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April 24 2012
I am of the strong view that Peter Slipper should not resume the Speaker’s Chair until all of the allegations against him are dealt with, including the allegation of sexual harassment. April 23 2012
I wish to correct a media report today that I’ve extended my deadline for the Federal Government to address my concerns with the National Gambling Reform Bill 2012. I gave the Families Minister, Jenny Macklin, a deadline of Friday April 20 to respond to my concern the Bill did not deliver on the Prime Minister’s promise that `we are ready to flick the switch to a best-practice mandatory pre-commitment system’ on Australia’s poker machines. I received a letter from Minister Macklin late Friday April 20 so that deadline was met. I am now considering Minister Macklin’s response and taking advice in light of the uncertainty and changing circumstances in the Parliament. In Canberra today I’ve met with representatives from both the Government and the Opposition. March 22 2012
The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, continues to work with the Federal Government to try and ensure the National Gambling Reform Bill 2012 is a stepping-stone to meaningful poker machine reform. Mr Wilkie has had numerous meetings this week with Minister Jenny Macklin in an attempt to resolve two key issues. ``Progress has been made on ensuring that the proposed ACT trial of mandatory pre-commitment is credible, and that the trial conditions will be enshrined in the legislation,’’ Mr Wilkie said. ``But so far we’ve been unable to resolve that the Government’s Bill explicitly state that all poker machines must eventually be capable of mandatory pre-commitment. ``This is all about giving a future government the option of turning on mandatory pre-commitment with minimal effort and at minimum cost. ``It wouldn’t be enough for a future government to legislate that all players be registered to play a poker machine. Also required would be that no machine could operate without the player being registered. And that functionality needs to be built into the machines or network system as they’re replaced or upgraded.” On Saturday, 21 January, the Prime Minister walked away from her written commitment to Mr Wilkie to introduce mandatory pre-commitment on poker machines by 2014 and instead announced a watered-down package. This included a trial of mandatory pre-commitment and expanding voluntary pre-commitment technology to every poker machine across the country that could then be used for mandatory pre-commitment if it is supported by a trial. In the Prime Minister’s words, ``rolling the technology out to every machine now ensures that we will be ready to flick the switch to a best-practice mandatory pre-commitment system if the trial results support it’’. Mr Wilkie said he was working to ensure the legislation unambiguously reflected the Prime Minister’s ``flick the switch’’ commitment. ``It’s important not to rush this and make sure the legislation does what was promised and provides a stepping stone to meaningful reform,’’ he said. ``I have always favoured the introduction of $1 maximum bets on poker machines. But the Government refuses to implement such a limit so I remain ready to support the Government’s watered down reforms if the sticking point can be resolved. ``Some critics say the Government’s Bill is worse than nothing. I feel that the amendments I’m insisting on will improve the Bill significantly and make the reforms worth supporting. ``I’ll continue discussions with Minister Macklin who I do believe is genuinely committed to achieving poker machine reform. ``And I and many others can be counted on to continue campaigning even if the Bill is successful because the Government’s watered down package would be just the start of meaningful pokies reform. ``Poker machines ruin lives and we owe it to problem gamblers and their families to get this reform right and make sure it’s a stepping stone to meaningful change.’’ March 16 2012
The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, will make one of the bravest moves of his political career today and have his head shaved to a number one for the Leukaemia Foundation’s annual awareness and fundraising event. “Many people are really sensitive about their looks and in particular their hair so getting a makeover like this is a great way to draw attention to blood cancer,’’ Mr Wilkie said. ``My wife and two little daughters are sure to get a good laugh out of it all, as will my colleagues in Canberra when Parliament sits again next week.’’ Matthew Tucker, a university student from Taroona who was 18 when diagnosed with leukaemia and inspired Mr Wilkie to put his hand up for the World’s Greatest Shave, will witness the extreme haircut. In a show of solidarity, Mr Wilkie’s chief of staff, Peter Tucker, and adviser, Django Merope-Synge will also have their heads shaved. Cheering from the sidelines will be one of Mr Wilkie’s staff members, Liz Virtue, who had leukaemia, Hobart’s Lachlan Michael who was only three when he was diagnosed with the blood disease and Leukaemia Foundation of Australia CEO, Peter Cox. ``I was shocked to hear that more than 260 Tasmanians are diagnosed with blood cancer each year,’’ Mr Wilkie said. ``Many are forced to move interstate for treatment, turning their lives upside down. Having your head shaved to raise awareness and money is the least you can do for the thousands of people battling blood cancer.’’ Mr Wilkie is aiming to raise $5000 and donations can still be made at http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/AWilkieMP ``Today, 31 Australians will get the news they have blood cancer. Donations will support them from the moment they are diagnosed. All the Leukaemia Foundation’s services are free. Let’s keep them that way,’’ he said. March 08 2012
Four WWI diggers who have lain largely forgotten in unmarked graves at Hobart’s Cornelian Bay Cemetery for more than half a century will today be given the simple dignity of a named plaque. The Independent Member for Denison, Andrew Wilkie, will attend the unveiling ceremony that is the culmination of years of research by commemorative groups including the Friends and Family of the First AIF and Sons of the British Empire. ``Australians are very aware that many of our fallen diggers lie in unmarked graves in battlegrounds beyond our shores. But it’s less known that hundreds, maybe thousands, are in unmarked graves at home,’’ Mr Wilkie said. ``It’s just as important to remember those who served and made it home, and I’m happy that the stories of these four men who bravely served their country are finally being told and the diggers are getting the respect they deserve.’’ While searching for the last resting place of a number of WWI diggers, Hobart historian Andrea Gerrard and research assistant John Trethewey discovered that quite a number lay in unmarked graves. This sparked a project to commemorate the soldiers in time for the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli and donations from a variety of Tasmanians have funded the four plaques unveiled today. Mr Wilkie, who spent 20 years in the military rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel, donated $1000 towards the cost of the plaques which all feature the rising sun. Mrs Gerrard and Mr Trethewey assembled the stories of the men and photos of three of the soldiers. Brockman, Edward Albert Dransfield, Percy Dransfield died in October 1969 aged 74, and today lies buried in an unmarked grave. A poor end for a man who others considered had saved the day in September 1918. McSorley, Joseph Patrick He won a Military Medal due to his service with the 7th Field Company during action in 1917 near Zonnebeke, Belgium. Under heavy shellfire and intermittent machine gun fire, the Lance Corporal took charge after his senior was wounded. Despite being rendered deaf temporarily, he showed himself to be most reliable and cool, performing invaluable service, according to the recommendation. He chose to live out his days in Tasmania, far from his childhood home of Perth, Western Australia. He died in June 1923 and with no family, lies in an unmarked grave at Cornelian Bay Cemetery. Higgins, Sydney Rupert Roland Higgins was a driver, but the cold and wet of life on the battlefield took its toll and within a few weeks, he was evacuated with Trench Feet. He rejoined his unit in early May 1917 and continued to serve as a driver until 1919 before returning to Australia. He died at New Town in 1978 aged 78 years. |
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