Family First Party: September 2006

Get Ready for Telstra's Slash and Burn Strategy (Media Release)

Telstra’s secret plans to axe more public phones across Melbourne is just the start of its slash and burn agenda.

FAMILY FIRST strongly opposed flogging off the rest of Telstra, warning that services would be cut to boost profits. The telco hasn't even been flogged off and already hundreds of public phones are being axed across the country. Imagine what is going to happen when Telstra is sold.

FAMILY FIRST calls on the Government to listen to strong community opposition to selling the rest of Telstra and call off the sale. That's what the Government did when it ditched its plans to sell the Snowy Hydro Scheme, a move that FAMILY FIRST applauded.

FAMILY FIRST believes that Telstra is a service, not a business. And it ought to be treated as a service, not a business where the bottom line is all that matters. That is why FAMILY FIRST voted against the full sale of Telstra.

Australians expect governments to provide essential services, including telecommunications. But now they are paying the price for the Government treating Telstra as a business.

We know Telstra has investigated removing more than 25,000 pay phones but decided not to, fearing a public backlash. In February secret plans to slash more than 5,000 public phones were revealed.

The biggest losers from a completely privatised company driven by market forces will be Australians in regional, rural and remote Australia where Telstra’s market share is more than 90 per cent.

FAMILY FIRST supports free enterprise, not the free market. The sorry tale of Telstra is a stark example of the difference between the two.

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

Cheaper Homes and No Stamp Duty under Family First Policy (Media Release)

Sunday September 24, 2006
HOMES would be cheaper for Victorians under FAMILY FIRST’s housing policy to abolish stamp duty for all first homebuyers.

FAMILY FIRST wants Victorians to be able to afford their own home. Home ownership is the Great Australian Dream as it gives people stability and gives families security.

Increasing numbers of Victorian families are caught in the rental trap and are close to kissing their home ownership dreams goodbye.

Launching FAMILY FIRST’s housing policy in Melbourne’s western suburbs today, Victorian leader Cameron Eastman said the party wanted crippling stamp duty abolished for all first homebuyers buying homes to the value of $400,000.

Victorians buying a $300,000 home would save almost $14,000 while those purchasing a $400,000 home would save almost $20,000.

FAMILY FIRST’s policy will help thousands of Victorians buy their first home and start paying off a mortgage instead of being caught in the rentaltrap.

The Bracks government is drunk on stamp duty, reaping $2.5 billion in 2005/06 on property.

Stamp duty in Victoria is also much higher than other states. Victorians pay $19,660 stamp duty for a $400,000 home, compared to $13,490 in New South Wales and $6500 in Queensland.

Stamp Duty Comparison
Property Price Victoria NSW Queensland
$200,000 $7,660 $5,490 $2,000
$300,000 $13,660 $8,990 $4,250
$400,000 $19,660 $13,490 $6,500
Source: The Sunday Age, 3 September 2006

The average house price, particularly in Melbourne, is beyond the reach of most couples, who are working harder than ever and dream of starting a family.

The latest Housing Industry Association figures reveal the median first home price in Melbourne was $355,900 and for the rest of Victoria $257,800.

FAMILY FIRST estimates the median first home price for the whole of Victoria to be $328,800.

FAMILY FIRST estimates its policy to abolish stamp duty for first homebuyers could cost the Government up to $500 million in lost revenue.

This is based on ABS data revealing that 32,905 first homes were bought in Victoria in 2005/06 and FAMILY FIRST estimating they all cost $328,800 (stamp duty would be $15,388).

Housing affordability will be a key issue for FAMILY FIRST in the Victorian election.

Other parts of FAMILY FIRST’s housing policy are:

• FAMILY FIRST wants the Government to release more land for housing and restore growth areas in the west, south-east and north;

• FAMILY FIRST wants increased Government funding for more public housing to take pressure off long waiting lists;

FAMILY FIRST launched its housing policy in Kealba at the home of married couple Scott and Jessica Amberley who are struggling to buy their first home. Scott, 35, works four days a week in a call centre while lawyer Jessica, 29, works for herself.

“It’s not just raising the money for a deposit, you’ve also got stamp duty and have to be able to meet repayments, which we can’t,” Scott said “We want kids and would love to have our own home first, but that’s not going to happen. We plan to have kids soon and that will put back our house plans by a few years.” Scott, who is FAMILY FIRST’s candidate for Keilor, said not having to pay stamp duty would make a huge difference.

