Monday, 12 August 2013
Saturday, 10 August 2013
Warfare waged between Capitalism and Labour was never so fierce.
*THE
WORKER*
Brisbane
October 27, 1894.
Unless
Wise Counsels Prevail.
The
continual warfare waged between Capitalism and Labour was never so
fierce and widespread as now. Turn where we will, the two forces
stand arrayed against each other.
I
know something of the life led by the average bushman. His lot is
anything but a perpetual picnic, and to think of the way they are
treated by arrogant Pastoralists is galling in the extreme. I
sometimes wonder why the world is so patient, why men tolerate such
cant, why we piously hold up our hand in horror at some atrocity, and
yet survey so calmly and suffer so quietly the injustice done and
rights withheld so many of our fellows. The wrecking of trains is
wrong, The burning of a shed is wrong. We know it. But what are all
these and more compared to the firing of all that is worse in us by
unjust oppression. Oppress men, and you kindle fires that make them
devils. When all sense of Justice is denied to men, nothing is left
but the spirit of revenge. So that by carrying measures with so high
a hand squatters are themselves to blame for these outbreaks of
violence over which the press grow hysterical. Treat men as men, and
they act as such. Treat them as brutes who are not to be considered,
be merciless to your slaves of circumstances, and they do so by you
when the chance comes.
Ye
who own the stations and all other means of existence, think you we
are different in thought and feeling to what you and yours are, and
yet you would have us bend the knee, and cap in hand, beg from you
work at any terms. You tell us we are free to reject your agreement;
so is the caged lion free to reject the food his keeper throws him.
You rely upon the surplus labour to take our places. The Government
will guard and protect hundreds who are neglected by them at all
other times. The unemployed, the great army reserve with which
Capitalism fights Labour, is now placed under police protection when
the squatter wants him under police subjection when he don't.
When
will the people wake, when will the nation rise, and say these things
shall be no longer – that a small body of men shall have no more
power to dictate to thousands. You who are in work think of your own
insecurity, tour struggle just to live, and then picture to yourself
the lives these men lead; their lonely lot, shut out from all the
luxuries and refinements of civilisation, the best part of the year
out of work, with the cold ground for their bed and the canopy of
heaven their only roof, and then can you wonder at their discontent.
Wise men have solved the riddle, and the lamp of Truth points the way
we should go. But those who guide the nation's destiny, blinded by
folly, heed not. Some day, unless wise counsels prevail, the upheaval
will come.
D. I.
Friday, 9 August 2013
Fitzgerald Inquiry: Hinze ......... Contd.
Section: 2.4.2 Transactions by some Ministers and others.
Part: (e)
(iii) Noeur Pty. Ltd.
John Colin Bartlett is a property developer and a close friend of Hinze. The two men met every fortnight for years. On 11 August, 1983, a Bartlett company, Noeur Pty. Ltd., paid $70,000 to the Hinze company, Kanni Pty.Ltd. which passed the money on to another Hinze company, Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. Eight days later, on 19 August, 1983, Colrene Pty. Ltd., another Bartlett company, lodged an amended rezoning application with the Albert Shire Council in relation to its Nerang Village development. On 15 September, 1983, Kanni Pty. Ltd. wrote a cheque for $70,000 payable to Noeur Pty. Ltd., which cheque was never presented. There was no document then in existence (apart from notations in Hinze company internal (records) to indicate that the Noeur Pty. Ltd. payment of $70,000 was a loan. On 20 September, 1983, the Albert Shire Council town planning committee decided to forward the amended application for rezoning approval to the Local Government Department with a recommendation that it be approved. On 23 September, 1983, Colrene Pty. Ltd. paid Kanni Pty. Ltd. $30,000 which Kanni Pty. Ltd. passed on to Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. On 15 December, 1983, Colrene Pty. Ltd.’s application for rezoning was approved but the Bartlett group of companies were later placed in receivership and liquidators appointed. A deed of forgiveness dated 25 July, 1985, was produced to this Inquiry, which provided that Noeur Pty. Ltd. had agreed to forgive the debt and release Kanni Pty. Ltd. from its obligations to repay the amount of the debt. Hinze and Mrs. Hinze’s signatures appear on the deed over the common seal of Kanni Pty. Ltd. Notwithstanding the deed of forgiveness, Kanni’s balance sheets continued to show the amount of $100,000 through the 1986 and 1987 financial years as a current liability owing to Noeur Pty. Ltd. Hinze gave evidence that the loans from Noeur Pty. Ltd. had not been forgiven but might be offset by other claims to which reference was made. The latter proposition was plainly incorrect.
