What fantastic news for the Fish Creek Football/Netball Club – funding for new clubrooms!
That’s right – the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King announced over the weekend that if Labor is re-elected, $1.5 million will be given to the Fish Creek Football Netball Club for the desperately needed rebuild of their Clubrooms following the tragic fire of a couple of years ago.
The entire community of Fish Creek is to be congratulated for the tireless efforts in lobbying for this grant.
In particular, the efforts of the Club Committee, are to be given special thanks for all their efforts as they were instrumental in gaining this successful outcome.
This result shows how a united and committed community can achieve positive outcomes regardless of the odds against you.
I’m thrilled at the result and so pleased for the entire community.
Well done!
Now let’s keep our fingers crossed for an announcement about funding the first stage of the Warragul and District Hospital.
The government’s No Jab No Pay policy - which withholds the Family Tax Benefit Part A supplement and childcare subsidies from families who choose not to vaccinate their children in accordance with the national schedule is unreasonable, unethical and unconscionable in a free and democratic country like ours.
And it’s the only law in the world that ties a person’s access to government social support payments to compliance with a medical procedure!
Welfare payments being used as coercive leverage against parents for personal health choices, targeting parents least able to absorb a loss of payments, punishing young families, single parents, and low-income Australians who are already doing it tough.
Coercion is not good policy - it’s lazy and unethical governance.
It erodes trust in public health and undermines informed decision-making – two cornerstones of safe and ethical healthcare.
But it seems daring to question a doctor about vaccines – how safe is it? what’s in it? has it been tested? is seen as a radical and extremist concept.
You’d have thought the ability to have a conversation - weigh risks and benefits - and decline a medical product without facing fear of financial reprisal from your own government would be the automatic right of any person or parent – and not just a right, but encouraged!
We must be better than this! We must stand for informed consent, not enforced compliance. We must return to a framework where health decisions are personal, not political —and where families are not punished for asking questions.
Repealing No Jab No Pay is not an anti-vaccine position. It’s a pro-choice, pro-ethics position.
The government should never hold your child’s welfare hostage to your medical decisions.
The line has been crossed and it’s well past time we drew it back.
Hello Monash. Russell Broadbent here, your federal Independent member for Monash .
I'm making a bold prediction.
And that prediction is that it will take a true Independent in Monash, to finally kickstart the construction of a new Hospital in Warragul!
There was no announcement in last night's Budget to kickstart the planning stage for a new West Gippsland Hospital. The major Parties will have to be dragged kicking and screaming before they'll commit to funding a new hospital.
Just look at the situation locally. The State electorate of Narracan is one of the safest Liberal seats in Victoria and as such, Warragul gets nothing!
Meanwhile, just down the highway in the marginal electorate of Pakenham, funding for a new hospital is miraculously announced by the Allan Government.
Almost every political pundit is tipping there will be a minority government following the upcoming Federal election.
As your Independent Member for Monash, I will use every ounce of political leverage I have to obtain the $60 million required to kickstart the planning process for a new hospital.
By doing this, the State Government - regardless of which Party is in power - will have no option but to commit to building a brand-new hospital here in West Gippsland.
So don't let that leverage go to waste!
Let's make sure we maximise every possibility to get the new hospital that our communities so desperately need and deserve by re-electing me as your truly independent Member for Monash at the upcoming election.
After raising the issue of Australia’s horrendous and coercive No Jab No Pay No Play policies last year, I received thousands of emails from distraught parents who shared their heartbreaking stories of how these despicable and unethical policies have impacted their lives.
Yesterday I asked Professor Ian Brighthope about his views on these policies from a health perspective.
With the Federal Budget being handed down later tonight, I want to draw your attention to a cohort of people that are paying the price for this government’ spending spree.
It’s mums and dads - middle-income earners – who are carrying more than their fair share of the tax burden. These Australians bear the brunt of personal income taxes, GST and property taxes, without seeing a fair return in terms of access to public services or infrastructure. If this year’s Federal Budget from the Albanese Labor Government goes the way I expect, I fear that we will be heading down an unfortunate track. We need change, we need to support middle-income Australians. It can’t be all bills and no benefit.
I expect there will be a multitude of ‘cost-of-living’ measures, or sugar-hits as I like to call them. These temporary fixes are concerning because the real reason Australians need such help is due to the Government’s own policy failures. The more the Government offers these band-aid solutions, the more it keeps Australians dependent. Much like how sugary cereals are marketed as healthy for children – promising a quick fix while ignoring the long-term consequences. Neglect the issue, advertise the problem, and sell the solution. Like a salesman, it seems the Government is always there at the right time with just the remedy we need. But like buying a new car every year, do you really need it?
