed police were flown in from Australia, with five detainees injured and allegations that the police used tear gas and rubber bullets to subdue the riots. Peter Dutton has told the public that the riot was started by a group of hardened criminals – believed to be mostly New Zealanders awaiting deportation after spending more that twelve months in prison – seven of whom were brought to Perth following the riots. If that doesn’t already cause problems for the government, then the 110 countries, including Russia, Iran and North Korea, that registered concern about Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers at a UN Human Rights Council meeting probably did.

Malcolm Turnbull has gone on his first international trip as PM this week, starting with a casual trip to Indonesia to meet President Joko Widodo and repair the relationship marred by spying scandals, executions and, well, let’s be honest, Tony Abbott. Turnbull then headed to Germany to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel and is due in Turkey for the G20 this week. While in Germany, the Paris Terror attacks occurred, and despite being on the other side of the world, Turnbull was ably to speak in a measured and reassuring fashion without one mention of “Team Australia” or “death cult”, which shows that in some ways, Turnbull as PM was always going to be the most sensible move our country ever made – even if it was only made by the party. It is believe that Turnbull will still attend the G20 – although it may become a G19, as French President François Hollande is expected to stay in France and help his nation heal.

Finally this week, the government is believed to be rethinking the lease of the Darwin Harbour to a Chinese company, the man alleged to have supplied the gun in the Parramatta shooting was arrested, one of Julie Bishop’s staffers is being scrutinised after it was revealed that he was at a plotter’s meeting with Turnbull, Wyatt Roy and other Liberal figures instrumental in the spill and the unemployment rate is down, which is good news for the Turnbull government.

Tweets of the Week

And this one from the Mayor of Paris – it reads “Thank you to Clover Moore [Sydney Lord Mayor] and the residents of Sydney for their brotherly support”

Things I’ve Been Looking at Online

Annabel Crabb on the concept of Kitchen Cabinet and why she wont stab ScoMo with a fork – SMH

Labor looking for TV personalities to run in a federal seat at the next election – The Age

Same-sex couples and legal rights are still an issue – SMH

The Week That Was – October 11 to October 17

Posted on by

Malcolm Turnbull’s week started well, with him announcing $100 million for light rail infrastructure on the Gold Coast. However, as it went on, the week got tougher for him. His government with his cabinet had their first sitting day in the Parliament, with Andrew Hastie, the new MP for Canning being sworn in, and Tony Abbott on the back benches for the first time in almost two decades, which went well. However, by the end of the week Turnbull was dealing with the Labor party implying, but never directly accusing the PM of avoiding taxes, as it was revealed that Turnbull has an investment in the Cayman Islands, a famed tax haven. Turnbull says that he has always paid his taxes, and while it seems suspicious, he doesn’t control where his money is invested. Furthermore, he has no investments in Australia, so there is no perceived conflicts of interest. At the end of the week, Turnbull was in NZ for his first international trip as PM, with the main focus on Australia deporting New Zealand citizens who had been convicted of a crime and sentenced to more than 12 months in prison.

Refugees also became a major issue this week, with the doctors and nurses at the Melbourne Children’s hospital refusing to discharge patients who came to them from detention centres, due to concerns about mental health. The Victorian government is behind them, and both have told the public that the issue will not affect bed numbers. Another issue was the way the government dealt with a Somali asylum seeker who was raped and required medical attention, primarily because she wanted an abortion, which is illegal in Nauru. She was flown to Australia towards the end of the week, only to be sent back a few days later without the abortion. The government is claiming that she changed her mind, while her lawyers say that she was never seen by a medical professional and was never given access to an interpreter.

The Dutch report into MH17, was released this week, with the investigators concluding that a Russian-made BUK missile shot down the plane over Ukraine, although they do not know who launched it. Most of the families and friends of the victims, including Malcolm Turnbull, who I think said that he knew one of the passengers, have welcomed the report, while Russia has criticised it.

Finally this week, Glenn Lazarus has called for a Royal Commission into the Coal Seam Gas industry after a Queensland farmer killed himself after a long battle with the CSG companies drilling on his land; the Federal government is looking into legalising medical marijuana; charges have been laid against those involved in the Parramatta shooting, and the victim, Curtis Cheng was farewelled at a funeral on Saturday.

Tweet of the Week

International Politics can be interesting…

Things I’ve Been Looking at Online

I’ve been working on an assignment for uni, so this is really all I’ve looked at…

Diversity at the ABC – ABC Radio National

The Week That Was – October 4 to October 10

Posted on by

Investigations continued into the Parramatta police shooting this week, with police looking into people the 15-year-old shooter was involved with. A classmate of the shooter was arrested earlier in the week and raids in neighbouring suburbs later in the week lead to more arrests, although most have now been released with no charge. Meanwhile, NSW Police, the NSW Premier Mike Baird and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull have been calling for calm, while the Muslim community continues to remind people that the bulk of their community are law-abiding, non-violent citizens. Turnbull has heralded a marked change in the government’s reaction to events, in that he does not use Abbott’s favourite word “death cult” nor does he engage in the kind of scaremongering that was a key part of Abbott’s national security spin.