(iv) Leslie Corporation
Leslie Corporation, a group of entities which included Fine Braid Leslie Partnership, was the developer of a canal estate “Coral Gardens”. Subsequent to the serious flooding in south-east Queensland in 1974, a cautious approach was adopted to the approval of canal estates and, as a result, the “Coral Gardens” development was delayed. There was considerable negotiation between Leslie Corporation and various Government authorities, and Hinze was lobbied by representatives of the group and arranged and attended various meetings between the company and officials of Government Departments. An Order in Council approving the construction of canals on the “Coral Gardens” estate was gazetted on 17 March, 1983. Francis Langsworth, an associate of Leslie Corporation, that sum was paid to discharge the earlier loan of
$61,300, together with interest of $38,700, by Leslie Corporation to Lowanna Pty. Ltd. In the same month, Leslie Corporation paid $100,000 to Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. Mrs. Hinze deposited the cheque into the bank account of that company, noting on the deposit book that it was a “deposit on purchase of Waverley Park unconditional contract fallen through”. Waverley Park Stud was then and still is the domestic residence of Mr. and Mrs. Hinze, and there was never any intention to sell it to any of the companies in the Leslie Corporation group. An unstamped document described as an “option to purchase” and signed by Hinze and Mrs. Hinze over the common seal of Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. was produced to this Inquiry. According to that document, the option had not expired by April 1983 and was available for exercise until 30 June 1983. Inconsistently, an unsigned form of contract annexed to that document required that any sale to arise from any exercise of that option was to be completed by 31 July, 1982, more than eight months prior to the banking of a cheque for $100,000 into the Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. bank account. In May 1983, Leslie Corporation made a further payment of $35,000, this time to Lowanna Pty. Ltd. According to the records of Leslie Corporation that payment was a loan. In August 1983, Leslie Corporation wrote to Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. in terms which suggested that the option was still current and had been extended to 31 December 1986 in return for $35,000. A further $35,000 from Leslie Corporation was paid into the bank account of Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. on 10 October, 1983. According to Langsworth, there was an extension of the option in consideration of the sum of $70,000 comprised of $35,000 by way of release of the loan to Lowanna Pty. Ltd. and a further payment of $35,000. Hinze agreed that the total amount received from Leslie Corporation in the period in question was $170,000 and that at least $100,000 of that amount was not repayable.
(v) Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd.
Although Hinze did not become the Minister for Racing until late in 1982, he had ministerial responsibility for racing from the end of 1980. As such, he was responsible for Racing Development Fund, which was established in mid 1981 to facilitate an extensive racing development programme in Queensland and for that purpose needed to borrow large sums which it serviced from income derived from the clubs and the Totalisator Administration Board. On 18 June, 198 1, Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. approved a loan facility of $500,000 for Lowanna Pty. Ltd., and a first instalment of $178,772.41 was paid to Lowanna Pty. Ltd. on 17 July 1981. On 6 August, 1981, a Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. officer attended a meeting of the members of the Racing Development Fund at which Hinze was present in his ministerial capacity. The finances and borrowing requirements of the Racing Development Fund for the redevelopment of a number of racecourses were discussed.On 11 November, 1981, Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. approved a loan facility of $275,000 for Kanni Pty. Ltd., and the first payment of $161,910 was made on 4 January 1982. On 24 February 1982, Hinze, Mrs. Hinze, and the Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. officer who had attended the meeting of the Racing Development Fund members met to discuss the personal requirements of Hinze and his associated interests. $10 million Albion Park redevelopment programme. The Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. officer noted:
“Building tenders are to be called in March with construction to commence in April 1982”. On 7 April, 1982, Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. agreed to provide a $5 million facility to the joint venturers in respect of the Gemini Court project. On 18 June, 1982, the trustees of the Albion Park Paceway resolved to accept a tender by Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. for a loan of $10 million for the Albion Park redevelopment programme. Subsequently, on Hinze’s recommendation, Cabinet approved the transaction, and the money was lent by Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. on 10 August, 1982.
