Nationals MP resigns over shoving incident

New South Wales Nationals MP Andrew Fraser has resigned from the Opposition frontbench after shoving a colleague in a late night session of Parliament.

The Member for Coffs Harbour was involved in a heated conversation with Labor MP John Aquilina last night when a colleague, Katrina Hodgkinson, placed a hand on his shoulder and attempted to pull him away.

Mr Fraser explained his version of events to Parliament this morning.

"I brushed my colleague's arm aside inappropriately," he said.

"As a result, I've apologised to my colleague and I apologised to the [Lower] House. I've offered my resignation as shadow minister to the Leader of the Opposition, Barry O'Farrell."

Mr O'Farrell says he has accepted Mr Fraser's resignation in line with his determination to raise standards in public life.

The Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly is investigating the incident that was captured by house cameras.

Previous offender

Mr Fraser was suspended from Parliament for eight weeks in 2005 for trying to throttle Labor MP Joe Tripodi.

He later apologised and blamed his actions on his frustration with the Government's lack of action in preventing deaths on the Pacific Highway.

The premier at the time, Morris Iemma, labelled him a "disgrace to democracy".

Mr Fraser eventually regained the position of Nationals deputy leader, but was dumped in favour of Adrian Piccoli six weeks ago in the wake of the party's loss in the Port Macquarie by-election.

He has now resigned as Opposition spokesman on Primary Industries, Road Safety and Rural Affairs.

NSW slashes $3 billion - deficit $917M

The NSW government has slashed more than $3 billion from its planned spending for the next four years, as today's mini-budget confirms the state will record a deficit of $917 million this financial year.

Treasurer Eric Roozendaal has handed down the mini-budget, insisting the state can withstand a dip into the red for one year, which he said had been caused by a slowing property market and a fall in GST revenue.

He said NSW was forecast to return to the black the following year with a surplus of $138 million, that is expected to grow to $573 million in 2010-11 and reaching $900 million in 2011-12.

The mini-budget process has seen the state razor gang make $3.3 billion worth of savings over the next four years, while it will rake in $3.6 billion in revenues.

The ambitious four year capital works program outlined in this year's budget has been re-prioritised but the outlay remains largely unchanged, with $56.8 billion worth of infrastructure projects to be built.

That is down $890 million from what was announced in the budget in June.
"NSW will maintain the biggest public infrastructure investment program in Australia - and we are able to do so because the government has tightened its belt," Mr Roozendaal said.

The mini-budget will also bring an end to the 10-year long electricity debate, with the three electricity retailers to be sold off, along with the sale of development sites for power generators and the transfer of electricity trading functions to the private sector.

Mr Roozendaal said the government is also considering the possible sale or lease of other assets including NSW Lotteries, its waste services, the Pillar Superannuation Administration Corporation, and the Roads and Traffic Authority's (RTA) personalised number plate business.

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NSW slumps even further into red
The state's financial woes have deepened as the global financial crisis hits the property and financial markets. NSW went into the red by $493 million last month alone.

States 'dreaming' over extra funding
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says he will not bow to pressure from states to provide billions of dollars in extra funding.

Budget worse than expected - Rees
NEW South Wales Premier Nathan Rees says the economic outlook for the state is more bleak than he expected, and difficult decisions will have to be made.

Milne named first Greens deputy leader

Tasmanian Greens Senator Christine Milne has been elected as the party's federal deputy leader to Bob Brown.

It is the first time the Greens have had a deputy leader.

Since the last election, the Greens now have five senators in the Upper House of Federal Parliament.

Cabinet minister police sex probe

Senior Victorian state cabinet minister Theo Theophanous has stood down pending the results of a police investigation into an allegation that he sexually assaulted a young female worker at Parliament House.

A detective from the police sexual crimes squad flew to Greece this year to interview the woman, who had complained of a serious sexual assault by Mr Theophanous.

Police sources said the alleged incident had occurred about 1999, when the woman was in her early 20s, and Parliament had been told of the investigation about two weeks ago.

