Family law changes don't go far enough: Fielding

Family law changes don't go far enough: Fielding
ABC Online - Australia
Family First Senator Steve Fielding says changes to family law have not gone far enough to ensure children spend equal time with separated parents.

Family law overhaul passes Senate

Family law overhaul passes Senate
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... once a fortnight. The legislation was delayed for two days because Family First senator Steve Fielding was taken ill. He wanted ...

Divorced dads want equal time with kids
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... acceptable violence," he said. Family First leader Steve Fielding took up the concerns of fathers groups. "Equal parenting time ...

Family law reforms will help children
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... generation of "stolen children" has been created by the current child custody and family law arrangements, according to Family First Senator Steve Fielding. ...

Family First Gives PM a Wake-Up Call On Family Law Reform
PR Web (press release) - Ferndale,WA,USA
... On Friday, 24th March, 2006, Steve Fielding, Senator for Family First, indicated that he would table a desperately needed amendment to the current Family Law ...

Senator wants child custody changes
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
FAMILY First senator Steve Fielding today will propose amendments to a revamp of child custody laws, saying the current legislation does not go far enough to ...

Family split warning
Melbourne Herald Sun - Australia
AN entire generation of "stolen children" has been created by child custody and family law arrangements, according to Family First senator Steve Fielding. ...

Battling Net Porn

Beazley battles net porn
Melbourne Herald Sun - Australia
... The plan is similar to one being pushed by Family First senator Steve Fielding, who has so far been unsuccessful in persuading the Government of its merit. ...

Pressure builds for censorship
Australian IT - Australia
... On the Senate cross benches, Family First's Steve Fielding has become downright angry. Action against net porn had been delayed for too long, he said. ...

Online industry rejects Labor policy
Melbourne Herald Sun - Australia
... Family First leader Senator Steve Fielding said blocking all porn at the ISP level, then allowing adults to "opt in", was the solution. ...

No-pokies crusader wins mainstream support

Democrats deny party dying
ABC Online - Australia
... is nationally, not in South Australia, but nationally ... HAXTON: Flinders University Professor of Politics Dean Jaensch ... The Greens, Family First and a plethora of ...

Rann, Labor to rule for years in SA
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... "Ultimately, politics is about ... looks likely to retain Mitchell, while Australia's longest serving MP ... The Christian-based party Family First is also in with a ...

Minor parties await preferences results
ABC Online - Australia
... Ms Kanck says she is concerned that progressive politics will be eradicated from South Australia's Upper House ... No Pokies' MPs, plus two Family First MPs, but ...

Mr X has the very last laugh
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... House possibly will elect (another) Family First member ... ... way the voice of progressive politics remains seriously ... the third party (now) in South Australia.". ...

Democrats face wipe-out in heartland
Australian - Australia
... say demise," says Flinders University politics professor Dean ... always point to South Australia, where it ... three between the conservative Family First, the Greens ...

Your tax at work
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... niceties that have no place in modern politics". ... junkets where MPs travel around Australia taking turns to ... It has also been confirmed Family First MLC Andrew ...

A cross to bear
Australian - Australia
... for Africa, and called for Australia to bring ... t want to comment on Australian politics "because I ... Also anxious are Family First and Greens candidates while the ...

It's a blitz for Bedford
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... "I think that South Australia has clearly ... hard at a local level which is what politics is about ... Christian-based Family First party was expected to shine in the ...

Defining the business of winning elections
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Politics is a funny affair. ... In South Australia, Mike Rann has presided over a mineral boom and an ... But gains for Family First could result in the demise of the ...

No-pokies crusader wins mainstream support
Australian - Sydney,Australia
... Believing South Australia's drug policy has been captured by ... their first upper house MP and Family First their second ... power and control in SA Labor politics. ...

Family First, Greens tipped to win SA Upper House seats

Family First, Greens tipped to win SA Upper House seats
ABC Regional Online - Australia
With about 100,000 votes left to count, Family First candidate Dennis Hood says his preference calculations suggest he will win a seat and join Andrew Evans in ...

Still No Government Action on Family First's Call For Ban On Internet Pornography (Media Release)

For more than six months Family First has been calling on the Government to ban internet pornography.