(vi) George Herscu
In about August 1982, the Brisbane City Council gave approval for the development of a shopping centre at Sunnybank. The approval was subject to certain conditions which restricted vehicular and pedestrian access. The centre opened in July 1983, but a fence inhibited pedestrian access and there were restrictions on the methods by which vehicles could enter and leave the site. By October, 1983, Hersfield Developments Corporation Pty. Ltd., a company associated with George Herscu, had purchased the shopping centre, and was then concerned at the commercial consequences of the access difficulties. Approaches to Brisbane City Council proved unsuccessful, and Herscu approached Hinze with whom he shared an interest in horse racing. On 21 November, 1983, Herscu’s solicitors, Messrs. Cooper Korbl & Co., forwarded $50,000 which was paid into the trust account of Hinze’s solicitors, Messrs. Short Punch & Greatorix. In their letter dated 21 November, 1983 Herscu’s solicitors had stated that the money was advanced “ ... for six months at 15 per cent per annum payable on repayment of the deposit at the end of six months on 22 May 1984”. Reference was also made in that letter to a further loan to be made to “one of your clients”. The amount received was provided by Hinze’s solicitors to Kanni Pty. Ltd. Hinze actively involved himself in attending to the access difficulties at the shopping centre. In December, 1983, Hinze approached the then Commissioner of Main Roads and requested him to consider the possible methods of overcoming the problem. On 19 December, the Commissioner of Main Roads wrote to the Town Clerk of the Brisbane City Council stating that Hinze had asked him to inform the Town Clerk that he supported a review of the access. On 22 December, a second instalment of $50,000 was paid by Cooper Korbl & Co. to Hinze’s solicitors, who again paid the sum to Kanni Pty. Ltd. On 13 March, 1984, Mrs. Hinze sent her solicitors an acknowledgement of debt under the common seal of Kanni Pty. Ltd. which provided for $50,000 to be repaid on 22 May, 1984, and $50,000 to be repaid on 19 June, 1984. The matter of the access to the shopping centre was finally resolved in mid-October 1985, when the Brisbane City Council accepted in principle the proposed changes. No demand for repayment of the loan was made until 30 August, 1988, during the course of this Inquiry. By November, 1988, no amount of principal or interest had been repaid.
(vii) Kevin Will Seymour
Seymour is a property developer and friend of Hinze, with whom he shares a common interest in racing. Seymour is, or was, the Chairman of the Albion Park Trotting Club. He was appointed by the Governor in Council variously a member of the Queensland Trotting Board, a member and Deputy Chairman of the Queensland Harness Racing Board and one of three trustees of the Albion Park Raceway during the period that Hinze had ministerial responsibility for racing. In late 1985, a Hinze company, Oxenford Tavern Holdings Pty. Ltd., was attempting to sell a property which it owned near its Oxenford Tavern. The property for sale was a shop which was subject to a lease and was operated as a “Big Rooster” food outlet.Between 23 December, 1985 and 18 February, 1986, Seymour Developments Pty. Ltd. paid amounts totalling $320,000.00 to Oxenford Tavern Holdings Pty. Ltd. In January, 1986, Seymour received from his solicitors a draft contract for the purchase of the property for $320,000 with completion on 2 February, 1986, together with documentation appropriate for the transfer of the property, with the name of the transferee left uncompleted. Seymour’s solicitors advised him that the contract had to be lodged for assessment of stamp duty within one month of execution. No contract was ever signed, but there was evidence asserting that a memorandum of transfer was executed and handed by Mrs. Hinze to Seymour together with a certificate of title to the property. No documentation was stamped until after the conclusion of the evidence at the public sittings of this Inquiry, and no transfer was registered. Oxenford Tavern Holdings Pty. Ltd. remained the registered proprietor of the property and continued to receive rent from the lessee. In mid 1987, Oxenford Tavern Holdings Pty. Ltd. sold the property to a third person, to whom the property was transferred.On 29 June, 1987, Oxenford Tavern Holdings Pty. Ltd. repaid $320,000 to Seymour by a bank cheque. No interest was paid. On the same day, Seymour gave a bank cheque for $150,000 to Mrs. Hinze which she deposited into her bank account. On the same day, she drew a cheque on her bank account for $150,000. On 15 March, 1988, during the course of this Inquiry, $150,000 plus interest was repaid to Seymour.
