A Private Senator’s Bill introduced to the Senate aims to help pensioners tackle rising cost of living and inflation pressures, while delivering desperately needed workers for businesses across Australia.
The Coalition’s new spokesperson on competition matters has added his endorsement to industry requests for a market study into Australia’s grain industry.
Cowan residents are set to enjoy brand new changeroom facilities at the Noranda City Football Club thanks to the Morrison Government’s $750,000 investment. The upgrade to the existing two changerooms will extend the pre-existing building to include four new accessible changerooms – two for females and two for match officials. The new facilities will increase participation at the club for women and girls, boost wider membership numbers and cater to users at the neighbouring Morley Noranda Recreation Centre. Liberal Senator for Western Australia, Dean Smith said the local community is lucky to have an active candidate in Vince Connelly who has been working hard to secure this upgrade. “Vince has been fighting hard for this project so that more women and girls, and people of all abilities can participate at their local sporting club,” he said. “Vince’s dedication to delivering this project is one of many reasons why he is such a strong representative for the people of Cowan.” Liberal for Cowan, Vince Connelly said this upgrade will have a beneficial impact on sport participation in the local community. “As a father of three teenage children, I know just how important it is for clubs to have adequate facilities for their players, especially with female participation in sports growing,” he said. “I have spoken to hundreds of local residents about this important local project, and many signed my petition which secured funding for this upgrade. “These upgrades are only possible thanks to strong economic management by the Morrison Liberal Government. “As a Member of Parliament, I have been delivering better outcomes for our community for the past three years and with your support, will continue to deliver for the people of Cowan.” Noranda City Football Club President Shaun Ennis said the project will make a big difference in attracting and retaining members. “We can’t thank Vince enough for fighting for this project – he has been completely supportive in every aspect and our members are very excited,” he said. “Our club has been going through tremendous growth, and to allow us to go to that next level at Noranda City Football Club, we need these changerooms to accommodate more female participants.” The Morrison Government will deliver for the residents of Cowan and this announcement is part of our plan to build a strong economy and a secure future.
The Morrison Government is improving connectivity for Australians living on the urban fringes of our major cities, today announcing $28.2 million for 66 successful projects to improve mobile coverage, competition and address blackspots, including a new project in Cowan. The investments complement the Coalition’s highly successful Mobile Black Spot Program, which is improving mobile coverage and competition across regional and remote Australia by building more than 1,200 mobile base stations in regional and remote areas, with over 1,000 already built. The Minister for Communications, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP said, said the Morrison Government is committed to improving mobile connectivity for people living in outer urban areas as part of its plan for a strong economy and a stronger future for Australia. “Improving coverage on the urban fringe will help communities access vital information during emergencies, seek help if needed and stay in touch with loved ones,” Minister Fletcher said. Senator for Western Australia, Dean Smith said “Today I am pleased to announce we are building a new mobile site to improve coverage for people living and visiting Bennett Springs”. “This investment in mobile communications comes at a critical time, as Perth’s north-eastern suburbs experience significant population growth. “The pandemic has reminded families and businesses of the importance of reliable telecommunications, including the peace of mind of being able to communicate with family and friends.” The new mobile site in Cowan will be a TPG site located in Bennett Springs. The 66 successful projects were selected through a competitive assessment, with funding awarded based on the coverage outcomes provided by each solution, under a grants program that was first announced in the 2021-22 Budget as part of the Digital Economy Strategy. Eligibility for future funding will be expanded beyond our major capital cities to include the urban fringe of other major urban areas including Geelong, Wollongong, Gosford, Newcastle, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Townsville, Cairns, Darwin and Canberra. The investments complement the Coalition’s highly successful Mobile Black Spot Program, which is improving mobile coverage and competition across regional and remote Australia by building more than 1,200 mobile base stations, with over 1,000 already built. In contrast to the Morrison Government’s record of building more than 1,000 mobile base stations across Australia, Labor did build a single mobile base station during six years in office. Only the Morrison Government will continue to deliver a better future for Cowan, and this is part of our plan to build a strong economy and a stronger future.
I thank you for the opportunity to be part of your World Falun Dafa Day commemorations and send you my warm greetings and support on this important occasion.