The sources said several people in Victoria had since been interviewed, telephone records had been seized and a brief was being prepared for the Office of Public Prosecutions.

Mr Theophanous, flanked by his wife Rita and son Harry, last night proclaimed his innocence.

"I have no case to answer," he said. "I know that I have done nothing wrong."

Police yesterday confirmed to Mr Theophanous that they had conducted interviews about the complaint and indicated they were likely to question him soon.

Mr Theophanous, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Major Projects in Victoria, said he had decided to contact police because of "a series of rumours over the past week or so".

He telephoned Victorian Premier John Brumby yesterday to tell him he would stand down as a cabinet minister and seek leave from Parliament until police had resolved the matter.

At a hastily convened media conference in his ministerial office at 5.50pm, Mr Theophanous read a statement but refused to answer questions.

He said that although police had not told him the nature of the complaint, he had decided to stand down from cabinet to protect the Government's good name.

"I have always conducted myself with the highest degree of probity and professionalism and I hold dear the principles of ministerial responsibility and accountability," he said.

"I know that my decision to stand down will come as a shock to my extended family, my friends and to the community that supports me.

"I know they will be concerned about me and about my family, and I want to assure them that I have no case to answer.

"But I equally believe that I have a responsibility as a minister in such a successful Government to act with complete propriety and to step aside until this matter is resolved.

"Even though I know that I have done nothing wrong, the test for ministers in a government is rightly high. I believe in this. I am aware of my responsibility to protect the Government and the work that this Government has done for all Victorians."

Mr Theophanous, 60, who was born in Cyprus and has four children, asked the media to respect his and his family's privacy as they "work through this issue".

Mr Brumby said last night he had accepted Mr Theophanous' decision to stand down, adding it would be inappropriate for him to comment further as the matter was in the hands of police.

Police said last night they could not comment on the case. "It's not appropriate for Victoria Police to identify an individual under investigation until such time as they have been formally charged," a spokeswoman said.

Under an agreement that Parliament be informed of inquiries relating to MPs, police told Parliament about two weeks ago that a matter was being investigated and that police might be around the building interviewing people.

In 2005, Mr Theophanous faced an allegation that he had sexually harassed a female parliamentary worker.

The then premier, Steve Bracks, summoned Mr Theophanous for an explanation after rumours were reported that Mr Theophanous had harassed a junior parliamentary attendant by repeatedly asking her out.

Mr Bracks accepted the minister's denial of the allegations.

Vic Parliament passes abortion bill

The Upper House debated the bill for four consecutive days and nights, and last night a final vote was counted. It passed 23 votes to 17.

All amendments were rejected, including a proposal to exempt doctors who object to abortions from having to refer their patients onwards.

Abortion will now be removed from the Crimes Act and a woman can freely choose to terminate a pregnancy up to 24 weeks gestation. Late term abortions will require the consent of two doctors.

Women's Affairs Minister Maxine Morand says it is an historic moment.

"We now have clarity and certainty for women and health practitioners in Victoria and that is fundamentally and incredibly important," she said.

She says the lengthy parliamentary debate may be the longest in history.

"It'd be hard to find a bill that has been debated as long as this in the history of the Victorian Parliament," she said.

"I might even have a look at what we can compare it with, but it's certainly a unique moment in time."

Liberal MP Wendy Lovell says she is relieved abortion is no longer a crime.

"It's actually historic that it's happened in October 2008, because it was October 1908 that women were given the vote," she said.

"So 100 years later, women have again won the right to be in control of their own bodies."

Both sides of the parliamentary debate praised the respect and restraint shown by the other side.

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Abortion bill passed in conscience vote
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Victorian lower house passes abortion law
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Vic rally calls for abortion rights
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Abortion bill passed in conscience vote

The bill to decriminalise abortion in Victoria has passed a conscience vote of Upper House MPs by six votes.

The final vote was 23 to 17.

The decision has been welcomed by former Premier, Joan Kirner a long-time pro-choice campaigner.