To be continued.........
Part: (e)
(iii) Noeur Pty. Ltd.
John Colin Bartlett is a property developer and a close friend of Hinze. The two men met every fortnight for years. On 11 August, 1983, a Bartlett company, Noeur Pty. Ltd., paid $70,000 to the Hinze company, Kanni Pty.Ltd. which passed the money on to another Hinze company, Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. Eight days later, on 19 August, 1983, Colrene Pty. Ltd., another Bartlett company, lodged an amended rezoning application with the Albert Shire Council in relation to its Nerang Village development. On 15 September, 1983, Kanni Pty. Ltd. wrote a cheque for $70,000 payable to Noeur Pty. Ltd., which cheque was never presented. There was no document then in existence (apart from notations in Hinze company internal (records) to indicate that the Noeur Pty. Ltd. payment of $70,000 was a loan. On 20 September, 1983, the Albert Shire Council town planning committee decided to forward the amended application for rezoning approval to the Local Government Department with a recommendation that it be approved. On 23 September, 1983, Colrene Pty. Ltd. paid Kanni Pty. Ltd. $30,000 which Kanni Pty. Ltd. passed on to Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. On 15 December, 1983, Colrene Pty. Ltd.’s application for rezoning was approved but the Bartlett group of companies were later placed in receivership and liquidators appointed. A deed of forgiveness dated 25 July, 1985, was produced to this Inquiry, which provided that Noeur Pty. Ltd. had agreed to forgive the debt and release Kanni Pty. Ltd. from its obligations to repay the amount of the debt. Hinze and Mrs. Hinze’s signatures appear on the deed over the common seal of Kanni Pty. Ltd. Notwithstanding the deed of forgiveness, Kanni’s balance sheets continued to show the amount of $100,000 through the 1986 and 1987 financial years as a current liability owing to Noeur Pty. Ltd. Hinze gave evidence that the loans from Noeur Pty. Ltd. had not been forgiven but might be offset by other claims to which reference was made. The latter proposition was plainly incorrect.
(iv) Leslie Corporation
Leslie Corporation, a group of entities which included Fine Braid Leslie Partnership, was the developer of a canal estate “Coral Gardens”. Subsequent to the serious flooding in south-east Queensland in 1974, a cautious approach was adopted to the approval of canal estates and, as a result, the “Coral Gardens” development was delayed. There was considerable negotiation between Leslie Corporation and various Government authorities, and Hinze was lobbied by representatives of the group and arranged and attended various meetings between the company and officials of Government Departments. An Order in Council approving the construction of canals on the “Coral Gardens” estate was gazetted on 17 March, 1983. Francis Langsworth, an associate of Leslie Corporation, that sum was paid to discharge the earlier loan of
$61,300, together with interest of $38,700, by Leslie Corporation to Lowanna Pty. Ltd. In the same month, Leslie Corporation paid $100,000 to Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. Mrs. Hinze deposited the cheque into the bank account of that company, noting on the deposit book that it was a “deposit on purchase of Waverley Park unconditional contract fallen through”. Waverley Park Stud was then and still is the domestic residence of Mr. and Mrs. Hinze, and there was never any intention to sell it to any of the companies in the Leslie Corporation group. An unstamped document described as an “option to purchase” and signed by Hinze and Mrs. Hinze over the common seal of Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. was produced to this Inquiry. According to that document, the option had not expired by April 1983 and was available for exercise until 30 June 1983. Inconsistently, an unsigned form of contract annexed to that document required that any sale to arise from any exercise of that option was to be completed by 31 July, 1982, more than eight months prior to the banking of a cheque for $100,000 into the Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. bank account. In May 1983, Leslie Corporation made a further payment of $35,000, this time to Lowanna Pty. Ltd. According to the records of Leslie Corporation that payment was a loan. In August 1983, Leslie Corporation wrote to Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. in terms which suggested that the option was still current and had been extended to 31 December 1986 in return for $35,000. A further $35,000 from Leslie Corporation was paid into the bank account of Waverley Park Stud Pty. Ltd. on 10 October, 1983. According to Langsworth, there was an extension of the option in consideration of the sum of $70,000 comprised of $35,000 by way of release of the loan to Lowanna Pty. Ltd. and a further payment of $35,000. Hinze agreed that the total amount received from Leslie Corporation in the period in question was $170,000 and that at least $100,000 of that amount was not repayable.
