Seven Former Politicians Awarded Australia Day Honours: Downer, Uren Receive AC

Jan 26, 2013 Leave a Comment

Tom Uren, Alexander Downer and five other former politicians have received awards in the Australia Day Honours list announced today.

UrenUren and Downer both become Companions (AC) in the General Division. It is the highest honour that can be awarded. Two other men, The Reverend Professor James Mitchell Haire AM and Professor Brian Paul Schmidt also received an AC.

Alexander Downer was Foreign Minister in the Howard government between 1996 and 2007. He was the Liberal member for Mayo in South Australia, serving in 9 parliaments between 1984 and 2008. In 1994-95, he was Liberal leader and Leader of the Opposition, a position he relinquished to John Howard in January 1995.

Tom Uren (left) was Minister for Urban and Regional Development in the Whitlam goverment between 1972 and 1975. In 1983 he became Minister for Territories and Local Government in the Hawke government. From 1984 until 1987, he was Minister for Local Government and Administrative Services. He served in 13 parliaments as the member for Reid between 1958 and 1990.

Uren is one of 12 surviving ministers from the Whitlam era. At 91, he is the second oldest of the surviving ministers. Whitlam is 96.

Four former politicians received an AM, a Member in the General Division.

John Aquilina, the Labor member for the NSW Legislative Assembly seats of Blacktown and Riverstone between 1981 and 2011, served as a minister in the Wran and Unsworth governments between 1986 and 1988. He was also a minister in the Carr government from 1995 to 2003. He became Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in 2003 and served until 2007. He retired at the 2011 election.

Robert Fordham was the Labor member for Footscray in the Victorian Legislative Assembly between 1970 and 1992. He was Deputy Premier from 1982 until 1989. He also served as Education Minister and later as Industry Minister.

Jane Lomax-Smith was the Labor member for Adelaide in the South Australian House of Assembly from 2002 until 2010. She held the Education ministry and a number of other portfolios in the Rann government. She lost her seat in the 2010 state election.

Bill Wood was a Labor member of the ACT Legislative Assembly between 1989 and 2004. He held a number of ministerial portfolios in that time. He was previously a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly.

One former politician has become a Member (OAM) in the General Division.

Malcolm Kerr was the Liberal member for Cronulla in the NSW Legislative Assembly between 1984 and 2011.

This is the complete list of recipients of Australia Day Honours.

ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

COMPANION (AC) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION

The Honourable Alexander John Downer, SA. For eminent service to the Parliament of Australia through the advancement of international relations and foreign policy, particularly in the areas of security, trade and humanitarian aid, and to the community of South Australia.

The Reverend Professor James Mitchell Haire AM, ACT. For eminent service to the community through international leadership in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, the promotion of religious reconciliation, inclusion and peace, and as a theologian.

Professor Brian Paul Schmidt, Sutton, NSW. For eminent service as a global science leader in the field of physics through research in the study of astronomy and astrophysics, contributions to scientific bodies and the promotion of science education.

The Honourable Tom Uren AO, Balmain, NSW. For eminent service to the community, particularly through contributions to the welfare of veterans, improved medical education in Vietnam and the preservation of sites of heritage and environmental significance. [Read more...]

Filed Under: A.C.T., A.L.P., Honours, Liberal Party, N.S.W., Parliament, S.A., VIC Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Gillard Claims Progress On NDIS And Power Prices Following COAG Meeting

Dec 07, 2012 Leave a Comment

The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has claimed progress on the National Disability Insurance Scheme and reform of the electricity market following today’s meeting of the Council of Australian Governments.

Julia Gillard

Gillard and the state and territory leaders reached agreement to establish a new Standing Council on Disability Reform. Gillard said: “The Agreement provides the foundation for all governments to work together to develop and implement the first stage of these important reforms.”

On electricity market reform, COAG agreed to: rule changes to ensure no over-investment in networks; giving consumers a voice in the electricity market; a strengthened independent regulator; more choice for consumers; actions to reduce electricity peaks; and to provide for greater demand-side participation to make it easier for consumers to reduce demand, particularly at peak periods.

  • Read and download the COAG Communique
  • Listen to the COAG leaders’ press conference (46m)

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Earlier in the day, state and territory leaders spoke to the media before attending the COAG meeting.

  • Listen to NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell (7m)

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  • Listen to Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu (5m)

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  • Listen to Queensland Premier Campbell Newman (3m)

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  • Listen to Northern Territory Chief Minister Terry Mills (2m)

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Text of media release from Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

COAG Progresses The National Disability Insurance Scheme

At the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in Canberra today, all governments took a major step towards giving people with disability the care and support they need over their lifetimes by signing an Intergovernmental Agreement for the first stage of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

The Agreement provides the foundation for all governments to work together to develop and implement the first stage of these important reforms.

The Agreement also sets out shared roles and responsibilities for working collaboratively on the policy for a full scheme and establishing arrangements for the review and evaluation of the first stage.