Media inquiries to Cameron Eastman 0425 724 170

Bracks Government Drunkn on Pokies Tax (Media Release)

Monday September 11, 2006

THE Bracks government's failure to cull the number of poker machines proves it is drunk on pokies tax.

What a joke that the government is sending problem gambling kits to schools instead of tackling the problem itself and culling the number of machines.

And what a joke the Government has ordered a report into how gambling affects kids. If the government really cared it would get rid of the machines!

FAMILY FIRST'S pokies policy is to get pokies out of our suburbs and limit them to Crown Casino.

FAMILY FIRST would also allow some pokies at country racetracks so people in regional Victoria would not have to travel to Melbourne.

Poker machines have inflicted a devastating toll on thousands of Victorian families, particularly children, and the problem is only getting worse.

FAMILY FIRST Victorian leader Cameron Eastman said: "The Bracks government is drunk on pokies tax and has turned a blind eye to the thousands of families whose lives have been ruined. Poker machines plaguing our suburbs have caused family breakdown and financial devastation. The Government must respond to community concern and pull the plug on pokies."

A recent report revealed three in four Victorians believe pokies do more harm than good and gambling was too widely accessible.

For media enquiries phone Cameron Eastman on 0425 724 170

Drug drive testing may be widened

Drug drive testing may be widened
The Australian - Sydney, Australia
... responding to a question from Family First MLC Dennis Hood who told Parliament a recently released Drug and Alcohol Services of South Australia report, "Risk ...

Family First calls for dam construction; Minor Vic parties make policy pledges

Family First calls for dam construction
Border Mail, Australia - 3 hours ago
FAMILY First is calling for new dams to be built in Victoria as part of its $1 billion water policy released ahead of the November state election. ...

Minor Vic parties make policy pledges
ABC Online, Australia - 13 hours ago
... they will work to shut down Victoria's dirtiest power plant, Hazelwood, by 2015 if they are elected. Another minority party, Family First has released a policy ...

Family First Calls for New Dams for Victoria (Media Release)

FAMILY FIRST is calling for new dams to be built in Victoria to boost and secure the state’s water supplies for the future.

We all know Victoria desperately needs more water and building dams is arguably the cheapest, and most sensible, way of addressing our water crisis.

Launching FAMILY FIRST’S water policy today, Victorian leader Cameron Eastman said: “Victoria desperately needs new dams.”

“Banning new dams is stupid. Yet for the last 20 years or so no politician has even dared talk about building more dams.

“With continued population growth, a ‘no dams’ policy is simply not an option. The situation is critical.”

FAMILY FIRST believes new dams would be exciting nation-building projects.

“They would create thousands of new jobs for Victorians and pump billions of dollars into our economy,” Cameron said.

“The Thomson Dam in Gippsland, opened in 1983, was the last major dam built in Victoria and it supplies 60 per cent of Melbourne’s water. Melbourne will have one million more people by 2030 and it is estimated another reservoir of similar size to the Thomson would give Melbourne up to 1,068,000 megalitres of water.”

Cameron said FAMILY FIRST was disappointed the major parties were reluctant to speak about dams because it was too controversial and they feared a public backlash.

“Of course this is a controversial issue, but Victorians want their politicians to lead, to tackle difficult issues and make tough decisions if required,” Cameron said. “This is a test of our next Government’s resolve.

As part of its ‘new dams’ policy, FAMILY FIRST wants:

A re-elected Bracks Government, or a Baillieu Government, to immediately investigate the best sites for new dams as well as the social, environmental and economic impacts of each potential site;
The Government to hold an extensive community consultation process to hear the views of the Victorian community.

It has been more than 20 years since a detailed study was done on dams. The 1985 Rural Water Commission report revealed 143 sites for a new dam with six most likely, including the Goulburn, Thompson and Macalister rivers.

FAMILY FIRST’S water policy also calls on the Government to:

Prepare a comprehensive water plan for Victoria until 2030;
Increase rebates for households to install water tanks;
Make it mandatory for new housing developments to install water tanks and have third-pipe schemes which allow centrally recycled water to be used to flush toilets and water gardens;
Investigate ways to increase the waste water we recycle;
More rebates for Victorians who buy water-saving products like various shower heads;
A water-saving awareness campaign aimed at children.

