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Higher than us

I rise to return this book, American Colossus: Big Bill Tilden and the Creation of Modern Tennis, to the member for Bennelong. He lent me the book, and I now return it to him. The member...

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Acknowledging their anguish

Tonight, as the Victorian government looks set to pass its controversial pandemic bill, I feel compelled to acknowledge the Australians who, unlike me, have been forced to choose between getting vaccinated or losing their job....

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Celebrating Soil

Deputy Speaker Claydon, this Sunday is World Soil Day — and I knew you'd be interested in that! Soil degradation is widespread in Australia, and this poses untenable risks to food security, the environment, and...

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Keep In Touch With Russell
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What an exciting day today in Cowes as their new Cultural and Community Centre gets underway!We're thrilled to announce that McCorkell Constructions started building the new Cowes Cultural and Community Centre today. The new Centre will be a purpose-built public building and will include a 250-seat theatre, library, gallery, museum, community function rooms and offices. It will bring together the cultural and social aspirations of the community and draw in visitors to showcase the region’s rich history and culture.

This project has been supported by both the State and Federal Governments. We would like to thank the Federal Government for $5 million in funding from its Building Better Regions Fund and the State Government for $2.5 million from the Growing Suburbs Fund, $800,000 from the Living Libraries Infrastructure Program and $10 million from the Community Infrastructure Loan Scheme.

For more information on this project, visit www.basscoast.vic.gov.au/cowesccc ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago
What an exciting day today in Cowes as their new Cultural and Community Centre gets underway!
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Well where were they, no activity that I could see ?

Newborough and Sandy Point Community Men’s Sheds have been awarded with funding of $5000 and $1928 respectively through the National Shed Development Programme (NSDP).

Men’s Sheds play a vital role in preventing social isolation and mental ill health. They offer thousands of men of all ages a safe and friendly environment where they can work on meaningful projects while building strong social connections.

Sheds are able to apply for funding and grants up to a total of $10,000, with priority given to sheds in disadvantaged areas.

The NSDP provides funding to Men’s Sheds through a competitive grants process.

Applications for Round 23 of the NSDP will be opened in mid-January 2022.

Read more here: russellbroadbent.com.au/an-early-christmas-gift-for-newborough-and-sandy-point-mens-sheds-in-monash/ ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago
Newborough and Sandy Point Community Men’s Sheds have been awarded with funding of $5000 and $1928 respectively through the National Shed Development Programme (NSDP). Men’s Sheds play a vital role in preventing social isolation and mental ill health. They offer thousands of men of all ages a safe and friendly environment where they can work on meaningful projects while building strong social connections. Sheds are able to apply for funding and grants up to a total of $10,000, with priority given to sheds in disadvantaged areas. The NSDP provides funding to Men’s Sheds through a competitive grants process. Applications for Round 23 of the NSDP will be opened in mid-January 2022. Read more here: https://russellbroadbent.com.au/an-early-christmas-gift-for-newborough-and-sandy-point-mens-sheds-in-monash/
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Is Men’s Sheds open to the unvaccinated? Just a question but I do hope they are.

Are they allowed to deposit this funding into a Bendigo bank account?

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I rise to return this book, American Colossus: Big Bill Tilden and the Creation of Modern Tennis, to the member for Bennelong. He lent me the book, and I now return it to him. The member for Bennelong has given me great gifts, not just the book. He gave me 'Indian Summer' by the Gatlin Brothers, with Roy Orbison taking it home. He's told me about songs, about places. He's told me stories. But for me, his great contribution has been that, as an international person, to a degree he's been above this parliament. His thoughts have been higher than our thoughts. His work on committees and the uplifting inquiry into infrastructure — I believe he's a prophet and a seer. One day, John — one day, Member for Bennelong — the things that you put in those reports, on that infrastructure and the way we do it, will come to pass in this country, and you'll be lauded as somebody who was way ahead of his time. As an international tennis player, coming into this place as you did, you had a different view of the world. You may not have been like other politicians here. You were different. You wanted to see national cooperation for the betterment, and the greater benefit, of the Australian people. That was your goal. That was your focus and always has been. To me, it's a great regret that you are leaving this parliament. You know I encourage you to stay on — probably once a week — but your time has come. I wish you the very best, and I give you this song: 'Gentle on My Mind'. John, you'll be gentle on my mind forever.
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Higher than us

