As we head into the Festive Season I would like to wish you and your loved ones a merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year. My office will be closing on Friday 21 December 2018 and reopening on Monday 14 January 2019. If you are in need of urgent assistance you can contact Daniel Hulme on 0447 000 867.

A Federal election is just around the corner, and I, my staff and my Labor colleagues are preparing for an extra busy year and will be working hard for the election of a Shorten Labor Government.

Morrison Government in disarray

The final sitting week of Parliament descended into farce. While Labor supported legislation that would help facilitate medical transfers for refugees in regional processing facilities, the Morrison Government tried every trick in the book to delay the bill. The argument that giving sick children the medical treatment they need, where they need it, is going to undermine border security quite frankly beggars belief!

The Government  have scheduled only seven sitting days in the House of Representatives over the next four months leading up to the Budget. Scott Morrison and the Liberals have lost control of the Parliament and they clearly no longer want to be there. They have given up on governing and everyday Australians are paying the price for their chaos, dysfunction and division.

Stillbirth inquiry report tabled

After an eight-month inquiry the Senate Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education report was tabled in the Senate making recommendations for reducing the rate of stillbirth in Australia, better co-ordinating research, and providing improved support for affected families. It was an emotional event as I and Senator Kristina Keneally reflected on our own painful experiences with stillbirth. Committee Chair Senator Malarndirri McCarthy’s speech was also very moving.
 
A video of my speech is available by clicking the image below, or you can read the Hansard transcript here.

 
On Tuesday, 18 December I will be joining Senator Keneally, the Committee’s Chair Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, and representatives of the Stillbirth Foundation for a public discussion about the inquiry’s findings and recommendations at an Australian Labor Party National Conference Fringe Program event.
 
Further information about this event is available here.
 
More action needed on road safety

I am disappointed by recent news that Tasmania’s road toll for the 12 months ending September 2018 had increased 20% on the previous 12 month period.
 
I delivered a Senators’ Statements speech last week about the need for action on road safety. The Government’s own inquiry into the National Road Safety Strategy found that there has been a lack of co-ordinated action between the three levels of Government on implementing the strategy, leading to a failure to reduce Australia’s road toll.
 
As I mentioned in my speech, a co-ordinated approach requires Federal leadership and this starts with a dedicated road safety portfolio in the Federal Ministry. Labor has led the way by appointing Senator Glenn Sterle as Shadow Assistant Minister for Road Safety. I also pointed out in the speech that the Liberal Government has undermined road safety through their abolition of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal.
 
Labor will reverse the Liberals’ cuts to schools

Last week I spoke on the Matter of Public Importance debate about the Liberals’ $17 billion cuts to schools. Public schools educate the majority of disadvantaged children—including socioeconomically disadvantaged children, Indigenous children, and children with disability—yet 80% of the Government’s school funding cuts are to public schools.
 
Labor will restore every dollar of the $17 billion in Federal funding the Liberals have cut from Australian schools. This funding will overwhelmingly benefit the schools—and the students—who need it the most.
 
IMAS research on rock lobsters

On Monday I visited the Taroona facility of the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) with Senator Carol Brown and Federal Labor candidate for Clark, Ben McGregor.
 
While it has historically been difficult to raise lobsters from eggs in commercial hatcheries, the ARC Research Hub for Commercial Development of Rock Lobster Culture Systems have brought scientists and industry together for cutting edge research that may one day make the sustainable farming of lobsters a reality.
 

 
Visiting IMAS’s Taroona facility with Senator Carol Brown, and Federal Labor candidate for Clark, Ben McGregor where we met Associate Professor Greg Smith.
 
Labor’s plan for cheaper, cleaner energy

Last month Labor released its energy policy which presents a plan for more energy sector jobs, more renewables, cheaper power and less pollution.
 
While our preference has been to achieve bipartisanship on energy policy the Morrison Government are too divided and out of touch to deliver an energy policy that will achieve lower prices, deliver more renewables and tackle dangerous climate change.
 
Labor’s policy will:

 
You can read further detail on Labor’s plan for more renewables and cheaper power here.
 

 
Helping Hands make for a brighter Christmas

Several years ago I had the honour of being appointed Patron of a local organisation called Kingborough Helping Hands Inc. (KHH). This charity supports people in need in the Kingborough community and is particularly active around Christmas time.
 
KHH prepares over 200 Christmas hampers each year, valued at around $100 each, containing Christmas gifts, non-perishable food and other essential household items. These are distributed to people who are doing it tough and may not have the enjoyable Christmas that the rest of us take for granted. The efforts in collecting money and donated goods are assisted by the KHH Sharing Tree, which is situated at two Kingston shopping centres throughout December.
 
Since 2013 my office has assisted in KHH’s Christmas relief by being a collection point for donated gifts. While many of us are familiar with the work of Tasmania’s larger community service organisations we should acknowledge and support smaller charities like KHH and the excellent work they do in their local communities.
 

 
Making a donation to the Kingborough Helping Hands Sharing Tree
 
 
 
The Kingborough Helping Hands Christmas luncheon fundraiser was a huge success
 
In brief