Energy

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (16:01): Honestly, I can’t believe this motion. I am really struggling. Energy and emission policies by this government are a spectacular success, and saying it ain’t so does not make it fact. We are completely on target. We beat our Kyoto targets. We’ll beat Kyoto 2. And, despite what the member for…

JobSeeker Payment

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (19:55): Let me say from the outset, before the member leaves the chamber: I’m sure I’m speaking on behalf of all of us in this place when we wish her all the very best with the rest of her pregnancy and the upcoming birth. All the best with that. What I wanted…

Youth Allowance

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (12:34): Firstly, let me thank the member for Bowman for bringing this motion forward. I think it’s very important and quite proper that we discuss this issue in this place. I thank the member for Dunkley for her comments as well, but I must take issue with her view that the proposals…

Rural and Regional Services: Health

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (17:34): I raised an issue in the party room a couple of weeks ago about a doctor distribution problem that we have in Australia. We don’t have a shortage of doctors, we have a doctor distribution problem. This was raised by a good article in The Weekend Australian Magazine here, I think about three weeks…

Working Holiday Maker Program

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (16:35): In November last year the final report into the Inquiry into the Working Holiday Maker Program was delivered. I’m drawn to recommendation three: The Committee recommends that Working Holiday (subclass 417) and Work and Holiday (subclass 462) visa holders should be able to work in tourism and hospitality in all hard-to-staff…

Rural and Regional Services: Health

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (13:31): During the last week, I was very pleased to host the Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government, Mark Coulton, in my electorate. We met with a number of delegations of doctors, discussing the rural doctor crisis. We met with, I think, 12 different mayors in a couple of…

Closing the Gap

Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Government Whip) (11:29): I welcome this motion put forward by the Leader of the Opposition. It does give us a chance to talk about a very important issue. Eight per cent or thereabouts of my electorate of Grey is Indigenous, and I have made it a core part of my workload, since I came…