Ms Kirner said she is relieved the bill passed in the Upper House.

"It was fantastic to see people from all sides of the House standing up to make sure that women were no longer potential criminals," she said.

NSW premier dumps Noreen Hay

The female Labor MP Wollongong MP Noreen Hayhas been sacked from her role as the parliamentary secretary for health.

The Premier, Nathan Rees said, historically parliamentary secretaries have come some time ... the announcement of them has come some time after the Cabinet itself.

"There is simply only so many things you can consider in any given day and that's the reason for that."

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NSW police minister quits
THE new NSW Police Minister, Matt Brown, has quit the state cabinet just three days after being promoted.

Rees names top ministers
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Meagher resigns to avoid Rees demotion
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Budget worse than expected - Rees
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Rees confirmed as new NSW premier
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NSW Premier Morris Iemma resigns
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Gone: NSW Treasurer Michael Costa has been sacked
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Carmel Tebbutt named NSW deputy premier
Ms Tebbutt left the frontbench 18 months ago for family reasons
Labor MP Carmel Tebbutt has been chosen as the next deputy premier of New South Wales.

Group calls for further study of euthanasia bill

The group Dying with Dignity, says Victorian Parliament has gone against public sentiment, in voting against the Physician-Assisted Dying bill.

The bill was voted down 25 to 13 in a conscience vote in the Upper House yesterday.

Dying with Dignity Victoria President, Neil Francis, says 82 per cent of Victorians support physician-assisted euthanasia and the issue needs to be considered again.

"The great proportion of Victorians are in favour of people having the right to have a choice," he said.

"We respect people who would make a different choice, but not to force that choice on other people."

"So the Premier would be, in our view, very wise to refer this to the Law Reform Commission for further community consultation," he said.

Rees names top ministers

NSW Premier Nathan Rees has finalised his new cabinet, naming Eric Roozendaal as the state's new treasurer and putting John Della Bosca in charge of health.

After announcing the members of the frontbench yesterday, Mr Rees today revealed the allocation of portfolios.

John Hatzistergos remains attorney-general, while Deputy Premier Carmel Tebbutt takes on the climate change and environment portfolio as well as commerce.

David Campbell has been promoted from the police portfolio to the important transport ministry, while Verity Firth takes over education and training, as well as women.

Axed minister Frank Sartor's planning responsibilities have been handed to Kristina Keneally, while Maroubra MP Michael Daley enters cabinet as roads minister.

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Meagher resigns to avoid Rees demotion
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Budget worse than expected - Rees
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Carmel Tebbutt named NSW deputy premier
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School attendance and welfare: Amnesty

School attendance and welfare: another blow to human rights

Last week, the Australian Government introduced legislation linking school attendance with welfare payments. Under the new legislation, if children don’t go to school regularly, their principal carer could have their welfare payments stopped for up to three months. The 3-year trial will begin at the start of the ‘09 school year in six Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

The way that the policy is being implemented specifically targets Indigenous people without seeking to adequately address the underlying causes of Indigenous disadvantage.

Successive Australian Governments have failed to meet their international human rights obligations to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and consequently, Aboriginal Australians are denied rights to the highest attainable standard of health, adequate housing, an adequate standard of living and freedom from discrimination. These failures contribute to Aboriginal children's lower levels of engagement with the education system and are not adequately acknowledged by the governments new policy.

As such, it's questionable whether the policy will actually work. This model has been tried before, notably in Cape York, in parts of WA and through the NT Intervention. The evidence shows that quarantining welfare will have little effect on whether children go to school.

An issues paper by the Australian Education Union shows that the programs that work combined sanctions with case management, supportive services and positive financial incentives. Even those programs showed limited success and this was attributed to the case management, not the welfare quarantining.

Not only that, but evaluations of the trials found that illness rather than truancy was the major cause of absence rather than truancy, and ACOSS cites other factors for absence, which include "a lack of basic education and support services in some areas, poor quality education programs, bullying, insecure housing and health problems affecting children and families."