The Agreement will be overseen by a new Standing Council on Disability Reform, which will have representation from Ministers and Treasurers from all jurisdictions. The Standing Council will be responsible for making decisions and formulating advice on matters arising from the launch and the transition to a full scheme. [Read more...]

Filed Under: A.C.T., Audio, Audio2012, Energy, Federalism, Gillard, N.S.W., N.T., NDIS, QLD, S.A., TAS, VIC, W.A. Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Coalition Premiers Opt Out Of NDIS Trial; COAG Fractures

Jul 25, 2012

The political pressure on Prime Minister Julia Gillard stepped up a notch today as the four coalition premiers refused to sign up to a trial of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Julia Gillard

A meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) fractured with the announcement of three trial sites in the Labor-held jurisdictions of South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.

The Coalition premiers from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia all refused accept the federal government’s terms for participation in the trial.

New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell argued that the Commonwealth should fund the whole scheme, whilst Gillard said that $70 million from NSW and $30 million from Victoria would have ensured trial sites in those states.

The political decision of the non-Labor premiers highlights the sense of impermanence that now pervades decisions of the Gillard government.

Criticism of the state coalition governments began immediately after the announcement. Following the parliamentary impasse over asylum seekers, this decision is likely to increase public cynicism and disillusionment about the political process and the hung parliament.

  • Listen to the COAG leaders’ press conference (46m)

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[Read more...]

Filed Under: A.C.T., Audio, Audio2012, Federalism, Gillard, N.S.W., N.T., NDIS, QLD, S.A., TAS, VIC, W.A. Tagged With: , , , , ,

A High Court Challenge To The Murray-Darling Water Plan?

May 28, 2012

The South Australian government says the revised Murray-Darling Basin plan is unacceptable and it is preparing a legal challenge.

“We are left with no choice,” Premier Jay Weatherill said. “We must act.”

Weatherill said the government would campaign against the plan. “I have instructed our lawyers to draft a legal challenge to this plan – so that if this plan is made law, we will be ready to fight it in court.”

Media release from South Australian Labor Premier Jay Weatherill.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has sought a political compromise instead of being clear about who is responsible for the current state of the River Murray and what needs to be done to fix it.

The result is a revised plan which officially sanctions the over-allocation of water that has been going on for more than 40 years, damaging the Murray and threatening to destroy it.

The revised plan is unacceptable. It does not return enough water to provide for a healthy river.

It does not meet Australia’s international obligations to protect our Ramsar sites at the Coorong and Lower Lakes and at the Chowilla floodplains.

It does not recognise that South Australia’s irrigators capped their take more than 40 years ago, while upstream States continued to take more and more water – and inexplicably it removes the drinking water quality target contained in the earlier drafts.

We are left with no choice. We must act. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Federalism, High Court, S.A., Video, Water Tagged With: , ,

New Enrolment Quota Set in South Australian Redistribution

Jan 20, 2011

As part of its redistribution of electoral boundaries in South Australia, the Australian Electoral Commission has determined that the enrolment quota is 100,636.

This means that each of the 11 electorates in South Australia will be redrawn to ensure that as near as possible they contain that number of voters. Electorates are allowed to vary by 10% above or below the quota. Projected population growth and decline will be taken into consideration to ensure that over time electorates converge on the quota figure.

Redistributions are required in each state every 7 years. A Victorian redistribution has just been completed. The new boundaries in both states will take effect from the next general election, due in late 2013.

This is the text of a media release from the Australian Electoral Commission.

The acting Electoral Commissioner, Mr Paul Dacey, has announced the first step in the process of redistributing the federal electoral boundaries in South Australia by setting the enrolment quota.

“The enrolment quota for the redistribution in South Australia is 100 636,” Mr Dacey said.

The enrolment quota was determined by dividing the number of electors enrolled in South Australia as at 12 January 2011, which is the date the redistribution formally commenced, by the number of House of Representative seats to which the state is entitled (11).

When the boundaries are redrawn during the redistribution process, each electoral division must have between 90 573 and 110 699 electors – that is, a margin of up to 10% variation is allowed from the quota.

A media release was issued by the Electoral Commissioner on 12 January 2011 advising that under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 a redistribution of federal electoral boundaries was required in South Australia as seven years had elapsed since the last redistribution. South Australia’s current entitlement to 11 seats in the House of Representatives will remain unchanged.

“A Redistribution Committee will soon be formed to begin the task of redrawing electoral boundaries within South Australia,” Mr Dacey said.

The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 requires that the Redistribution Committee comprise the Electoral Commissioner, the Australian Electoral Officer for the state, as well as two senior state officials, usually the state’s Surveyor-General and Auditor-General or equivalent positions.

“The Redistribution Committee will undertake an extensive process of consultation and provide opportunities for individuals and organisations to make suggestions and comments on matters affecting the drawing of federal electoral boundaries and the naming of divisions.”

Public suggestions and comments about the redistribution will be invited in early April. The redistribution process is expected to be finalised on 16 December this year.

Filed Under: Redistributions, S.A. Tagged With:
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