Do we really need taxpayer-funded $200 off our energy bill when the Government’s policy has caused them to go up by far more? Do we really need taxpayer-funded home buyer grants when it’s the Government’s own neglect which has seen Australian housing be among the most expensive in the world. It’s the most perverse scenario where Australians pay tax, battle less than ideal conditions, and then are expected to be forever grateful because of some ‘cost-of-living’ measure.
We can address the cost of living using policy, rather than more debt. An example, we should abandon costly and unrealistic goals like ‘Net Zero’, which impose endless burdens with no clear economic, or environmental benefit. Further, we will need to cut useless red tape on small businesses, farmers and housing developments to ensure timely and cost-efficient outcomes. And lastly, the public service and public-funded employment is due for a reassessment because in recent times it has accounted for an unacceptably large portion of total employment growth. We need to support more productive industries, which create benefit, and can alleviate tax burdens for the everyday Australian.
No responsible business or household would budget the way that the Australian Government does. It’s reckless to put politics ahead of pragmatism, and all it means is Australians are collateral damage in the bickering between the red and blue team.
To conclude, I want to see our fiscal policy address 3 main things:
All of which is achievable as a true Independent Member of Parliament, not bound to idealisms or party lines – I will be committed to doing what’s right by the people of Monash, and wider Australia.
Russell Broadbent here, your Federal Member for Monash.
Chris Uhlmann puts it best, ‘Energy is Everything, and without Energy there is no Economy’.
We are seeing this right now with rapid rises in employment in the public-funded ‘care economy’, at the expense of reduced employment in manufacturing and other productive industry.
It’s a sign, among others, that the industrial capability that built this nation is no longer. Australia’s largest electricity user, Tomago Aluminium, says they can’t continue smelting under the current exorbitant costs of electricity. It’s the same message from every single business and household in Australia – but the Albanese Government is deaf to their calls.
If we want to genuinely ease the cost of living, we need cheaper energy for cheaper food and cheaper electricity. If we want to address falling productivity in this country, we need cheap energy for Australian industries to compete in this globalised economy.
In terms of the marketplace for energy, coal is better placed to meet demand all the time, 24/7. Renewables simply can’t do this, and as the proportion of intermittent supply grows, the bigger cost on the entire energy system. Coal-fired electricity is still 37% cheaper than renewables even when considering the fuel cost.
So, when it comes to the energy debate, there is only one clear winner – It’s the system Australia was built on. We thrived on baseload power provided by Australian coal and supported by gas peaking generators. This provides the lowest system cost, and the lowest cost to end-users…us.
Energy is a component of every good and service that we consume. It has a huge lever on the economy, and if we want to restore Australia to its former glory, let’s get back to coal and gas.
That’s Justice as I see it for this nation.
Russell Broadbent here, Federal Member for Monash.
Recent data shows that imports of hardwood to Australia are on the rise. And that’s disappointing – especially when we have our own sustainable forestry industry right here at home.
We know that Australia will keep using hardwood – for housing, schools, hospitals and so much more. Hardwood is an incredible material, renowned for its structure, strength, and versatility. It's a resource that simply cannot be replaced.
Not too long ago, the forestry industry was the backbone of regional towns, not just in my electorate of Monash, but right across Australia. Now, instead of sourcing timber locally, we’re relying on imports. And that means regional Australia misses out on the economic benefits. All of this, because of an ideological stance that doesn’t hold up when you look at the facts.
Because the reality is this, we’re going to use hardwood into the future. So why not use Australian timber? By doing so, we can create jobs, support our regional economies, and take ownership of the risks.
That’s Justice – and the future we should be building - as I see it.
Today I rise to pay my respect to and honour a remarkable group of Australians who have been unwavering in their support for and have sustained me in my fight to protect our freedoms, especially our fundamental rights to bodily autonomy and freedom of speech. While I know there's always a risk in naming individuals, I cannot possibly list everyone who's played a part. I want to acknowledge the extraordinary commitment, tenacity and courage of the following people. These are the people who have consistently stood for truth and justice, no matter the personal or professional costs—medical professionals like doctors Julie Sladden, Chris Neil, Duncan Syme, Jeyanthi Kundahasan, Melissa McCann, Phil Altman, Judy Wilyman, David Bell and Kara Thomas; professors Ian Brighthope, Gigi Foster and Kylie O'Brien; lawyers Katie Ashby-Koppens, Julian Gillespie and Tony Nikolic; journalists Rebekah Barnett, Maryanne DeMassi and Elizabeth Hart; and, of course, former Qantas pilot Graham Hood, former paramedic John Larter and firefighter Josh Hawkes, who, despite being terminated from their jobs due to COVID mandates, have turned their adversity into a powerful force for truth and justice. A special mention goes to Katie Ashby-Koppens, who, as part of a small but determined team at the Aligned Council of Australia, a peak group representing over 1.8 million Australians, led the charge against the chilling and Orwellian mis- and disinformation bill, a bill that would have legalised state sanctioned surveillance and censorship.
