Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs, Senator Matt Thistlethwaite, today visited the Multicultural Youth South Australia (MYSA) services in Adelaide.
MYSA works to ensure young people from multicultural backgrounds have equal access and participation in the wider South Australian community.
Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, Senator the Hon Matt Thistlethwaite, will today chair the inaugural Australia-Papua New Guinea Roundtable at the Alfred Deakin Research Institute in Geelong.
“As our closest neighbour, and one of our most important international partners, it is critical that we explore the full potential of our relationship with Papua New Guinea,” Senator Thistlethwaite said.
New facilities at Waverley Primary School will bring benefits to students for years to come, Duty Senator for Wentworth Matt Thistlethwaite said today.
Speaking at the school’s ceremony for the opening of the $2,071,818 multipurpose hall and covered outdoor learning area, Senator Thistlethwaite said the Australian Government’s historic Building the Education Revolution (BER) investment was delivering modern facilities to school students around Australia.
Senator Matt Thistlethwaite will test his mettle this Sunday by kayaking 17.5km to raise much needed funds for children with a disability.
The Senator, who last year shared the Lifestart Kayak for Kids challenge with legendary ironman Guy Leech, will this year tackle the course alone.
Duty Senator for Calare, Cowper, Macarthur, Parkes, Paterson and Wentworth, Matt Thistlethwaite said schools taking part in the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence this Friday are sending a clear message and saying NO WAY to bullying and violence.
“We must say no to bullying in all shapes and forms including cyberbullying, physical violence and intimidation,” Senator Thistlethwaite said.
“There is no place for bullying or violence in, or outside, our schools.
“The Gillard Government has been committed to making our schools a safer place with the introduction of the National Safe Schools Framework and the inclusion of safe school policies in the National Plan for School Improvement.”
The National Safe Schools Framework is the first of its kind in the world and offers guiding principles that can help school communities develop positive and practical student safety and wellbeing policies.
This year the Gillard Government is investing almost $4 million to develop online tools and resources for schools to actively adopt the National Safe Schools Framework and make sure students are safe both inside and outside the school gates.
This is the third annual National Day of Action and new curriculum materials – Stand Together 2013 – have been developed for teachers to use in the classroom to help students from early childhood through to senior schooling to explore the meaning of ‘Take a Stand Together’ and the importance of being active bystanders.
More than 377,000 students from 830 schools across Australia have registered for the National Day of Action and have committed to creating a safe and supportive school environment, free from bullying, harassment and violence.
Schools are encouraged to send a photo of their students’ displays, work, and performances to Bullying. No Way! at www.bullyingnoway.gov.au to be part of the ‘Stand Together 2013’ photo gallery.
Also on the National Day of Action this Friday, the winners of the first Safe Schools are Smart Schools competition will be announced, with a primary and secondary school from every state and territory winning a $5000 voucher.
“The Safe Schools are Smart Schools competition recognises schools with great initiatives to address bullying, violence, harassment, discrimination or mental health issues and is also a great way to share what works with other schools,” Senator Thistlethwaite said.
For more information on the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence visit www.bullyingnoway.gov.au.
For more information on the competition visit www.deewr.gov.au/safe-schools-are-smart-schools-competition.
The Safe Schools Hub can be accessed at www.safeschoolshub.edu.au.
Woolgoolga High School has won the NSW secondary school category in the Safe Schools are Smart Schools Competition held as part of the Gillard Government’s activities to mark the third National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence on March 15.
Duty Senator for Cowper Matt Thistlethwaite congratulated Woolgoolga High School for their positive work to create a respectful, inclusive and safe learning environment for students.
“Our message is clear – we say no way to bullying in all shapes and forms including cyberbullying, physical violence and intimidation. There is no place for bullying or violence in, or outside, our schools,” Senator Thistlethwaite said.
“Everyone has a role to play in ensuring our students are safe at school. Principals, teachers, parents and local communities can work together to make our schools safe, supportive and respectful.”
“Woolgoolga High School has demonstrated a strong commitment to making sure students at their school do feel safe and supported.
“Woolgoolga High School’s entry captures the compassion and initiative of a group of Yr 12 students who were concerned by kids being lonely in the playground, bullying and anti-social behaviour.
“They created a peer support program – SMILE – Support, Mentor, Inspire, Listen and Encourage, which aims to reduce the level of bullying in school and give the mentees a positive and successful school experience.
“A great feature of this entry was the level of responsibility and active participation of the senior students to raise awareness and promote their program to address a real need in the school.
“I encourage all schools in NSW to be inspired by this success and make a similar commitment to implementing safe school policies and activities,” Senator Thistlethwaite said.
The Safe Schools are Smart Schools Competition was open to all Government, Catholic and Independent primary and secondary schools in Australia.
Schools focused their entry on activities that addressed issues including bullying, cyberbullying, violence, discrimination, harassment and mental health. Entries could also contain a creative element such as a video, story, song, artwork or poster.
The best primary and secondary school entries in each state and territory received a $5000 voucher to purchase school resources, as well as a ClassMovies System starter pack to film and produce a video about their Safe Schools are Smart Schools initiative, allowing them to share their story with other schools.
For more information on the competition and winning entries, visit: www.deewr.gov.au/safe-schools-are-smart-schools-competition.
Maroubra Senator, Matt Thistlethwaite, has thrown his weight behind the push to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution.
Speaking on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Bill 2012 in Federal Parliament this week, the Senator said his family had called the south eastern suburbs home for three generations, but had Aboriginal friends whose connection stretched back 7,500 years.
