Melbourne

9 May 2013

**Check against delivery**

It gives me great pleasure to be here representing the Federal Government at the third annual Cultural and Linguistically Diverse Communities Conference.

A successful multicultural community is vital to the prosperity of Australian society, culture and our economy.

 
More than forty-five per cent of all Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was born overseas.
We speak more than 400 languages and identify with more than 270 ancestries.

 
My recent appointment as Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs is demonstrative of the Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s commitment to our multicultural communities.

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Canberra

29 April 2013

I congratulate the Australian Migrant and Refugee Women’s Alliance for organising today’s conference.  This conference is an important step towards eliminating violence against women in Australia by promoting awareness of the issue and encouraging a cultural change – encouraging women to stand up for themselves and other women.  

I note the Stand Up! National Conference brings together experts on the subject from around the world, as well as grass root practitioners from various fields to discuss violence inflicted on women in various forms. 

Violence against women is a universal issue, which has an enormous impact on not only the victims, but also entire communities.  

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Port Moresby

17 April 2013

It is my great pleasure to be in Port Moresby for the first time and to be here today representing Australia as Commonwealth Chair-in-Office.

I commend the Government of Papua New Guinea for its initiative and vision in hosting this Commonwealth Youth Minister meeting.

Today’s Commonwealth is unique and diverse.

We are not tied by common borders, regions or any legal obligation.

We are not even bound just by history anymore.

Rather, what binds the nations of the Commonwealth is our values – our shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law and to equal opportunity.

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Sydney

23 April 2013

I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land and pay my respects to their elders.

Can I also acknowledge Patrick Lindsay and the Board of the Kokoda Track Foundation.

I am pleased that former Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea Ian Kemish has become the Patron of the Kokoda Track Foundation.  Ian did a great job fostering development and strengthening the relationship with our closest neighbour and I thank you for your service.

I wish to pay tribute to the Kokoda Track Foundation for the wonderful work you do improving the lives of communities that live along that hallowed terrain over the Owen Stanley Ranges.

I also thank all of the supporters of the Foundation for your commitment to development in Papua New Guinea.

It is appropriate that this event occurs on the eve of Anzac Day.  A day to pay tribute and remember those who have fought for our nation.

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Port Moresby

15 April 2013

I am delighted to have this opportunity to address the Australia-Papua New Guinea Business Forum on behalf of the Australian Government on this, my first visit to Papua New Guinea.

The Business Forum is the highlight of the annual business calendar for Australian and Papua New Guinean companies working in each other’s countries, and provides a unique opportunity to exchange information, make new contacts and explore new opportunities.

I acknowledge the work of the two sister organisations, the Australia-PNG Business Council and the Business Council of PNG, in making this event happen, and their long-term commitment to fostering business ties between our two countries.

I also want to take this opportunity to say how honoured I was to have been asked by Prime Minister Gillard to take on the position of Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs.

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In September, the O’Farrell Government announced they would rip $1.7 billion in funding away from schools and TAFE colleges in NSW. These cuts will hurt every school, every teacher and every student in our state. Young people deserve a quality education.

Send a message to Barry O’Farrell to reverse the cuts. Sign the petition here: http://tinyurl.com/a7ctc52

Geelong

4 April 2013

It’s a pleasure to be here at the Alfred Deakin Institute’s 3rd Annual Papua New Guinea Symposium, and to be asked to help open the conference.

As you know, it has only been a matter of weeks since the Prime Minister gave me the honour of asking me to serve as Australia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs.

Until recently, my colleague Richard Marles held these responsibilities.

I’d like to start by acknowledging what a positive role Richard has played during his time in the portfolio.

The position holds a special significance for the Government. We have a host of important international relationships to manage – with the United States, China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Europe and so on.

But we only have one specific, defined Parliamentary Secretary role within the Foreign Affairs portfolio – the one responsible for Pacific Island Affairs.

We have it for one very good reason – this is where we live.

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2013 is set to be a big year in Australian politics. With a Federal election looming, the country will be engaged in a debate on policies, ideas and a vision for our future.

I believe that future involves Australia moving to become a Republic.

Whilst this will not happen overnight, it’s high time we get the conversation flowing again on this issue of national importance.

Next month, in cooperation with Unions NSW, I will be hosting an evening to discuss and debate this very issue, and I’d like you to come along.

Date: Thursday 18 April 2013
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Trades Hall Atrium- 377 Sussex Street Sydney
RSVP: Email australiaforarepublic@gmail.com to confirm your attendance

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John Cobb is once again whipping up fear in Calare. This week, he’s falsely claimed that the carbon price caused the Electrolux refrigerator factory in Orange to review its operations.

In reality, the Government has supported the company with $4.7 million of revenue raised by the carbon price.

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Australia Day is a day when we celebrate that which makes our country great.

It is also a day to consider ways we, as a nation of people, can be even greater.

As a committed republican, I have always believed that our Head of State should be an Australian citizen.

This Australia Day, I wrote in the Punch about why I think it’s time we re-started the conversation about becoming a republic.

Please give it a read by clicking here (http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/our-head-of-state-about-as-un-australian-as-you-can-get/).

I’d also be interested in hearing your thoughts on the article.