Patron Senator for Perth’s Northern Suburbs Dean Smith today opened the new West Wing Secondary Campus classrooms at Emmanuel Christian Community School in Girrawheen. The project includes 11 general learning areas and student amenities, designed to actively engage students, and featuring spacious corridors, a breezeway and break out spaces where they can gather. The Coalition Government provided $1,500,000 for the project through the Capital Grants Program, which provides funding for non-government schools to improve capital infrastructure. Senator Smith unveiled a plaque at a special ceremony attended by the School community, which included musical performances by students. The Senator, who has opened previous upgrades to the campus, said it was a pleasure to be part of this next, exciting stage in the School’s life. “It was a privilege to visit Emmanuel Christian Community School again and see the impressive new facilities that students and staff will enjoy,” Senator Smith said. “Emmanuel Christian Community School is a very special school community, a showcase of multiculturalism, and these new classrooms will further enhance the very supportive learning experience here. “Improved facilities like these new classrooms at Emmanuel Christian Community School are proof of the Coalition Government’s commitment to providing the best possible education opportunities in Perth’s northern suburbs.” More information about the Capital Grants Program is at https://www.dese.gov.au/payments-and-grants-schools/capital-grants-non-government-schools.
Future WA Liberal leaders would be elected by all Liberal Party members across the state in a bold plan to revitalise the Party and break the influence of powerbrokers. Western Australia would become the first division of the Liberal Party in the country to popularly elect its leader, rather than the leader being selected by fellow Members of Parliament. The reform plan is being championed by Chief Government Whip Senator Dean Smith in the wake of the watershed WA election and means the next Liberal leader would draw their legitimacy from a popular vote by rank-and-file Liberal Party members. “The recent election was a disaster for the WA Liberal Party and highlights the need for urgent, meaningful Party reforms to rebuild credibility and relevance with the electorate,” Senator Smith said. “The past few weeks have been a time of deep reflection for many long-standing WA Liberal Party members and what I am proposing is based on conversations with them during this time. “I believe a popularly elected WA Liberal leader will increase and empower the Liberal Party membership. “Critically, it would also put an end to a handful of powerbrokers choosing the leader and influencing the decisions they make. “This breaks the power of the powerbrokers, because a popularly elected Liberal leader would no longer be their servant, but the servant of all Liberal Party members across the state. “The Liberal Party State conference in July would the appropriate forum to launch this new process. “The reform will allow the membership to choose from long-term, committed Liberals, whether they are Members of State Parliament or not. “If the Liberal Party membership chooses somebody who is not a WA Member of Parliament, that person would lead the Party until a seat became available for them. “The practice of a leader operating from outside Parliament has already been accepted by voters elsewhere in Australia. “Campbell Newman became leader of Queensland’s LNP in 2011, despite not holding a seat in Parliament, and went on to win 78 of 89 seats in the 2012 Queensland election. “The model I am proposing, election of the leader by all party members, has been used internationally, including in Canada.” Senator Smith, who has been a WA Liberal Party member for more than 30 years, intends to seek endorsement for his bold reform plan following the review of the Party’s recent election loss. “If we fail to reform over the next few months, the future of the Liberal Party in Western Australia is in jeopardy, becoming an irrelevant political force in the minds of even our most loyal voters – who deserted us in droves at the election. “I am confident the WA Liberal Party membership will embrace my reform plan because, at its core, it is giving every member a real say in important decision making. “Now is the moment to make us more relevant, with an expanded membership that will position us to offer the electorate a credible alternative Government in 2025.”
Locals in Girrawheen and Wanneroo will be among the next 100,000 premises to benefit from access to ultrafast internet speeds, with NBN Co Limited (NBN Co) announcing the second tranche of its $4.5 billion network investment plan. NBN Co will work with its partners to design and construct local fibre networks passing at the street level in areas connected to the National Broadband Network’s Fibre to the Node (FTTN) technology. This next stage represents another five percent of the FTTN upgrade program and NBN Co will continue working to pass a total of 2 million premises by 2023. A number of factors were considered in selecting areas in this second stage of investment, including the predicted take-up of higher speed services, while also maintaining a proportionate state and regional mix of locations. You can visit www.nbnco.com.au for more information on the NBN. Comments attributable to Senator Dean Smith, Patron Senator for Perth’s northern suburbs: “The commencement of these works by NBN Co will create jobs for Girrawheen, Wanneroo and surrounding communities, and support local businesses by providing the benefits of ultrafast broadband.” “Households and businesses in these areas will be able to access NBN Co’s fastest internet plans of up to 1 gigabit per second, with fibre lead-ins connecting them to the new local fibre network once they order an eligible service.”