The most appropriate policy response is one that protects all human rights. It must seek to repair the cumulative effects of the history of rights violations, poverty, exclusion and discrimination and emphasise the restoration a sense of empowerment and dignity not just in the punishment of truants but in the sense of community engendered by the school. Only then will children go to and stay in school.

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No school, no cash 'hardline' benefits plan
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NT election turnout lowest in 20 yrs
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Indigenous welfare quarantine scheme gets go ahead
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Union calls for $2.9b to fund education shortfall
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Retailers' warning on welfare card shop spies
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Abandon NT intervention: Commissioner
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Income management extended for NT
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Aborigines want end to NT intervention
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No school, no cash 'hardline' benefits plan

Withholding welfare payments is unlikely to fix the causes of family dysfunction: Australian Council of Social Service.

Families face losing their welfare for three months if their children continually skip school, under legislation to be introduced to Federal Parliament this week.

Under the Federal Government's proposed scheme, regular school attendance will become a condition for receiving all welfare except the Family Tax Benefit.

If the legislation is passed a pilot scheme at eight schools will begin next year.

This morning Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said that the Government made no apologies for the hardline approach.

Mr Rudd says his Government's priority is making sure that all children go to school.

"We think this conditionality - that if individual families are in receipt of income support payments the regular attendance at school by their kids is a necessary precondition - is the right way to go," he said.

"We need, in order to compete with the rest of the world, to boost our current school retention rate from 75 per cent to 90 per cent by 2020, [but] we have real problems of school non-attendance in Indigenous communities and also school non-attendance on the part of certain other kids as well.

"You've got to take a hardline approach."

But welfare authorities have criticised the plan.

Australian Council of Social Service president Lin Hatfield Dodds says there are various reasons why students do not go to school.

She says withholding welfare payments is unlikely to fix the causes of family dysfunction.

"[One issue] is chaos in families' lives," she said.

"Is there anybody around in the morning to help the child get to school?

"If there isn't, and if the family for whatever reason is in a high degree of chaos, then it's unlikely that turning off the income tap to a degree for 12 weeks is going to make any difference in that regard."

Ms Hatfield Dodds says there is no evidence that such a plan would help reduce truancy rates.

"As far as we're aware in the community sector there isn't really any evidence either in Australia or from overseas that involuntary income management actually works on any dimension," she said.

"It's difficult to see how it is going to address the causes of the crisis and chaos in family lives that result in this kind of experience for children."

She says the Government should instead make support programs available to more families.

"So if there's an issue with the parenting, let's wrap some parenting support programs around. If there's alcohol, other drugs, violence - if those things are an issue in the family's life in the adult's life - then let's try and go to the core of those issues.

"With all of these programs there is a strong evidence base for and we know they actually work we know they get results.

"The problem is out there in the community, particularly in areas that are locationally disadvantaged, is that those programs are simply not available to people."

Govt to trial welfare cut scheme in NT, WA

The Federal Government has Western Australia and the Northern Territory on board to trial its new program to cut welfare payments to the parents of children who do not go to school.

Parents in the trial areas who receive income support will be required to prove to Centrelink that their children are enrolled and schools will also be asked to provide attendance information.

The Greens have condemned the scheme.

Senator Rachel Siewert says the Greens do not support an approach which is punitive.

"It won't generate the outcomes they say it will," she said.

"What are they going to do about the children that aren't coming from low-income families or families on income support?

"This is about punishment, it's not about an education revolution that the Deputy Prime Minister is talking about."

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NT election turnout lowest in 20 yrs
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Indigenous welfare quarantine scheme gets go ahead
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Union calls for $2.9b to fund education shortfall
The Education Union is calling on the Federal Government to provide an extra $2.9 billion in funding for public schools.

Retailers' warning on welfare card shop spies
EMPLOYEES across the country will be at risk of entrapment by government "spies", retailers have warned, under a Federal Government proposal to control fraudulent use of a new welfare debit card.

Abandon NT intervention: Commissioner
The Northern Territory's Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Tony Fitzgerald says the Federal intervention into remote Aboriginal communities should be abandoned and the legislation underpinning it should be repealed.