Family First has raised this issue with the Prime Minister’s office many times and is disappointed that we are still waiting for the Government to act.

This is a huge community concern. As parents, we want a safe internet environment for our kids, and the way to do that is to ban internet pornography, while allowing adults who want it, to 'opt in' and access it.

Parents feel powerless. We know we have to let our kids roam the Internet for study. Yet we can’t be watching over their shoulders all the time to monitor what they are seeing.

Last year, Family First sought technical advice about how a ban on internet pornography could work. We spoke to experts and discovered it was possible to block pornography at the Internet Service Provider (ISP) level.

As well as numerous meetings with the Prime Minister's Office, and the Prime Minister, urging him to adopt our policy, Family First has also met with Communications Minister Senator Helen Coonan.

Why is the Government taking so long to act? Either it agrees with our policy and will adopt it or it doesn't. We know action is possible. In May 2004 the Government published a report which revealed it would cost $45 million to establish a national system, and $33 million each year to operate.

For media enquiries phone Chief of Staff Felicity Dargan on 0409 550 446

Health, roads and the Upper House

Health, roads and the Upper House
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... he said. Family First's Dennis Hood said the party rejected abolition "absolutely" but would consider shorter terms. "The majority ...

PM pressures state Liberals to pick up their game

PM pressures state Liberals to pick up their game
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... Family First candidate Dennis Hood won the party its second upper house seat, while "No Pokies" MP Nick Xenophon was not only re-elected but attracted enough ...

Hallelujah chorus

Hallelujah chorus
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
The party, which won a Legislative Council seat in 2002, believes it's in with a chance to win a second council seat. Dennis Hood, 36, the No. ...

Just who will end up with the balance of power?

Just who will end up with the balance of power?
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... Family First is confident of winning a second seat and the party's lead candidate Dennis Hood lashed out at the Democrats saying "the only danger in this ...

Upper House war of words

Upper House war of words
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... said. Family First Upper House candidate Dennis Hood rejected the criticisms, accusing the Democrats of "desperate politics". "(Their ...

Haydon Manning: Family First the party to watch

Haydon Manning: Family First the party to watch
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
Two years later, the party surprised the nation when its Victorian Senate candidate, Steve Fielding, won after collecting the lion's share of party preferences ...

Australian Democrats Fail to Pass a Single New Law in Two Decades in SA (media release)

In response to the latest press release by the Australian Democrats and Ralph Clarke claiming that the Family First Party is dangerous, Family First would like to agree with them! Family First is dangerous- dangerous for paedophiles and child molesters.

Within the first two years of the Hon. Andrew Evans MLC being elected to Parliament he introduced and successfully passed a law which removed the statues of limitations which prevented these terrible crimes from being prosecuted if they occurred prior to 1982. Since this legislation has been passed, around 1,000 accused sex offenders have been investigated with many in jail today as a result.

In stark contrast to this outstanding success for South Australian families the elected members of the Australian Democrats Mike Elliott (retired) and Kate Reynolds MLC have not managed to introduce and pass a single new law in the last twenty years! In the past two decades these two members of the Australian Democrats have failed miserably in their attempts to create law. The single task for which they were elected.

In short the South Australian Democrats may be considered to present the real danger to the South Australian public. A dangerous waste of tax payers money demonstrated by two decades of left wing rhetoric whilst achieving nothing in the way of legislative change.

The only danger in this election is that the Australian Democrats will be re-elected representing more left wing extremism and an absolute waste of tax payers funds.

For further information, please call Dennis Hood on 0410 514 126

Spat between Democrats and Family First

Spat between Democrats and Family First
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
By LAURA ANDERSON. FAMILY First has returned fire in a spat with the Democrats, visiting Senator Steve Fielding saying the Democrats "stand for nothing". ...

Family First calls for Mandatory Reporting of Abuse in Aged Care (Media Release)

Media Release SF/43. Wednesday March 15, 2006
Family First calls on the Government to immediately introduce mandatory reporting of abuse of residents in all aged care homes across the country.

