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Spring 2010

In this edition:

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Donkey votes in Federal Election

In this year’s historic Federal Election the Coalition won almost 700,000 more votes than Labor, and despite missing out on forming government, managed to cover a huge
amount of ground during the election campaign.

Among a fantastic suite of candidates, the Coalition supported the election of the youngest ever Member of Parliament, Wyatt Roy, the first Indigenous Member of the House of Representatives, Ken Wyatt, and the first woman elected in the seat of Solomon, Natasha Griggs.

The Gillard Government will now limp on, the boats and the great big new taxes will keep coming, the debt will keep piling up and the waste will continue. This is why we will strive to be an even more disciplined and effective Opposition in this Parliament than we were in the last one. I wish you a happy festive season and look forward to hearing from you.

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Youth Allowance headache for rural kids

A taskforce has been set up to administer a $20 million Rural Tertiary Hardship Fund in the wake of the Federal Government’s bungled Youth Allowance changes.

Unfortunately, many Territorians affected by the changes probably don’t know about the fund - due to begin in January 2011 - let alone the criteria for proving they are eligible.

Furthermore, $20 million is completely inadequate given the number of regional students who missed out under the changes, and the costs of supporting a child living away from home.

Feedback to our office indicates people are confused about how the changes to Youth Allowance affect them. Please contact us if you would
like to know more.

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Broadband rollout will not help Territory

The National Broadband Network is the largest investment of taxpayers’ money in infrastructure in our nation’s history. Yet there has been no financial scrutiny of the project and the government refuses to submit it to a cost-benefit analysis.

Everyone wants fast broadband to be available at affordable prices across Australia. But the reality is that many regional and remote areas which do not have access to fast broadband will not get it under this network. Commonwealth investment should prioritise these areas.

The Coalition has introduced a bill which, if passed, requires a 10-year business case for the NBN and a thorough cost-benefit analysis by the Productivity Commission.

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Coalition priorities

Repay the debt

In the first three months of this financial year, the Gillard Labor Government racked up a budget deficit of $25.2 billion, while net debt rose from $42.3 billion to $64.6 billion.

Stop the new taxes

In October the Senate again ordered the Government to release information about its $10.5b mining tax, which has so far been kept secret.

Stop the boats

A Coalition Government will respect the taxpayer’s dollar and prevent thousands of asylum seekers from risking their lives on dangerous ocean voyages by stopping the boats.

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Restoring Territory rights

In October Senator Bob Brown introduced a Private Members Bill which would restore the rights of the territories to debate legislation on voluntary euthanasia.

It is unfair that the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly does not have the same rights to legislate as the states. Many Territorians believe they are rated as second-class citizens despite paying the same taxes and making the same contribution as other Australians.

We must work at maintaining a democracy and that means giving people the right to elect their members of parliament, and then allowing that government to govern on behalf of its people.

Read the full transcript of Nigel’s speech here.

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Indigenous housing standards drop as money runs out

The definition of a ‘renovation’ under the Government’s Indigenous housing program has now changed, according to evidence provided to Senate Estimates.

Houses scheduled for renovation will only get a new bathroom and kitchen, as the Government tightens its belt on the program’s budget after wasting millions.

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Alice Masters Games

More than 4,000 participants travelled from all over Australia to compete in 34 different sports at the biennial Alice Springs Masters Games, held from October 9-16.

The Games started in 1986 and this year celebrated the 13th Games over 24 years.

It’s a great chance for families to participate in a wide variety of sports in a relaxed environment, with fantastic entertainment creating a festive atmosphere.

Nigel took part in the clay target shooting on Saturday, October 9, and got a near perfect score of 49 out of 50 in his event.

The ‘Superband’ including Mark Seymour (Hunters & Collectors), James Reyne  (Australian Crawl) and Ross Wilson (Mondo Rock, Daddy Cool), supported by Wendy Matthews and Territory act Dr Strangeways kicked off the festivities.

For more information or to view results, you can visit Alice Springs Masters Games.

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Christmas recipe

Try Nigel’s award-winning Boiled Fruit Cake with Cumquat Marmalade.

750 grams mixed fruit
125 grams glace cherries
150 grams dates
1 cup brown sugar
125 grams of butter
1 teaspoon mixed spice
½ cup water
2 eggs
¼ cup dry sherry
¼ cup dark rum
1 cup self raising flour
1 cup plain flour
2 generous tablespoons of cumquat marmalade

Chop mixed fruit, cherries and dates.
Combine with brown sugar, butter, mixed spice and water.
Stir over medium heat until butter is melted.Bring to the boil, continue stirring all ingredients boiling for 3 minutes.
Allow mixture to cool completely.
Combine 2 beaten eggs, cumquat marmalade, dry sherry, rum and sifted flour.
Add to the cooled mixture.
Line 8 inch round cake tin with two layers of grease proof paper, allow 5 cms of paper to stick up above cake tin.
Place mixture in 8 inch round cake tin.
Bake in slow moderate oven for 75 mins (160C).
Place alfoil sheet across top of cake to prevent cracking or burning and cook for a further 45 mins.

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