Income management extended for NT
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Aborigines want end to NT intervention
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New abortion laws

The Victorian Government is expected to introduce a bill to Parliament today which would decriminalise abortion.

The bill is expected to legalise abortions for women in the first 24 weeks of their pregnancy, and after that time if the woman is at risk of harm.

All major parties will allow their M-Ps a conscience vote.

The Premier, John Brumby says the bill will bring the law in line with current practices.

Greens to amend Stolen Gen comp bill

The Australian Greens' spokeswoman for Indigenous issues says the party will be amending and re-introducing a Stolen Generations compensation bill to the Senate before the end of the year.

Senator Rachel Siewert says the previous bill, introduced by former Democrat senator Andrew Bartlett, included a cap on the amount of reparations awarded, which the Greens Party has scrapped from the amendment.

Earlier this year a Senate committee called for the Federal Government to set up a National Indigenous Healing Fund to provide services for the Stolen Generations.

Ms Siewert says there is room for both a healing fund and compensation.

"We think that there needs to be financial reparations," she said.

"That's what the Bringing Them Home report said and that's what we will be continuing to support, or re-introduce into the Senate, in an amended bill that provides for financial compensation to the Stolen Generations.

"The different states have various packages available for some forms of compensation but it is very limited and there is a great deal of criticism around it.

"There needs to be an approach by the Commonwealth and very definitely, obviously, the Northern Territory needs to be specifically dealt with by the Commonwealth."

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Constitutional recognition for Arnhem Land
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Govt moves to take native title claims out of the courts
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New NT laws: 'more Aboriginal people jailed'
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NAIDOC week to focus on Indigenous inequalities
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Intervention delivering 'empty shipping containers, no houses'
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Stolen generation compensation ruled out
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Budget to roll out new welfare card
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Racism to blame' for Aboriginal health problems
The Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTAR) group says racism is directly to blame for many health problems in the Aboriginal community.

Police cannot cope with backlash
Chief Minister, Paul Henderson, has warned the Federal Government that many indigenous people displaced by the emergency intervention are creating unrest and straining police capacity.

2020 Indigenous youth delegate calls for national body
An Indigenous youth representative at this weekend's 2020 summit says a new national Aboriginal body should be created to avoid some of the add-hoc policies surrounding the federal intervention.

Call for new indigenous body
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Roxon signs off on Indigenous health pledges
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Discrimination Act should apply to intervention: Calma
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner wants the Racial Discrimination Act immediately reinstated in the Northern Territory's Indigenous communities.

Porn ban in Indigenous communities 'racist'
The Australian National Adult Retail Association (Eros) says the Federal Government's ban on X-rated pornography in Aboriginal communities is pointless, racist and should be revoked.

Retailers' warning on welfare card shop spies
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Union urges PM to act on Stolen Generations promise
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Union calls for $2.9b to fund education shortfall
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Govt, union defend remote community schooling
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Aboriginal delegation heads to UN
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Indigenous welfare quarantine scheme gets go ahead
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Union urges PM to act on Stolen Generations promise
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Aboriginal inmates '22pc and rising' of prison population
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Euthanasia bill may go to conscience vote

Greens Senator Bob Brown

A Senate inquiry has recommended parliamentarians get a conscience vote on a private member's bill designed to revive the Northern Territory's euthanasia legislation.

In a split decision, the inquiry decided Greens Senator Bob Brown's bill should be allowed to proceed.

It was intended to reinstate the Territory's right-to-die legislation that the Federal Government overturned more than a decade ago.

But the inquiry recommended the new bill be amended so that instead of reinstating the old legislation, the Territory is given the capacity to legislate again if it wants to.

Senator Brown is pleased with the decision but is not sure whether the Territory Government would act on its new power.

The Federal Opposition has indicated it would like to see the issue go to a conscience vote, but the Prime Minister has not indicated whether he would allow it.

