Category Archives: In Canberra

Rare Cancer Awareness Month

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Today is the beginning of Rare Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign to celebrate and support Australians affected by rare cancer in the leadup to Rare Cancers Awareness Day on Monday 26 June.

Rare cancers present unique and complex challenges. They may face high costs and receive limited support, education and treatment options due to limited knowledge, expertise, research and investment.

This is why one-on-one, personalised support is critical.

If you want to help Rare Cancers Australia in their mission to improve the lives of people diagnosed with rare and less common cancers you can fundraise at https://www.rarecancers.org.au/page/110/fundraise-for-rca or find resources to promote Rare Cancer Awareness Day at https://www.rarecancers.org.au/…/rare-cancers-awareness…

World No Tobacco Day

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Today is World No Tobacco Day.

Labor has a proud history of implementing world leading anti-smoking policies including our plan packaging laws. These measures have seen a steep reduction in tobacco consumption since 2012.

Sadly, the progress we’ve made is at risk because vaping is creating a new generation of nicotine dependency. Young people who vape are three times more likely to take up smoking, and this poses a major threat to our success in tobacco control.

This is why the Albanese Labor Government is taking strong action on vaping. For details visit https://www.health.gov.au/…/taking-action-on-smoking…

ABC Interview for National Redress Committee

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Yesterday I caught up with Matt Doran on ABC News 24’s Afternoon Briefing for a chat about the work of the Joint Standing Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme, which I chair.

As well as speaking to the Department of Social Services and National Redress Scheme services, the Committee is keen to hear about the experiences of people who have applied for the scheme.

Information about the Committee’s inquiry and how to make a submission is available here: https://www.aph.gov.au/…/National_Redress…/Redress47

Watch the interview here

National Library Funding Pledge

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The Albanese Labor Government will provide the National Library of Australia with $33 million over four years and $9.2 million per year in indexed ongoing funding.

The previous Liberal government left the future of Trove hanging in the balance, only funding the program to June 2023.

Trove is Australia’s digital memory, and as long-time advocate for our national cultural institutions, including Trove, I am delighted to part of the government that is securing its future.

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In six months of the Albanese Labor Government’s Regional First Home Buyer Guarantee, we have helped over 4,700 Australians – including 77 Tasmanians – into home ownership.

Congratulations to Housing and Homelessness Minister Julie Collins MP on this fantastic achievement.

This builds on other measures that the Albanese Government has already delivered to help tackle housing and homelessness challenges in Australia:

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Constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

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The Albanese Labor Government is taking the next steps on the path to Constitutional recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Yesterday the Prime Minister announced the Referendum question and Constitutional amendment. The question will be:

“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?”

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The Australian Government is in the process of developing a National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality.

Australia has made great progress in advancing the status of women, but in a number of areas progress is slowing or stalled. The National Strategy will be an important mechanism to elevate and prioritise actions to achieve gender equality.

You can have your say on the strategy by sending a response to the discussion paper or completing the consultation survey here

https://www.pmc.gov.au/…/national-strategy…/consultation

New Frontiers Conference

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It is wonderful to attend New Frontiers: The Biennial Conference of the National Federation of Australia Japan Societies in Adelaide today as Chair of the Australia-Japan Parliamentary Friendship group representing the Government and Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong – Senator for SA.

Australia and Japan share deep and longstanding trade and investment, defence, scientific research, and cultural ties.

Continue reading →

Morrison’s Failure

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Millions of Australians are in lockdown because Scott Morrison has failed at his job.

Lockdowns are painful. They cost businesses, they disrupt families and they hurt the economy.

Yet we will continue to have lockdowns until Scott Morrison fixes the vaccine rollout and fixes quarantine.