Family First wants the Government to establish an 'Aged Care Hotline' in each state so staff at aged care homes, as well as residents and other visitors, can confidentially report suspected cases of abuse.

Elderly residents of aged care homes are among the most vulnerable people in our community and Family First believes we should be doing everything we can to protect them and ensure they are safe.

The Australian community must have confidence in its aged care system and must have confidence that the Federal Government, which is responsible for our aged care system, is doing all it can to safeguard the welfare of residents.

Family First is also calling for more random spot checks of aged care homes.

There is little point having inspections when aged care homes receive prior warning and staff can prepare in advance.

For the community to have confidence that aged care homes are of the highest standard, the Federal Government must ensure there are more random spot checks.

This way we can get a true picture of what is going on inside aged care homes and whether care and safety standards are up to scratch.

Family First believes 'care' is the most important part of Australia's aged care system. It is the Government's job to ensure we have the best aged care system in the world and that all residents are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

For media enquiries phone Chief of Staff Felicity Dargan on 0409 550 446

Family First Condemns Telstra for Forcing Staff to Work on a Public Holiday (Media Release)

Media Release SF/42. Monday March 13, 2006
Family First condemns Telstra for forcing its Victorian staff to work on today's Labour Day public holiday.

In July last year Family First was the first party to raise the issue of the Government removing guaranteed public holidays, like Labour Day, Christmas Day, Good Friday and Anzac Day.

I am enjoying today's Labour Day public holiday with my family, like so many other Victorians. But Telstra workers have been robbed of a family day.

Public holidays are family days. That's why Family First campaigned so strongly last year to try to ensure public holidays were guaranteed. Unfortunately, the Government did not care.

Steve's video blog today is on Telstra's denial of a family day to their staff in Victoria.
See: www.stevefielding.com.au

For media enquiries phone Chief of Staff Felicity Dargan on 0409 550 446

Family First in reach of SA upper house control

Family First in reach of SA upper house control
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... If Family First candidate Dennis Hood wins a seat, he could jointly control the upper house with the head of Family First in SA, Andrew Evans. ...

Childcare rebate safe: Costello

Childcare rebate safe: Costello
Sunday Times.au - Perth,WA,Australia
... Family First senator Steve Fielding, meanwhile, says families should have a $1000 increase in the tax-free threshold for each dependent child, which could be ...

Major parties 'copy us'

Major parties 'copy us'
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... Family First Upper House candidate Dennis Hood said yesterday the Liberals had adopted three Family First policies - recriminalising marijuana, subsidising ...

SA Family First to split preferences

SA Family First to split preferences
ABC Online - Australia
... has since gone on to become increasingly influential in Australian politics, culminating with the election last year of Victorian Federal Senator Steve Fielding ...

Abortion veto: report takes no stand; Senate looks set to lift RU486 ban; Minchin tells of abortion experience

Abortion veto: report takes no stand
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... their names to the comments. But Family First senator Steve Fielding had a different take on the issue. He said the availability ...

Senate looks set to lift RU486 ban
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... Abetz. Family First senator Steve Fielding also voted against the bill. The final conscience vote will be held later this afternoon.

Minchin tells of abortion experience
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... senator Kerry Nettle said medical experts from the TGA were better qualified to make the decision, while Family First senator Steve Fielding said unelected ...

Policy focus at debate

Policy focus at debate
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... Democrats MLC Kate Reynolds, Family First candidate Dennis Hood, No Pokies MLC Nick Xenophon and Greens candidate Mark Parnell held their own version of the ...

Minchin tips long RU486 debate

Minchin tips long RU486 debate
NEWS.com.au - Australia
... legislation. He rejected a claim from Family First Senator Steve Fielding that the debate was being rushed and should be postponed. ...

Fight for your rights or watch them disappear, yes women say

Fight for your rights or watch them disappear, yes women say
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... The Family First senator, Steve Fielding, said: "We cannot consider the social policy issues without taking into account community attitudes. ...

Abbott warns of 'divisive' abortion drug debate

Abbott warns of 'divisive' abortion drug debate
ABC Online - Australia
... of women," he said. Others like Family First Senator Steve Fielding want the federal health minister left in charge. "This is a ...