Media inquiries to Cameron Eastman 0425 724 170

Family First plan to scrap stamp duty

Family First plan to scrap stamp duty

Ninemsn, Australia - Sep 24, 2006

Family First has pledged to give struggling house hunters a leg-up in the housing market by abolishing stamp duty for first homebuyers. ...

Gambling stakes up

Courier Mail - Australia
... Family First Senator Steve Fielding yesterday said the Beattie Government was drunk ... year, almost 200,000 poker machine licenses had been issued in Australia. ...

Tale of two cities

Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... cane toads in 1935 and the Montreal Olympics in 1976, when Australia failed to ... that it had, indeed, sold the used shorts of its leader, Steve Fielding, on the ...

Calls for inquiry into Department of Child Safety deaths

ABC Online - Australia
... Family First state director Peter Findlay says the Government is failing to protect children ... Foster Care Queensland's Bryan Smith says not all of the deaths are ...

Aussie values not unique

Courier Mail - Australia
... But Family First senator Steve Fielding welcomed the Government proposal for a ... can communicate with the rest of the community in Australia," Senator Fielding ...

Family First unhappy over health agency's contact with sex workers

Family First unhappy over health agency's contact with sex workers

ABC Online - Australia
... NANCE HAXTON: South Australia's Family First Upper House MP Dennis Hood says he was shocked when he was handed a list of prostitutes by one of his constituents ...

Migrants to face tests on English, values; Fielding backs citizenship test

Migrants to face tests on English, values

NEWS.com.au - Australia
... Fielding said citizenship tests made sense. "The reason why you want to learn English is that, that is how you can communicate with the rest of Australia," he ...

Fielding backs citizenship test
ABC Online - Australia
Family First Senator Steve Fielding has welcomed the proposal for a formal citizenship ... you can communicate with the rest of the community in Australia," he said ...

Family First backs English tests

Family First backs English tests

The Australian - Sydney,Australia
... immigrants before they are able to get Australian citizenship, Family First senator Steve ... you can communicate with the rest of the community within Australia. ...

Family First urges Medibank sale halt

NEWS.com.au - Australia
Surrounded by two dozen supporters, Family First senator Steve Fielding today launched the campaign at Albert Park Lake in Melbourne. ...

No Change, ALP in Command in Australia

No Change, ALP in Command in Australia

Angus Reid Global Scan - Vancouver,BC,Canada
The Australian Greens are third with nine per cent, followed by the Australian Democrats, Family First and One Nation. Australia’s preferential voting system ...

Just following holy orders

Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... The election of the Family First senator Steve Fielding, the Coalition's public ... Frame's slim volume, Church and State: Australia's Imaginary Wall, is his ...

Family First urges investigation into sex worker claims

Family First urges investigation into sex worker claims

ABC Regional Online - Australia
The Family First Party says it has asked the Police Commissioner to investigate claims that a South Australian government-funded health agency has provided ...

Health service gives disabled sex hook-ups

Daily Telegraph - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... people. Family First MLC Dennis Hood said yesterday a constituent had provided him with a copy of a list of sex workers. Entitled ...

Explore Fishing with EDDIE RIDDLE

Townsville Bulletin - Northern Australia,Australia
... February 1 next year, but a handful of North Queensland impoundments will ... The result exceeded, across its target seats, that of Family First while outpolling ...

Labor 'lets down petrol independents'

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... Retail Legislation Repeal Bill to introduce changes to Australia's retail petrol ... with it, leaving the Democrats, Greens, Senators Steve Fielding and Barnaby ...

Australia: Queensland election reveals deep disaffection

Australia: Queensland election reveals deep disaffection

World Socialist Web Site - Oak Park,MI,USA
... Family First, a right-wing Christian party, stood in Queensland for the first time, but largely failed in its efforts to capture the One Nation constituency. ...

Bill grinds to halt

Courier Mail - Australia
... the discounts they offer to retailers. The amendment was put forward by Family First's Steve Fielding. While Senator Joyce said he ...

Coonan proposals face likely tweak; Media beauty in the eye of the beholder

Coonan proposals face likely tweak

The Australian - Sydney,Australia
... to shore up support in the event of a Nationals senator crossing the floor, Senator Coonan has opened negotiations with Family First senator Steve Fielding. ...

Media beauty in the eye of the beholder
Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... side. Senator Coonan met Family First senator Steve Fielding last night, but he is yet to decide which way he will vote. National ...

