Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Opposition Whip) (13:48): I rise on a matter that deeply troubles me, the decision by Justice Charlesworth two weeks ago in the Federal Court to disallow the ministerial selection by my good friend Keith Pitt of the Kimba site for the national radioactive waste management facility. After treading this pathway for seven years, I’m…
Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Opposition Whip) (16:49): Earlier today, the Minister for Social Services, the member for Kingston, spent some time in this chamber promoting—I would say being very proud—of the government’s support of child care and, in particular, cheaper child care. It’s a $4.7 billion package, and that could be lauded. For some families it reduces their…
Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Opposition Whip) (16:30): On Friday night I had a great pleasure of attending the Nyrstar long service awards. Like all good companies, Nyrstar recognises that the strength of their success is in the quality of their workers, and there’s nothing like longevity to give a good understanding of the place. The people that have…
Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Opposition Whip) (13:54): I’m pleased to report that, after a 72-year hiatus, the King’s Birthday honours have returned to the electorate of Grey. There are no fewer than five wonderful residents who have given their lifetime to their fields. Congratulations to Anthea Pavy AM. Anthea spent 17 years as the CEO of Uniting Country…
Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Opposition Whip) (16:24): Much has been made in this place, particularly since the budget, by those on the government side of the increased support for child care in Australia: $4.7 billion over the forwards. Generally speaking, I’d have to say, that is welcome. It’s worth noting, though, that the coalition government increased expenditure on…
Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Opposition Whip) (19:08): Here in Australia we’re about to have a referendum: not one just recognising Indigenous Australians as the first inhabitants of the continent—a proposition that almost everyone would support, and certainly I would—but a referendum which is proposing a new chapter in our Constitution to ensure one racial grouping has more access…
Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Opposition Whip) (13:33): It gives me no pleasure to tell this House, ‘I told you so,’ but: I told you so. The government has pulled the funding for the security scanners in regional airports right around Australia. I warned this place that it would affect Whyalla the worst, and it is the first one…
Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Opposition Whip) (13:24): It’s quite clear to me that this announcement in the budget is what I would call thought-bubble politics. It’s: ‘Hey, I’ve got a good idea. Let’s try it!’—trying it without consulting and with very little road testing or consideration of the consequences. On the face of it, we have something that…
Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Opposition Whip) (13:33): I commend those comments. It’s only 26 days until Anzac Day, and this will be my last opportunity in the chamber to actually say something before Anzac Day rather than after. It has become perhaps our most important national day, and I’m looking forward to 25 April and being out and…
Mr RAMSEY (Grey—Opposition Whip) (17:36): I’m grateful for the member’s comments. I also support the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023, which provides an improved card to replace the BasicsCard, it must be said. However, the tragedy is that the SmartCard is, by any measurement, a direct replacement for the cashless debit card;…