“I was born and bred in Maroubra. I have lived there my entire life. I have a connection with our community.
“I have surfed at that beach all of my life and if you get stuck in a rip at Maroubra I can generally show you the way to get out of it. I have got a connection with that environment and with those waters.
“I have friends in the Aboriginal community around La Perouse and Maroubra whose connection with that area goes back 7,500 years.
“That is countless generations of nurturing and caring for that environment, of managing relations between people who have lived in that area and of developing customs and laws to care for that particular part of our wonderful country.”
The Senator said the aim of the Bill was to build critical momentum, critical unity and critical agreement at all levels of government and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider community for what he described as a very important constitutional change.
The Senator also encouraged all Australians to visit recognise.org.au and raise awareness of the campaign for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recognition in the Constitution.
“This is such an important issue for the future of our nation. It is too important for us to fail.
“We need to recognise, finally, the contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have made to our nation’s development, to our democracy and, most importantly, to the nurturing and caring of this wonderful land that we call Australia.”
The Senator Matt Thistlethwaite today called on the Coalition to declare whether he supported the Government’s moves to crack down on temporary foreign workers.
The tough new measures are being put in place because of evidence some employers are using 457 visas to employ foreign workers over locals.
They provide the balance between addressing genuine skills shortages and protecting local jobs.
“Tony Abbott has been as quiet as a mouse on Labor’s plan to crack down on temporary foreign workers and put Aussie workers first,” Senator Thistlethwaite said.
“We know Mr Abbott is on the record as saying his policy is to increase the number of temporary overseas workers if elected.”
Tony Abbott has said that:
“Under a Coalition Government, 457 visas won’t be just a component but a mainstay of our immigration policy.”
ABBOTT – address to IPA -27 APRIL 2012
“We reject that approach,” Senator Thistlethwaite said.
“I call on the Coalition to declare where they stand on giving Aussie workers a fair go.
“It’s time for the Coalition to say whether they support bringing in temporary foreign workers to do jobs that Australians can do.
“There is no each-way bet on something so critical to the future of our country.
“If they can’t answer this simple proposition, how can the people of NSW trust them to put their best interests first on anything?”
The changes include new English language requirements, making employers demonstrate a genuine skills shortage, and beefed up enforcement powers to stop employers rorting the system.
“Federal Labor makes no apologies for ensuring Australians get the chance to get local jobs on local projects – that is our priority,” Senator Thistlethwaite said.
John Cobb has been called out for blaming the Australian Government over an internal review of Orange’s Electrolux factory without knowing of millions of dollars in Government support for the local plant.
Duty Senator for Calare, Matt Thistlethwaite, said the Calare MP was quick to jump to conclusions last week by linking the carbon price with the internal company process.
“What was missing however was any knowledge of the recent $4.7 million Government investment in Electrolux,” the Senator said.
“It is appalling that Mr Cobb has wasted no time in demonising the carbon price and the Australian Government when in fact the Government had only weeks ago announced a sizable investment in the Orange plant with funds raised from the carbon price.
“What’s more, the company has said the review has nothing to do with the introduction of the carbon price, so Mr Cobb is wrong on both counts.”
The Senator said it was unfortunate that the Calare MP had chosen to instil fear in local workers and their families by expressing his concern for the plant, and saying it would be better off under a Coalition government.
“The reality is this Government has provided considerable support to Electrolux and the Orange community, support a Coalition government and John Cobb would rip away.”
Senator Thistlethwaite said he was appalled by Mr Cobb’s actions, but not entirely surprised, and called on the MP to support the workers and their families.
“Rather than play the blame game and worsen the concerns of local workers and families for a few political points, Mr Cobb should be getting behind Electrolux and its employees by supporting them through this process.
“I have all the confidence in the world that Orange workers can match it with the best of them from across the globe. It’s just a shame that Mr Cobb doesn’t share these sentiments.”
Duty Senator for Calare, Matt Thistlethwaite, has accused John Cobb of misleading his constituents and seeking to whip up fear in response to a review of the Electrolux refrigerator factory in Orange.
The Calare MP wasted no time pointing fingers after the review was announced last week, falsely claiming the carbon price had caused the company to review its operations.
Senator Thistlethwaite hit back at the MP’s claims, saying the Gillard Government had in fact supported the company with revenue raised by the carbon price, “support that would not be forthcoming under a Coalition government”.
“The Gillard Government is providing $4.7 million from the carbon price revenue to help Electrolux produce more energy efficient refrigerators and improve the company’s competitiveness,” Senator Thistlethwaite said.
“If elected, a Liberal-National Government will rip away this support.
“The Gillard Government is working with the company to improve its productivity, cut its carbon pollution and produce better products.
“The Liberals and Nationals have nothing to offer but fear and negativity.”
Senator Thistlethwaite said the Chief Executive of Electrolux had also made it clear that the company undertakes regular reviews and that reviews had been undertaken many times before.
“They form part of the company’s internal investment decision processes and as such should not be taken as a sign the business in not viable,” the Senator said.
“John Cobb should refrain from making misleading and unhelpful remarks in future, especially when they impact upon the jobs of Australians.
“The Gillard Government is providing considerable support to businesses in rural and regional Australia, such as Orange’s refrigeration factory. All Mr Cobb is offering is a lot of hot air.”
© 2013 Matt Thistlethwaite – Senator for NSW All Rights Reserved.