Howard flags more media laws compromises

ABC Online - Australia
... Senator Coonan has also held a meeting with the Family First Senator, Steve Fielding, who says he is yet to decide whether to support the changes. ...

Nats 'object' to media Bill

NEWS.com.au - Australia
... Family First senator Steve Fielding has also refused to rule out voting against ... ownership base and secondly greater foreign ownership of Australia's media," he ...

Media law changes in doubt

The Australian - Sydney,Australia
... If one Coalition senator votes against the legislation, the Government would need the support of Family First senator Steve Fielding to pass the Bills.

Leader loses shorts for charity

Melbourne Herald Sun - Australia
FAMILY First leader Steve Fielding is selling his highly criticised tennis shorts to raise money for charity and lift his style credentials. ...

Family First wants to stop oil giants

Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
Senator Steve Fielding said he would move an amendment to the government bill, currently being debated in the Senate, that seeks to limit major oil companies ...

MPs' new roles

Townsville Bulletin - Northern Australia,Australia
... "I wanted a good cabinet that will give Queensland the policy ... The share of the vote for Family First candidate Amanda Nickson and Greens candidate Anja Light ...

Look at us - on a stamp!

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... because the subject is the "50th Anniversary of Television in Australia" and not the ... POWER of the press: Senator Steve Fielding is bidding farewell to his only ...

Explore 'all abuse reports'; Family First confident after state election; Labor holds edge in federal gridlock

Explore 'all abuse reports'

The Australian - Sydney,Australia
Family First MLC Dennis Hood will introduce a bill amending the state's Child Protection Act ... SA into line with other states like the NT and Queensland, which have ...

Family First confident after state election
ABC Online - Australia
The Family First party says it is a force in Queensland politics despite figures showing it attracted less than 2 per cent of the primary vote in Saturday's state election.

Family First fielded seven candidates in southern Queensland.

State director Peter Findlay says the state-wide result is misleading.

"You've got to look at the results in the seats we contested and I'm not sure what that is but it will be well over that [2 per cent]," he said.

"We got 10 per cent in many of the seats we contested and 15 per cent in some so I'm not taking any notice of the state-wide figures, I think it's a furphy."

fielded seven candidates in southern Queensland. State director Peter Findlay says the state-wide result is misleading.

Labor holds edge in federal gridlock
The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... Labor is ahead on a two-party basis in all mainland states except Western Australia. In Victoria the lead is 54 to 46 per cent ... Family First is polling 1 per cent ...

Labor win not linked to work laws: PM; Preferences snub costly for Coalition

Labor win not linked to work laws: PM

Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... The shortcoming had been the Queensland Coalition's, because ... Family First received nearly 2 per cent of the ... sole One Nation MP in Australia, having retained ...

Preferences snub costly for Coalition
The Australian - Sydney,Australia
... Family First Queensland director Peter Findlay said it was likely his party would have been inclined to direct preferences to the Coalition in more seats if it ...

Parties await people's judgement

Parties await people's judgement
ABC Regional Online - Australia
... Family First is making its electoral debut in the state election. ... around the state because we've got candidates in a wide range of areas in Queensland," he said ...

Minor parties hail poll results

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... In its first Queensland election, Family First, which fielded 26 candidates, received seven per cent of the primary vote in the seats it contested. ...

Son doesn't shine

Courier Mail - Australia
... His campaign was dealt an early blow when the Family First party directed ... Party stronghold for decades, held for 40 years by Queensland's longest-serving ...

Voters give Beattie another chance; Opposition Labor Party Still First in Australia;Family First will direct preferences to Labor Party

Voters give Beattie another chance

ABC Online - Australia
... Family First spokesman Peter Findlay says he is "very excited" by the party's performance in its first election in Queensland. Mr ...

Opposition Labor Party Still First in Australia
Angus Reid Global Scan - Vancouver,BC,Canada
The Australian Greens are third with eight per cent, followed by Family First, the Australian Democrats and One Nation. Australia’s preferential voting system ...

Family First will direct preferences to Labor Party
NEWS.com.au - Australia
... The church-based party is tipped to play a big role in regional seats in its first Queensland election. "Family First had discussions with the Labor Party in ...

Queenslanders to head to polls

ABC Online - Australia
... the envy in terms of economic performance of every government in Australia.". ... the first Queensland election for political new comer Family First, but spokesman ...

Poll shows Beattie bruised but back

NEWS.com.au - Australia
... Mr Beattie - once the most popular politician in Australia - will enter ... Other minor parties, including Family First, and independents have benefited from the ...