(v) Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd.
Although Hinze did not become the Minister for Racing until late in 1982, he had ministerial responsibility for racing from the end of 1980. As such, he was responsible for Racing Development Fund, which was established in mid 1981 to facilitate an extensive racing development programme in Queensland and for that purpose needed to borrow large sums which it serviced from income derived from the clubs and the Totalisator Administration Board. On 18 June, 198 1, Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. approved a loan facility of $500,000 for Lowanna Pty. Ltd., and a first instalment of $178,772.41 was paid to Lowanna Pty. Ltd. on 17 July 1981. On 6 August, 1981, a Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. officer attended a meeting of the members of the Racing Development Fund at which Hinze was present in his ministerial capacity. The finances and borrowing requirements of the Racing Development Fund for the redevelopment of a number of racecourses were discussed.On 11 November, 1981, Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. approved a loan facility of $275,000 for Kanni Pty. Ltd., and the first payment of $161,910 was made on 4 January 1982. On 24 February 1982, Hinze, Mrs. Hinze, and the Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. officer who had attended the meeting of the Racing Development Fund members met to discuss the personal requirements of Hinze and his associated interests. $10 million Albion Park redevelopment programme. The Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. officer noted:
“Building tenders are to be called in March with construction to commence in April 1982”. On 7 April, 1982, Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. agreed to provide a $5 million facility to the joint venturers in respect of the Gemini Court project. On 18 June, 1982, the trustees of the Albion Park Paceway resolved to accept a tender by Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. for a loan of $10 million for the Albion Park redevelopment programme. Subsequently, on Hinze’s recommendation, Cabinet approved the transaction, and the money was lent by Bill Acceptance Corporation Ltd. on 10 August, 1982.
(vi) George Herscu
In about August 1982, the Brisbane City Council gave approval for the development of a shopping centre at Sunnybank. The approval was subject to certain conditions which restricted vehicular and pedestrian access. The centre opened in July 1983, but a fence inhibited pedestrian access and there were restrictions on the methods by which vehicles could enter and leave the site. By October, 1983, Hersfield Developments Corporation Pty. Ltd., a company associated with George Herscu, had purchased the shopping centre, and was then concerned at the commercial consequences of the access difficulties. Approaches to Brisbane City Council proved unsuccessful, and Herscu approached Hinze with whom he shared an interest in horse racing. On 21 November, 1983, Herscu’s solicitors, Messrs. Cooper Korbl & Co., forwarded $50,000 which was paid into the trust account of Hinze’s solicitors, Messrs. Short Punch & Greatorix. In their letter dated 21 November, 1983 Herscu’s solicitors had stated that the money was advanced “ ... for six months at 15 per cent per annum payable on repayment of the deposit at the end of six months on 22 May 1984”. Reference was also made in that letter to a further loan to be made to “one of your clients”. The amount received was provided by Hinze’s solicitors to Kanni Pty. Ltd. Hinze actively involved himself in attending to the access difficulties at the shopping centre. In December, 1983, Hinze approached the then Commissioner of Main Roads and requested him to consider the possible methods of overcoming the problem. On 19 December, the Commissioner of Main Roads wrote to the Town Clerk of the Brisbane City Council stating that Hinze had asked him to inform the Town Clerk that he supported a review of the access. On 22 December, a second instalment of $50,000 was paid by Cooper Korbl & Co. to Hinze’s solicitors, who again paid the sum to Kanni Pty. Ltd. On 13 March, 1984, Mrs. Hinze sent her solicitors an acknowledgement of debt under the common seal of Kanni Pty. Ltd. which provided for $50,000 to be repaid on 22 May, 1984, and $50,000 to be repaid on 19 June, 1984. The matter of the access to the shopping centre was finally resolved in mid-October 1985, when the Brisbane City Council accepted in principle the proposed changes. No demand for repayment of the loan was made until 30 August, 1988, during the course of this Inquiry. By November, 1988, no amount of principal or interest had been repaid.