Russell Broadbent MP 99 views 2 December, 2021 4:15 pm

Thank you for this opportunity to address the parliament on the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Exempting Disability Payments from Income Testing and Other Measures) Bill 2021. Every now and again there is a moment in the parliament that should not be missed, where history is made, where a change comes, and we as parliamentarians need to note it. With the retirement of the member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, our last connection to Old Parliament House will be severed. Warren Snowdon was the Minister for Veterans' Affairs from 2010 to September 2013. He achieved two things I would like to acknowledge, amongst many other achievements. He moved the veterans' affairs equivalent of Five Eyes from officer level up to ministerial level, so the issues were acknowledged as far more important than the parliaments of the day were recognising. Subsequently, the second ministerial meeting was held here in Canberra, and that was Warren's work. From 2010 to 2012, Warren focused on the eminent persons group to start planning the Gallipoli event of 2015. He knew that they had to look ahead and they had to be three years out to make this event the very important event that it was. To his credit, the member for Lingiari understood the value of relationships. To underpin such important work he twice visited Turkey and France. His foresight in dealing with the mayor of the province of Villers-Bretonneux was seen when he happened to have a signed Wallabies jumper at hand to give as a gift to the mayor.
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Last Old Parliament House Member Leaves

Russell Broadbent MP 90 views 1 December, 2021 2:19 pm

Tonight, as the Victorian government looks set to pass its controversial pandemic bill, I feel compelled to acknowledge the Australians who, unlike me, have been forced to choose between getting vaccinated or losing their job. It makes no sense to me that Commonwealth officials who work in windowless offices are not mandated to be vaccinated, while vaccinations for farmers, producers and their workers in my electorate have been mandated. That's not right, it's not fair and it's not logical. For the record, I want to acknowledge that I know I'm privileged not to be faced with having to make such a decision. Over the past nine months, I've spoken with hundreds of people in distress, many who are suffering on a scale that I find difficult to comprehend. I'm sure that my fellow members and senators are also hearing gut-wrenching stories. I want to honour some of those people and bear witness to their suffering. I have purposely changed the names of the people that I'm about to explain to you because I don't want them to suffer significantly for the stance they've taken. Firstly, there's Nina, a single mum in her late 30s with two children, who felt coerced to get jabbed to keep her job as an aged-care nurse. Nina came away feeling violated after her first jab. The fact that she felt coerced into getting it left her reliving trauma associated with having been raped when she was 20. She said she feels disgusted in herself that she gave in to the coercion. Then there's Deani, a schoolteacher, and her 13-year-old daughter, who endured four weeks stranded in New South Wales, living in a stranger's caravan, whilst trying to get back into Queensland to rejoin her husband and son. David and Leah are primary school teachers and parents to three boys who are on unpaid leave while they wait to see if the mandates change. Carolyn is a doctor who has decided to retire early so she can speak freely and advocate for patients, family and friends. Ahmad is a chef who now provides companionship and cleaning services instead of doing the work that he loves. Bonnie, having recovered from COVID eight months ago, is fearful of being vaccinated and will lose her job as a hairdresser unless she can obtain an exemption. Tonya was told by her GP of more than 30 years that she couldn't see her face-to-face unless she was vaccinated. Katherine and Rick, parents of two teenage girls, have decided to sell their business to set up a sustainable life on the land with friends so their daughters don't have to get vaccinated, at least until their daughters can make up their own minds and make their own decisions. Then there's Sarah, who lives with her partner and five children aged six to eighteen. Sarah and David have been registered nurses for the past 30 years and have lost jobs which they love simply because, in their professional medical opinion, they were not prepared to be jabbed with an experimental vaccine. Sarah was terminated from a nursing position after 24 years. Her partner was terminated from his position after 18 years of service. Sarah and David are now living off their limited savings and will soon join the Centrelink queue, which they have never done before, to pay their mortgage and bills and to feed their children because they're unable to find employment. More than anything, Sarah wanted to tell me about the impact this mandatory vaccination is having on her and her children. She is angry and scared and at a complete loss to understand the unnecessary and unfair adverse impacts on her children. Her son has just completed year 12 and works as a lifeguard at two local pools but can no longer do so. He also wants to go to university next year to study either nursing or paramedicine but now can't unless he gets double jabbed. He also can't pursue his love of participation in musicals or attend Venture Scouting activities. Sarah's 16-year-old daughter has all but completed her surf lifesaving certificate but can't volunteer now either. Her 10-year-old is the only child who can access the pool. However, this would be unsupervised as nobody else in the family can go. She ended with a plea for me to help save the children. I note that Dr Nick Coatsworth, a highly regarded medical person, is completely at odds with the rest of the medical profession by saying he's strongly against the need for children to be vaccinated. I have to say so am I.
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Acknowledging their anguish