Senator Dean Smith, Chair of the Joint Select Committee on Implementation of the National Redress Scheme, has identified two pressing priorities for the Committee in 2021. Senator Smith said he and the Committee, which works to improve the performance of the Scheme and better deliver justice to institutional child sex abuse survivors, needed to focus urgently on securing redress for the “Fairbridge Kids” and improving access and support for Indigenous Australians. Comments attributable to Senator Smith: “Encouraging progress was made in 2020, with the vast majority of institutions joining the Scheme, and the Morrison Government must be credited for the tough stance it took on this incredibly important issue.” “Despite last year’s positive outcomes, we are still faced with several groups that are being blocked from, or underutilising, the redress owed to them – these must have the Committee’s urgent attention.” “It keeps being said, but Fairbridge survivors and their supporters have waited far too long for compensation and closure as a result of unforeseen legal and other barriers.” “Another year cannot go by without any resolution; we must overcome this issue for the “Fairbridge Kids” as quickly as possible and using whatever avenues are available.” “We must also improve the operation of the Scheme for Indigenous Australians, which includes spreading greater awareness about it in regional and remote areas, as well as providing appropriate support services to survivors.” “The number of applications from Indigenous Australians is improving, but it can be better, and we must continue to make the Scheme as user-friendly and culturally safe as possible.”
Senator Dean Smith, a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Northern Australia since 2016, has taken the opportunity to make additional comments on the Committee’s interim report – “Never Again – Inquiry into the destruction of 46,000 year old caves at the Juukan Gorge in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Senator Smith said it was important to ensure Western Australia’s interests were sufficiently represented in the interim report. The Senator will outline his observations in remarks to the Senate this evening when the interim report is tabled, calling for greater accountability from Rio Tinto and outlining the devastating effect a proposed moratorium would have on the resource and mining industry in Western Australia. COMMENTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO SENATOR SMITH On Rio Tinto: “The destruction of the Juukan Gorge rock shelters was a devastating, and preventable, event from which urgent lessons must be learnt.” “We must deal with Rio Tinto’s conduct now, with a view to holding those responsible to full account, ending the uncertainty for involved parties and beginning to heal the wounds this event has created.” “Rio Tinto must continue to be held accountable for the irreversible damage it has caused and should not believe the investigation into its culpability is over.” “I urge Rio Tinto to genuinely and independently review its actions, rather than its insufficient board review, and be honest and transparent with the Australian people.” “The PKKP can be confident I will champion the movement to ensure Rio Tinto reconstructs the damaged area and delivers above and beyond its commitments.” “Rio Tinto should acknowledge the significant profit generated from Western Australia with greater executive level and board presence in the state, as well as moving the executive responsible for heritage matters from the UK to Australia.” On the WA Resource and Mining Industry: “Rio Tinto’s conduct is not typical of the wider Western Australian resource and mining industry, which is committed to strong relationships with traditional owners and the entire community.” “It is important to understand that we can hold Rio Tinto accountable to a higher standard and deliver regulatory certainty for the WA resource and mining industry – one does not need to stop to achieve the other.” On a Section 18 Moratorium and Other Regulation: “All references to a moratorium must be avoided, as they could inadvertently signal to international and domestic investors a slowdown in WA resource and mining opportunities.” “A moratorium on Section 18 of the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 would put the brakes on the WA resource and mining industry and risks devastating that industry and everything it supports, including the Indigenous enterprises which service it, the recipients of native title related payments, and the wider Indigenous and Non-Indigenous community in WA.” “A full moratorium would stop MetroNet, the Perth Airport runway, and countless other resource projects across the state. It is a step too far, and its inclusion represents a sovereign risk.” “I disagree with the Committee’s lack of confidence in Section 18 approvals and the suggestion that there is no meaningful involvement by Aboriginal people in their heritage, given both the current membership of the ACMC and the final decision maker, WA Minister for Aboriginal Affairs the Hon. Ben Wyatt.” “The effect of mining on heritage should be minimised, with sites of the significance of Juukan Gorge protected, but traditional owners and industry must be empowered to enter into agreements to manage these heritage matters for mutual benefit into the future.” “Rather than a regulatory overreaction, we should instead use this terrible event as a catalyst to improve agreement making with traditional owners.”