(vii) Kevin Will Seymour
Seymour is a property developer and friend of Hinze, with whom he shares a common interest in racing. Seymour is, or was, the Chairman of the Albion Park Trotting Club. He was appointed by the Governor in Council variously a member of the Queensland Trotting Board, a member and Deputy Chairman of the Queensland Harness Racing Board and one of three trustees of the Albion Park Raceway during the period that Hinze had ministerial responsibility for racing. In late 1985, a Hinze company, Oxenford Tavern Holdings Pty. Ltd., was attempting to sell a property which it owned near its Oxenford Tavern. The property for sale was a shop which was subject to a lease and was operated as a “Big Rooster” food outlet.Between 23 December, 1985 and 18 February, 1986, Seymour Developments Pty. Ltd. paid amounts totalling $320,000.00 to Oxenford Tavern Holdings Pty. Ltd. In January, 1986, Seymour received from his solicitors a draft contract for the purchase of the property for $320,000 with completion on 2 February, 1986, together with documentation appropriate for the transfer of the property, with the name of the transferee left uncompleted. Seymour’s solicitors advised him that the contract had to be lodged for assessment of stamp duty within one month of execution. No contract was ever signed, but there was evidence asserting that a memorandum of transfer was executed and handed by Mrs. Hinze to Seymour together with a certificate of title to the property. No documentation was stamped until after the conclusion of the evidence at the public sittings of this Inquiry, and no transfer was registered. Oxenford Tavern Holdings Pty. Ltd. remained the registered proprietor of the property and continued to receive rent from the lessee. In mid 1987, Oxenford Tavern Holdings Pty. Ltd. sold the property to a third person, to whom the property was transferred.On 29 June, 1987, Oxenford Tavern Holdings Pty. Ltd. repaid $320,000 to Seymour by a bank cheque. No interest was paid. On the same day, Seymour gave a bank cheque for $150,000 to Mrs. Hinze which she deposited into her bank account. On the same day, she drew a cheque on her bank account for $150,000. On 15 March, 1988, during the course of this Inquiry, $150,000 plus interest was repaid to Seymour.
To be continued.........
Thousands in Townsville set to miss out on superfast broadband
Media Release.
Anthony Albanese
Deputy Prime Minister
More than 37,000 homes
and businesses in Townsville are set to miss out on superfast,
affordable and reliable fibre broadband if the Rudd Labor Government is
not re-elected at next month’s Federal Election, according to new maps
released today.
The maps graphically show the extent to which Tony Abbott and his
sidekick Malcolm Turnbull would wreck Federal Labor’s National Broadband
Network, denying most in the region access to the boundless
educational, health, lifestyle and commercial opportunities this
essential infrastructure delivers.If there’s a change of government on 7 September, the only homes and businesses that can be sure of getting access to NBN fibre broadband are the 15,000 that have been switched on under Federal Labor.
Everyone else is likely to be left with one of two choices: battle on using last century’s copper or fork out as much as $5,000 to have fibre connected to their home or business – something people are currently getting for free.
For Townsville’s 11,440 businesses alone, that could be a total financial hit as high as $57 million.
However, if the Rudd Labor Government is re-elected the roll out of fibre-to-the-premise will continue by mid-2016 to 52,400 homes and businesses in Townsville, Mount Louisa, Bohle, Deeragun, Bushland Beach and Black River.
Federal Labor’s NBN is an investment in our nation’s future prosperity. It will transform the way we live our lives, do business, grow our regions and engage with the rest of world. That’s why access to it should not depend on how much money you have or where you happen to live or do business.
When it comes superfast, affordable and reliable broadband, only Federal Labor will do it once, do it right, and do it with fibre.