Russell Broadbent MP 479 views 1 December, 2021 11:06 am

Deputy Speaker Claydon, this Sunday is World Soil Day—and I knew you'd be interested in that! Soil degradation is widespread in Australia, and this poses untenable risks to food security, the environment, and our health and wellbeing. Over the past 200 years, we have done terrible damage to our soils. But the good news is that innovative farmers, graziers and market gardeners across Australia have turned their creativity and knowledge to regenerating Australia's degraded soils. Organisations like the independent, non-profit Soils for Life have been sharing their stories of restoration and regeneration for more than a decade, and now soil has rightly found prominence as a matter of national significance, through the National Soil Strategy and Office of the National Soils Advocate in PM&C. I recently hosted a discussion with Soils for Life with leading producers, farmers and soil specialists. As we deliver on this strategy to repair degraded soils, success will rely on researchers, policymakers and producers partnering to support stewards of this land to make our soils healthy and naturally productive again. Their advice to me was clear. They need stable, long-term, ongoing support for locally led soil health initiatives run through local hubs. I look forward to continuing to work with Soils for Life and producers in my electorate and encourage other members to do the same.
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Celebrating Soil

Russell Broadbent MP 39 views 1 December, 2021 9:37 am

There are some times during a long stay in this parliament, like I have had, when I need to bring to your attention, Deputy Speaker Mitchell, and to the House's attention and to the attention of the people of Australia what's going on in my state of Victoria. These things need to be recorded on Hansard so that the world knows exactly what's going on in Victoria, my home state. Recently, a friend of mine brought to my attention that a fellow friend of his had heard about a vigil being held in a Bayside suburb. It was opposing what the Victorian state government is doing. He thought: 'I'd like to go and sit with that vigil. It's a quiet vigil.' He went and sat on the lawn quietly. There were some police nearby, but they were just watching. Some journalists came along and he spoke to them. As he spoke to them, the police walked towards him and then issued him with an infringement notice. He took his infringement notice and went home, and last week he received the fine. The fine was more than $5,000. Thousands and thousands and thousands of people have entered the streets each weekend and yet there were no fines for them. How is it that what we would have seen as absurd and unconscionable even a year ago in this nation is now here? How can we have a nation so corruptly divided as this, where thousands can march—thousands can march—and yet this one person who spoke to two journalists receives a fine for more than $5,000? This was at a time when he had decided he didn't want to take these vaccines. He's not an anti-vaxxer, but he didn't want to take these vaccines, so he has lost his job and he has a $5,000 fine. That family was already struggling. This is my 'great south land'. There are things that we don't do. I think this is wrong. I think it is unconscionable. I think it is criminal. And I think it is immoral.
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Absurd laws in Victoria

Russell Broadbent MP 213 views 29 November, 2021 3:39 pm

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