PM backs RU486 veto

PM backs RU486 veto
Daily Telegraph - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... In another addendum, a group of four men and one woman, including Family First Senator Steve Fielding, said they were distressed by the "cavalier" attitudes of ...

Family First wants Qantas jobs kept in Australia

FAMILY FIRST WANTS QANTAS JOBS KEPT IN AUSTRALIA
Qantas should put people first when making decisions which will affect the futures of thousands of Australians.

Qantas does not need to move as many as 2500 maintenance jobs to China, Singapore or some other source of cheap labour.

Just last month Qantas announced a half year profit of $483.5 million for the six months to 31 December 2005. CEO Geoff Dixon was reported last year to have been paid over six million dollars in salary and bonuses.

Qantas cannot have it both ways.

On the one hand, Qantas wants us to prop up these huge profits by allowing them to keep Singapore Airlines out of flights between here and the United States, forgoing cheaper airfares.

On the other hand, they want us to stand by and let thousands of jobs go overseas so that their executives can maintain the lifestyles to which they have become accustomed.

Family First believes there is more to running a business than just making a profit. Companies have an obligation to the communities they serve – especially when the community has shown Qantas loyalty through their support for an Australian company.

This is a view clearly not shared by Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon, who last year made it clear that, despite a record profit, more sackings were necessary, adding that he made no apologies for looking after shareholders.

The community may be willing to effectively subsidise Qantas's substantial profit by keeping competitor Singapore Airlines out of the lucrative Australia to US routes. But we are not willing to do that if Qantas abandons Australian workers by shifting jobs overseas.

For media enquiries phone Chief of Staff Felicity Dargan on 0409 550 446

Strikes may hit flights

Strikes may hit flights
Melbourne Herald Sun - Australia
... Mr Combet said. Family First's Steve Fielding said Qantas, which made a $483 million half-year profit, should put people first.

Family First tipped to win SA seat

Family First tipped to win SA seat
ABC Online - Australia
... parties. Mr Green says the Christian-based Family First has done the best deals, which are likely to get candidate Dennis Hood elected. ...

No Pokies Nick will keep seat, poll finds

No Pokies Nick will keep seat, poll finds
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... Bressington. Family First is likely to be involved in a struggle with No Pokies, the Democrats and the Greens for the last vacancy. ...

Stalemate over Cornelia Rau compensation

Stalemate over Cornelia Rau compensation
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... down. Just nine people, including four Greens, four Democrats and Family First senator Steve Fielding, voted in favour of the move. ...

Govt to fund more pregnancy counselling

Govt to fund more pregnancy counselling
ABC Online - Australia
... It's been warmly welcomed by those in the Parliament who've been outspoken opponents of abortion, including the Family First Senator Steve Fielding and the ...

Maverick MP quits battle to hold seat

Maverick MP quits battle to hold seat
Australian - Australia
... has abandoned his bid for re-election in the seat he has held since 1979, blaming a "hypocritical" decision by the religious Right's Family First party to ...

Lewis to stand for Upper House

Lewis to stand for Upper House
ABC Regional Online - Australia
... putting people and principles before parties," he said. Family First Upper House candidate Dennis Hood has confirmed the preference deal. ...

Pregnancy counselling may be biased: ALP

Pregnancy counselling may be biased: ALP
Seven.com.au - Australia
... services. In parliament, Family First Senator Steve Fielding relayed media reports the government did not support any such services. ...

Labor votes against Rau compo in blunder

Labor votes against Rau compo in blunder
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... Labor. Just nine people, including four Greens, four Democrats and Family First senator Steve Fielding, voted in favour. Realising ...

Hard ball on 'Bible belt' deals

Hard ball on 'Bible belt' deals
Advertiser Adelaide - Adelaide,South Australia,Australia
... The party's Legislative Council candidate Dennis Hood, who has been negotiating with the major parties, said he had hoped to have the preference deals for the ...

South Park attacked

South Park attacked
yourTV.com.au - Australia
Family First senator Steve Fielding has pushed for a ban on a controversial episode of South Park that he says features an offensive portrayal of Christianity. ...