In mid-2023, I wrote to all my fellow parliamentarians to sound the alarm about this heinous bill. Now, thanks to the efforts of thousands of Australians, the bill has been axed—for now at least. Today I'm proud to present to the House the 'Save the truth, Stop the Mad Bill' petition, which has been considered by the petitions committee and found to be in order.
The petition read as follows—
The proposed Misinformation and Disinformation Bill threatens to undermine freedom of speech and limit open public discourse in Australia. The Bill grants excessive powers to regulate online content, which could lead to censorship and stifling of independent opinions and media, putting our democratic values at risk. We believe that it is essential for the Australian people to retain the right to express their views without unnecessary government intervention.
We, the undersigned, believe that the proposed Misinformation and Disinformation Bill poses a significant threat to freedom of speech in Australia. This Bill risks undermining open dialogue and censoring independent voices by granting excessive regulatory powers over online content. We urge the House of Representatives to reject this Bill and protect the rights of Australians to freely express their opinions and access diverse information without undue government control.
From 908 citizens (Petition No. PN0630)
Petition received.
To all who signed: I applaud your courage in standing up for freedom of speech in this country. You recognised that this bill posed a grave threat to our ability to speak freely, exchange ideas and access information without undue government control—which brings me to another person I want to honour today.
Professor Robyn Cosford, a functional medicine doctor, educator and researcher, with 38 years of experience in nutritional and environmental medicine, has been a driving force behind the 'David Declaration', a powerful initiative born from the voices of thousands of Australians calling on the government to investigate the safety of COVID vaccines. The David Declaration outlines 10 clear demands for open and transparent dialogue about the TGA's vaccine safety and testing processes and a further 13 statements calling for the restoration of the health and wellbeing of all Australians.
When COVID hit, like many integrative doctors and health professionals, Robyn questioned why the world was being forced to take experimental vaccines for what was in essence a flu-like illness when safe and time-tested treatments like vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc and affordable, re-purposed drugs like Ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine and antibiotics have been shown to work. Robyn has been key in rallying doctors and health practitioners globally in support of my letters to the Prime Minister and health minister regarding DNA contamination in COVID vaccine vials—something the government has stubbornly ignored despite the growing body of evidence. This contamination may be linked to the surge in turbo cancers and autoimmune and neurological diseases that are becoming far too common in Western countries. So why isn't the government at least following this up?
Next week, the David Declaration website will go live. The name is a tribute to Dr David Speicher, the researcher who first identified the DNA contamination in Australian vaccine vials and to the David-and-Goliath struggle we're facing. Hundreds of medical professionals have already pledged to support the declaration, and soon the general public will also be able to sign. I'll share the link next week.
I'm truly honoured to have worked alongside such remarkable and brave individuals, and those I have named are just a few of the many inspiring people I've had the privilege to stand with over the last three years in this 47th Parliament. Together we continue to fight for truth, justice and the freedoms that define us as Australians. I say: follow the money, find the truth, and the truth will set you free.
I also acknowledge in the chamber tonight the member for Moreton, who I think is about to speak. I had the privilege of working with the member for Moreton on the House of Representatives human rights committee. I found him to be a person above reproach in his approach to the difficult issues we faced at the time. He is a gentleman in all his ways and a man who thought very deeply about the issues around human rights in Australia. He has been an adornment to this parliament. I thought it was very unfair and very uncharitable of the Speaker in this 47th Parliament to eject the member for Moreton from the parliament on his last day of sitting—the only reason being that his voice is a voice that can be heard.
Russell Broadbent here, your Federal Member for Monash.
One year ago today, the community of Mirboo North and surrounds were hit by an unexpected tornado-like storm. The destruction - including massive trees which snapped like match sticks - was unprecedented, and with the storm ravaged community completely cut off from the outside world, people were forced to band together to support one another.
One of those groups that stepped in were the Wednesday Warriors from the Men’s Shed – a group of men whose ongoing dedication to the community continues to make a real difference.