The Nauruan government has announced that they will start processing remaining asylum claims with aims to finish within the week. It appears there may be a bit of a delay, as I don’t think they are done, but it’s a start. There is some suspicion that this move may have to do with a High Court case that started this week, but the government obviously isn’t saying anything. However, it is still at a cost to the Australian taxpayer and there are still allegations of untoward behaviour at centres.

The government has announced that they’re going to spend $1.3 billion on new armoured vehicles for the ADF. They’ve ordered 1100 vehicles, along with an unclear number of trailers. PM Turnbull and Defence Minister Marise Payne have said this is good for the country, if not for the fact that we need some newer better ones, but because they will be built in Australia, keeping at least 200 jobs. However, there has been some amusing side acts to this with both Kevin Andrews and Labor claiming they started the process for ordering the vehicles.

Peter Garrett is in a spot of bother this week after it was revealed that he had said that someone from Clubs NSW had given him a bag of cash at an event just after he was elected to parliament in 2004. He said he didn’t accept the cash. However, he has now backtracked on his allegations, saying now that it was an event before he was elected and the envelope contained a cheque (which is considered a legitimate donation as it can be traced). His excuse is that he had a brain fart and he has asked both his publisher (he’s writing a book) and the editors of a documentary on gambling to correct what he had said.

Also this week, Liberal Party Director Brian Loughnane has announced he will leave his role at the end of the year. Loughnane, is married to Abbott’s Chief of Staff, Peta Credlin. Loughnane is not seen as a victim of the spill, however he believes, much like Abbott, that Abbott could have won the Liberals the next election.

Finally this week, the Trans-Pacific Partnership has been agreed on and signed in Atlanta this week, with all nations involved relatively pleased with the result; Australia still has concerns about Russia’s involvement in Syria, the crazy people came out to protest outside Parramatta Mosque, as well as against a proposed mosque in Bendigo in Victoria; a Somali asylum seeker is trying to get to Australia for medical treatment after she was sexually assaulted, and NSW will be taking the bulk of the Syrian refugees Australia has agreed to take in.

Tweet of the Week

Things I’ve Been Looking at Online

Terry Barnes on how Turnbull needs to learn from the Credlin-Loughnane era – ABC The Drum

Criticisms of Channel 9’s attempt at a Q&A (“The Verdict”) – ABC The Drum

The ABC reflects on its coverage of the Turnbull spill – ABC Backstory

The New South Wales Budget

Posted on by

In stark contrast to the Federal Budget, the NSW Budget was much nicer, kinder and understanding. There was some “Yay! Vote for us” subtly inserted, but that was to be expected – this is the last budget before the 2015 State Election.

NSW still has a AAA Credit Rating, and it’s economy is growing faster than both Queensland and Victoria’s. The NSW Government feel that they have done the repairs and restored NSW’s economy, while living with the means and being ‘fiscally responsible’. NSW had a $1 billion surplus, and while it will get a deficit in the next financial year, there will be a surplus in the financial year after that.

So, what are they funding?

Housing

  • Increase in first home buyers’ grant
  • $60 million for infrastructure
  • ONLY for Australian citizens and permanent residents

Health

  • New nurses and frontline staff
  • money for Capital Works at Westmead Hospital
  • Emergency Department Upgrades and other Capital Works at other hospitals
  • Public/Private agreement for the new hospital on the Northern Beaches
  • redevelopments of ICUs and NICUs
  • Mental Health funding

Transport

  • Lots of people using the Opal Cards (250,000 commuters)
  • Opal rollouts on buses and light rail in next 18 months
  • Wynyard Station upgrade
  • funding for West Connex and other Western Sydney roads
  • Pacific Highway upgrades in regional areas
  • Parramatta Light Rail

Education

  • $612 million extra
  • Early childhood education
  • New apprenticeships and creation of quotas for number of apprenticeships

Environment

  • Money for Parks and Conservation trusts
  • Money for councils to do flood protection
  • More money for Rural Fire Service, especially training

Community Services

  • Money for DOCs – IT implementation to free up case workers to see more kids in need
  • Move some kids into NGO-run foster care instead of state care
  • No word on employment of new case workers
  • NDIS rollout – “Ready Together” program to prepare for delivery
  • Money for accommodation in disability homes
  • NSW will fill pension gap that Federal Government leaves for one year – hope to get the Federal Government to leave pensions the way they are

There was also talk about what could be funded if they are voted back in and they sell the pole and wires, such as the extension to the Northwest Rail Link through St Leonards/Crows Nest and the CBD. They’ve said that the sale will help with the bills, clean up efficiencies and unlock investment potential. It sounded a bit like an election promise – which it probably was, given the State Election is less than a year away.

The biggest issue for the State Government right now is the Federal Government’s budget, especially the cuts to pensions, health and education. They seem optimistic about negotiating with the Federal Government to get some of their money back – so we will have to see what happens.