Family First MP demands petrol review; Bob Brown: A fat lot of good ads do; Aboriginal council blocks access change

Family First MP demands petrol review

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Family First senator Steve Fielding wants to limit the amount of service stations that companies can own, in a bid to cut petrol prices. ...

Bob Brown: A fat lot of good ads do
The Australian - Sydney,Australia
AUSTRALIA could halt the development of childhood obesity within one year of introducing a coherent program ... Family First's Steve Fielding didn't show up. ...

Aboriginal council blocks access change
The Australian - Sydney,Australia
ABORIGINAL leaders have successfully lobbied South Australia's parliament to block an ... vote after a last-minute change of heart from minor party Family First. ...

Senators oppose death for Bali Nine

Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... four of the nine Australians who tried to smuggle heroin into Australia from Bali. ... Family First senator Steve Fielding says it would be a grave concern if the ...

Politicians 'reject fuel tax cut'

NEWS.com.au - Australia
... cents a litre was rejected because federal politicians don't pay for their own fuel, which costs taxpayers almost $1 million a year, Family First senator Steve ...

Joyce cagey about endorsing media package

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... Problems range from the loss of diversity in regional Australia to anti-siphoning ... Family First Senator Steve Fielding has similar concerns about the package.

Pollies' letters to eat mail boxes

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... Only the Greens and Family First's Steve Fielding supported Senator Brown's attempt ... an extra $13.7 million with which to bombard letterboxes around Australia. ...

Senators oppose sale

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... Family First senator Steve Fielding said he was still unsure how he felt about the issue. "I'm still trying to make up my mind. ...

Stem cell debate heats up agin

NEWS.com.au - Australia
... Senator Allison said. Family First senator Steve Fielding was reluctant to talk on the stem cell debate today. "All the success ...

Safe drivers 'deserve reward'

The Australian - Sydney,Australia
SOUTH Australia's good drivers should be rewarded with a 25 per cent discount ... with newly introduced Victorian legislation, Family First MLC Dennis Hood says. ...

Supermarket giants feel the heat

NEWS.com.au - Australia
... stop supermarkets and oil giants buying up most of Australia's petrol stations ... Senator Steve Fielding said yesterday the restrictions were needed to stop small ...

Don Chipp has the last laugh

Sydney Morning Herald - Sydney,New South Wales,Australia
... state Liberal leader Ted Baillieu, former Federal Liberal Party president Michael Kroger and his wife Ann Peacock, and Family First senator Stephen Fielding. ...

Mourners lose the Chipp on their shoulders

The Age - Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
... Bracks, Governor of Victoria David de Kretser, state Liberal leader Ted Baillieu Michael Kroger and wife Ann Peacock, and Family First senator Stephen Fielding ...

Churches must not play God with Caesar

The Australian - Sydney,Australia
... activism in his new book Church and State: Australia's Imaginary Wall ... Discussing Family First, represented in parliament by senator Steve Fielding, Frame writes ...

Left needs faith to find way out of wilderness

The Australian - Sydney,Australia
... With much of Australia's religio-political activity essentially right wing, Howard's strategists ... Yet Family First hasn't entirely been a blessing to the Howard ...

Rann wipes out speech on suicide; Beattie targets families in launch

Rann wipes out speech on suicide

The Australian - Sydney,Australia
... silence on Ms Kanck's actions as leader of the Democrats in South Australia. ... Council, the Government's motion passed with the help of two Family First MPs and ...

Beattie targets families in launch
Courier Mail - Australia
... on radio this morning as 'family friendly' comes a day after the announcement of a TV and radio advertising blitz by fledgling party Family First which is ...

Keeping the bastards honest

On Line opinion - Australia
... some flared spectacularly and then disappeared (One Nation and also Nuclear Disarmament Party) and for others it’sa bit too soon to tell (Family First). ...

Family First Party

Friday, September 29, 2006

Get Ready for Telstra's Slash and Burn Strategy (Media Release)

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Cheaper Homes and No Stamp Duty under Family First Policy (Media Release)

Bracks Government Drunkn on Pokies Tax (Media Release)

Drug drive testing may be widened

Family First calls for dam construction; Minor Vic parties make policy pledges

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Family First Calls for New Dams for Victoria (Media Release)

Family First plan to scrap stamp duty

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Gambling stakes up

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Tale of two cities

Tuesday, September 19, 2006