As they reminded me recently, we all know that disaster can strike at any time, so it’s essential we’re as prepared as we can be for the unexpected. Based on their experience, here are a few tips from the Wednesday Warriors:
Number 1 – Access to clean drinking water: without power, or gravity-induced free-flow, many Mirboo North residents were left without water to drink, cook and clean with
Number 2 – Tinned and packaged food: but remember the can-openers! And remember stores of pet food. I know Caesar wouldn’t be happy, my dog, without his tucker.
Number 3 – Communications: with storm damage wiping out infrastructure, many people didn’t have power or phone access. Make a plan about how you might manage if communication networks are out for a prolonged period of time, including who you might check with like loved ones and neighbours.
Number 4 – Power: while battery-powered items were helpful, access to a generator or even knowing who has a generator is helpful.
Number 5 - Matches, lighters, spare fuel and gas: all essential for cooking and powering tools for clearing debris and improving immediate safety of damaged areas.
Number 6 - Hygiene products, medications – there was a severe shortage of hygiene products and difficulty accessing medications in Mirboo North.
Number 7 - Keep a stash of cash somewhere.
I encourage all communities to prepare and maintain readiness for anything that comes our way.
And a special thanks once again to everyone who’s stepped up in Mirboo North to support those in need over the past year.
Russell Broadbent here, your Independent Member for Monash.
You may have seen that the Australian Classification Board has asked for more power which would allow them to reclassify old books, films and television shows against today’s community standards.
The Australia that I know and love promotes robust debate and honest conversation.
So, I find it deeply alarming that another unelected bureaucratic agency is fishing for yet more control and power over our freedoms.
George Orwell famously said ‘who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.’
Yes, what the Classification Board are asking for isn’t necessarily censorship, but it is certainly an attempt to control the narrative.
Controlling the narrative…now where have we heard that before? …
As Geordie Williamson said in The Australian, ‘both sides of politics have sought to re-establish themselves as arbiters of what the rest of us may see, hear or read.’
Just look at the Mis and Disinformation Bill, which was scrapped after an unrelenting grassroots campaign calling for our freedoms to be protected.
I dare say that in some ten, fifteen, twenty years from now, our seemingly perfect and ‘woke’ present will not be deemed acceptable against future community standards.
It’s incomprehensible to me that what was the social norm in the past will be measured against today’s standards.
I’m all about rewriting history when it comes to ensuring that we don’t make the same mistakes of the past.
But I’m not about rewriting history when the purpose is to control the narrative.
That’s justice as I see it.
Censoring the past robs us of our cultural future | The Australian
Russell Broadbent here, your Independent Member for Monash.
It doesn’t take a genius to look at Australia’s current energy crisis to work out there’s a problem – a big problem.
Last week in The Australian newspaper there was a scathing piece on Minister Bowen’s poor handling of the energy portfolio.
As the article’s author stated:
Whether you sit in the fossil fuel or renewables camp is irrelevant here. In plain terms – at the moment, everyone’s losing.
We’re seeing higher energy bills. We’re seeing Aussie taxpayers funding unviable subsidies and policies, and we’re seeing approval ratings for renewable and fossil fuel companies alike dropping fast.
We need to cut through all this mess and focus on what really matters to everyday Australians: access to cheap, reliable power.
It is that simple.
I have said it many, many times before: Australia is rich with natural resources. Our competitive advantage is in coal and gas.
Pressing that advantage will make sure every Australian can benefit from the natural wealth of this nation.
That way, everyone can be a winner.
That’s justice as I see it.
Deputy Speaker
More than 140,000 Australians have logged adverse reactions to the not so safe and ineffective COVID vaccines on the TGA’s database.
But thousands of these Australians have been unable to access compensation due to the scheme’s overly onerous requirements and very narrow eligibility criteria.
People like Tracey, who’s come to my office today …and Bernice, Dirk, Jason, Jerry, Joel, Kara, Karen, Linn, Margaret, Michelle, Naomi, Orida, Rado and Sandra.
But Chris, a 51-year-old father of two, was more fortunate – or at least he thought so.
With the help of a lawyer - Chris navigated his way to secure compensation after suffering horrific life altering injuries from the Covid vaccine.
This process included 12 months compiling more than 1000 pages of documents and then a further 500 days for the claim to be assessed and settled!
Chris’ financial settlement, is in the millions of dollars, compensating him for not just the short-term impacts of his injury, but also lost income, given he’s unable to return to his career of 30 years.
But Chris’ horrific story doesn’t end here.
It turns out his compensation will be subject to full taxation in the year that the payment is received. This means that around one third of his compensation will be lost in tax, and returned to the very same government that mandated these unsafe and un-trialled vaccines.
In my opinion, this is cruel, callous and unconscionable behaviour by government agencies, and completely at odds with the intent of the compensation scheme.