Australians now face a clear choice: they can vote for the future and fibre under Labor or the past and copper under the Coalition.
More outside school hours care for local families
Media Release.
Anthony Albanese
Deputy Prime Minister
The Better Schools: Before and After program will expand outside school hours care and deliver greater flexibility and quality for local families.
“This will be a great new help for Inner West parents struggling with the daily school drop-off and pick-up rush hours,” said Labor Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese.
“It’s common for both parents to have to work so outside school hours care is a necessity.”
This fully funded initiative will expand outside school hours care including during school holidays and deliver greater flexibility and learning.
“This program will support activities such as homework clubs, music lessons, or sports programs, at no extra cost for parents,” said Mr Albanese.
“This will make it easier for busy parents in our community to balance their work and family lives. It will also give them confidence their kids are benefiting from interesting and educational programs while they are attending care outside school hours.”
The Better Schools: Before and After initiative builds on Federal Labor’s broad support to help families with the cost of living, including:
- Introducing the Schoolkids Bonus;
- Boosting the child care rebate from 30 to 50 per cent, up to $7,500 a year;
- Introducing Australia’s first national paid parental leave scheme; and
- Delivering tax cuts for all working Australians earning up to $80,000 a year.
“Families here in the Inner West really do have a choice at this election – a Labor Government who finds news ways to support families or the Liberals who are going to make cuts to the services those families rely on.
Thursday, 8 August 2013
Abbott must come clean on Schools Funding
Media Release.
Bill Shorten
Minister for Education
St Andrew’s is an Independent School that will benefit from the Labor Government’s Better Schools Plan.
St Andrew’s would see its funding increase of $2500 per student in the 2019 school year compared to the 2013 school year, an increase of 42.6% from 2013.
This investment could go towards more support and improvements like:
- Literacy and numeracy specialists to work one-on-one with students who need extra help
- Learning and support staff such as educational psychologists, speech pathologists or social workers
- Classroom modifications and new assistive technology for students with disability
- Class sets of textbooks to lift the financial burden from parents
- More high quality vocational education and training opportunities for students
Mr Abbott needs to explain to the parents, teachers and students at St Andrew’s why he doesn’t think this vital investment is worthwhile.
MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Porter 0419474392
$9.25M TO SUPPORT MORE UNI GRADUATES FROM DISADVANTAGED BACKGROUNDS
Media Release.
07 Aug 2013
The Rudd Labor Government is giving more students from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to get a university education with over $9.25 million in funding for a project to increase participation jointly run by the University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia and Flinders University.
Announcing the grant today at the University of Adelaide, Higher Education Minister Senator Kim Carr, said disadvantaged young Australians from Adelaide and regional South Australia will be encouraged to aim for a university degree under the project.
"The 'Journey to Higher Education' project creates a continuous path for students through primary and secondary school that ends at universities like this, as well as the University of South Australia and Flinders University," Senator Carr said.
"Federal Labor is committed to achieving our target of seeing 20 per cent of undergraduate students coming from a low SES background by 2020.
"Supporting disadvantaged Australians into higher education is an investment in the long term future of our nation."
The project is funded under the latest round of the Rudd Labor Government's Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP).
Minister for Early Childhood, Childcare and Youth, and Member for Adelaide, Kate Ellis, said that Federal Labor's support to get more disadvantaged young people a university degree would deliver major long-term benefits for local families and communities.
"We are passionate about helping low SES status and other disadvantaged people access higher education," Minister Ellis said.
"We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in particular are significantly underrepresented at university and while we have seen recent improvements in the number of university commencements there is still much more work to be done," Senator Carr said.
The successful projects use a variety of measures to target students from disadvantaged Indigenous backgrounds including workshops, mentoring, working with prisons, teacher support, intensive tuition (for example in maths and science) and work experience.
Boosting the number of Indigenous students in universities, in particular, is a key component of the Government's ambition to close the gap.
Funding for this project is already included in the budget.
The list of successful projects is attached and available online at: http://www.innovation.gov.au/HigherEducation/Equity/HigherEducationParticipationAndPartnershipsProgram/Pages/default.aspx
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