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Carbon sink tax bill 'seriously flawed'

There were extraordinary scenes in the Senate last night as the Greens combined with the Nationals and the Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan to attack part of a tax bill.

It was originally drafted by the previous Coalition government and has been reintroduced by Labor.

It gives a full tax deduction for the cost of planting forests as carbon sinks.

But Senator Heffernan, the Nationals and the Greens argued passionately in the Senate last night that it is flawed.

Senator Heffernan says the bill does not stop the trees being cut down or allowed to die within a year.

"There is absolutely no way in this legislation that you can prevent me from planting these trees and the year after I collect the tax deduction - me ploughing them in," he said.

"It is a national disgrace if we allow this Parliament to pass this legislation in the full knowledge that it is completely and fundamentally flawed."

Greens Senator Bob Brown agrees the bill is seriously flawed.

Nationals Senator Barnaby Jocye has called it a load of rubbish.

"Its very rare - to be honest - I would agree with the Greens but tonight's going to be one of those nights," Senator Joyce said.

But Government Senator Stephen Conroy says the bill was initially brought in by the previous Government.

"To be muttering up the back about what an evil plot this is - its your bill," he said.

The senators do not deny that they are negotiating on ways to to fix the problems they have complained about.

The Coalition is understood to be discussing technical aspects of how to do that.

Bill: Independent reviewer for terrorism laws

Two Liberal Senators have introduced a private member's bill calling for an independent reviewer of terrorism laws.

Their proposal is based on one introduced by Liberal backbencher Petro Georgiou earlier this year.

Mr Georgiou told Parliament there was strong support for the idea including from the inspector-general of Intelligence, the human rights commissioner and unanimous bipartisan backing from the joint committee on intelligence and security.

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Court orders retrial for Jack Thomas
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Push for overhaul of laws on terrorism
In a paper in Judicial Review he said that the National Security Information Act "gives the appearance of having been drafted by persons who have little knowledge of the function and processes of a criminal trial".

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Lodhi claimed the trial did not establish that he had actually decided to carry out a terrorist attack.

Haneef's lawyer says inquiry is weak
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Hicks media gag order ends
As part of the deal, he was also banned from speaking to the media after his release in December 2007.

Terror trial halted over prison conditions
A Supreme Court judge has put a Melbourne terrorism trial on hold and ordered Corrections Victoria to change prison conditions of the 12 accused men

ASIO, police don't trust each other, report finds
A LACK of trust between the Australian Federal Police and ASIO has hindered co-operation between the anti-terrorism agencies, a report commissioned after the collapsed prosecution of the Sydney doctor Izhar ul-Haque has found.

Secret policemen's bill: $7.5m
Mr McClelland separately ruled out compensating or apologising to the Sydney medical student Izhar Ul-Haque, who a Supreme Court judge said had been kidnapped by ASIO officers. The conduct of ASIO in the case of Mr ul-Haque, who was cleared of terrorism charges, is being reviewed by the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, Ian Carnell.

Faheem Lodhi - another non-terrorist jailed under Australia's 'anti-terror' laws?
Jack Thomas, a non-terrorist, has been jailed under Australia's anti-terror laws. Now Faheem Lodhi has been convicted under the terror laws on flimsy, circumstantial evidence. It is likely he is another non-terrorist jailed for political purposes under the terror laws.

New planning laws 'reward developers'

The Greens says new planning laws passed through the New South Wales Parliament early today favour developers.

The party sought 94 amendments to the bill and say it missed being submitted to a parliamentary inquiry by one vote.

The Local Government and Shires Association says its happy with some concessions made by the Government.

But Greens MP Sylvia Hale says the legislation only extends the ALP's conflict of interest with political donations.

"It's the Government's reward to big developers for all the money they've poured into the NSW ALP campaign coffers before the last election," she said.

"I'm concerned that the bill will damage the state's environment and heritage."

Ms Hale says there is widespread community concern about the laws.

"They limit the rights of objectors who appeal against decisions and they transfer alot of the costs of administering an incredibly unwielding and confusing planning system onto council," she said.