Senator Catryna Bilyk eBulletin #64

 


A sports grants program that was supposed to fund sports infrastructure projects based on merit was used by the Liberals and Nationals to pork-barrell marginal electorates in the lead-up to last year’s election. As I explained in this Senators’ Statements speech, the Auditor-General found that the Morrison Government had completely overturned the independent recommendations of Sport Australia and funded projects in targeted and marginal electorates. Many of the funded projects had not been recommended by Sport Australia and a number had been accepted by the then Minister, Senator Bridget McKenzie, after the deadline had passed and Sport Australia had stopped accepting applications.
 
This was a cruel blow to the hundreds of sports clubs that were overlooked for funding despite their projects having been assessed as highly deserving against the published criteria. These clubs spent many hours preparing applications, all the time being deceived by the Government into thinking that they were participating in a merit-based process.
 
Eight days after I delivered my speech the Auditor-General gave evidence to the first public hearing of a sports rorts Senate inquiry initiated by Labor. It was revealed in that hearing that 43% of projects, some 270 in total, were ineligible for funding. Another revelation from the inquiry was that dozens of versions of a spreadsheet, which was colour coded according to which party held the electorate and whether it was targeted by the Coalition, were exchanged between the Prime Minister’s and Senator McKenzie’s offices.
 
Evidence is now emerging that other grants programs were rorted in a similar way including the Female Facilities and Water Safety program and the Building Better Regions program.
 

 
As Patron and gold sponsor of A Day on the Beach, I was pleased to see the Australia Day event enjoy its fourteenth successful year with plenty of activities, competitions, food, entertainment and even an aerobatic display.
 
I attended the Kingborough Council’s citizenship ceremony that morning where I read the citizenship pledge and the Minister’s message to the conferees. Australia is a welcoming, inclusive and prosperous country and it is joy to see the smile on people’s faces when they gratefully accept their certificates of citizenship.
 
I then spoke to a number of residents about local issues at my stall at A Day on the Beach, and in the afternoon I judged the A Day on the Beach sandcastle competition. Having judged this competition for several years I continue to be amazed by what some of the artists—particularly children—create using just sand and water.
 

 

 

 

 

 
Last week I tabled a petition of over 900 Tasmanians who called on the Australian and Tasmanian Governments to work together to save Palliative Care Tasmania. This call was echoed by a motion I moved which passed the Senate. The organisation’s funding agreement expires on 1 July 2020 and without further funding they will be forced to close their doors.
 
On the same day as the Senate resolution was passed and the petition tabled, I delivered an adjournment speech explaining why Palliative Care Tasmania is vital to ensuring Tasmanians with life‑limiting illness have choice, control, comfort and dignity in their care. I also explained that Palliative Care Tasmania’s services were saving millions of dollars in the health and aged care sectors.
 
Keeping this organisation open is an economic no-brainer yet, shamefully, neither the Morrison nor Gutwein Governments will commit further funding to Palliative Care Tasmania. Until either government—or both—provide the necessary funds for Palliative Care Tasmania to keep operating the fight to save the organisation continues.
 

 
I am proud to be a member, by marriage, of Tasmania’s Ukrainian community, and have also served for several years as a co-convenor of the Australia-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group.
 
As such, it was an honour to be invited by the Association of Ukrainians in Tasmania to launch their book With Ukrainian Greetings which tells the story of 70 years of Ukrainian settlement in Tasmania and is the culmination of hundreds of hours of work from a team of amazing volunteers. The launch event also featured colourful traditional Ukrainian dance and music—a throroughly enjoyable celebration of the rich culture that Ukrainian migrants have brought to Tasmania.
 

 

 
For many years I have been a proud supporter of Oakdale Lodge, a residential care facility for adults with disability. Oakdale Lodge goes above and beyond in providing its residents with a high standard of care, independence and quality of life. They are ably supported by the wonderful volunteers of the Acorn Branch, an organisation which raises funds for additional equipment and facilities for the lodge.
 
The event was also a farewell for the outgoing Chief Executive Officer of Li-Ve Tasmania Paul Byrne, who has served as CEO of the organisation, and several predecessor organisations, for 28 years. Li-Ve Tasmania is a not-for-profit organisation which runs Oakdale Lodge and several other disability services throughout Tasmania. While Paul’s departure will be a great loss to Li-Ve Tasmania, the incoming CEO Darren Mathewson has a wealth of knowledge and experience of the community service sector, and I know he is more than capable of living up to Paul’s legacy.
 

 

 
MPs and Senators from across the political divide attended an event in Parliament to officially launch the Parliamentary Friends of Haemochromatosis, of which I am co-convenor. It is the first time a Parliamentary friendship group has been established to raise awareness of haemochromatosis, the most common genetic condition in Australia. Several speakers addressed the event, including patients and medical experts, about the importance of raising awareness of the condition.
 
Around 1 in 200 Australians of Northern European origin carry the genetic risk for hereditary haemochromatosis. The condition can cause your body to store too much iron which leads to symptoms such as joint pain and fatigue. These symptoms can be easily mistaken for other conditions, yet if left untreated haemocrhomatosis can be fatal. To avoid these tragic consequences more Australians need to be tested for the condition which is why raising awareness of haemochromatosis is so important.
 
A simple test can tell you if you have the genetic risk for haemochromatosis and the high iron levels resulting from the condition can be easily treated with venesection (bloodletting). The blood taken through therepeutic venesection can be donated to the Red Cross, subject to the usual safety requirements.
 
Just remember the mnemonic TEST: Tricky to say, Easy to test, Simple to treat, Tragic to ignore. More information on haemochromatosis can be found on Haemochromatosis Australia’s website.
 

 

	Tasmanian Community Fund   Grant Round 40 of the Tasmanian Community Fund is now open. Grants are available in the categories small ($1,000 to $20,000), medium ($20,000 to $70,000) and two categories of large grants ($100,000 to $500,000)—Increasing Workforce Engagement and Community Wellbeing.   Further information about the program is available on the Tasmanian Community Fund website. If you have a project idea and would like to know if it aligns with the TCF guidelines, call the TCF office on 6232 7395 to discuss your project.
	Free legal clinics for older Tasmanians   COTA Tasmania is holding free legal clinics from 10:00am to midday on the first Wednesday of each month at the Westella Building, 181 Elizabeth Street, Hobart.   Bookings are essential. To book call 6231 3265 or email admin@cotatas.org.au.   If you have an urgent legal matter you need help with but the session is booked out, COTA will assist you to speak on the phone with a Legal Aid practitioner.
	CCYP Ambassadors   The Commissioner for Children and Young People in Tasmania is seeking applications from children aged 9-17 to become CCYP Ambassadors. Ambassadors help the Commissioner to understand what is important for children and young people and have opportunities to come together to discuss key issues and influence decision-makers.   Applications are due 28 February 2020. For more information call 6166 1366 or visit the Commissioner’s website.
	MHFA Youth and Multicultural Ambassadors   Applications are open Australia-wide for Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) Youth Ambassadors and Multicultural Ambassadors.   The aim of the Multicultural Ambassador program is to engage multicultural and Indigenous communities in promoting positive mental health and wellbeing through a network of dedicated volunteers throughout Australia. Further information on the program including how to apply is available here.   The aim of the Youth Ambassador program is to expand MHFA’s reach among younger Australians as well as increase awareness of the Foundations’ work in the area of Youth Mental Health. Further information on the program including how to apply is available here.   You can also contact the MHFA on 1300 643 287 (1300 MHF AUS).