Archive for the ‘Federal Election 2007’ Category

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Media Release: 22 November 2007: Democrats defend Public Service jobs

22/11/2007

Bring Back Balance

ACT Democrats 2007

Media Release 22 November 2007

Democrats defend Public Service jobs

“Canberrans should expect Public Service cutbacks whether Liberal or Labor wins on Saturday” warned Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill.

Major newspapers today reported Rudd Labor’s commitment to take an axe to the Public Service. The Prime Minister, questioned at the National Press Club, avoided stating if the Liberals would do the same.

Mr Churchill warned on both ABC Breakfast Radio and Radio 2xx on Monday morning that he expects both Labor and Liberal to attack the Public Service.

“The big pork barrelling promises and huge tax cuts of both Liberal and Labor will have to be funded from somewhere or broken altogether. Howard’s track record is that he was Treasurer during the Lynch Razor gang of the early 1980s. And everyone remembers his assault on the Public Service in the late 1990s. Rudd has threatened the public service with his promised Razor Gang.”

“The Liberals hate the ACT because of the tendency to elect Labor members here. Labor take us for granted because their seats have such big margins. Public servants are workers too. They have families and mortgages just like any other worker”, said Mr Churchill

“The people of Fraser (and all Canberrans) need someone who will speak up for them. The answer is to look to the only party of the political centre, the Australian Democrats.”

“With such a well educated and socially progressive population, I’m surprised we haven’t elected a Democrat to one or both Houses long before now”

“We need social spending programmes: money for hospitals, schools, renewable energy and energy efficiency, and a national Paid Maternity Leave scheme. To do this we need to fund them by slowing the implementation of tax cuts and broaden the tax base by tightening up Capital Gains Tax and Fringe Benefits Tax”, Mr Churchill insisted.

“Attacking the public service might win them a few votes from those who don’t really understand Canberra, but an attack on the public service here means an attack on Canberrans jobs and Australians services. People should register their distrust of the other parties by voting Australian Democrats in both Fraser and the Senate.” Mr Churchill concluded.

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser

Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au

0412 196 473

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Media Release: 22 November: Industrial Relations is about Balance say Democrats

22/11/2007

Bring Back Balance

ACT Democrats 2007

Media Release 22 November 2007

Industrial Relations is about Balance say Democrats

“It’s extremely important to have balance and common sense in relation to the reform of WorkChoices.” says Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill.

With Worchoices likely to be a key player for the minds of voters in Saturday’s Federal election, the Democrats are urging voters to think about their track record on negotiating fair outcomes when going to the polls.

“The Liberals have imposed the unfair, pro-business WorkChoices on workers. Labor and the Greens would have things too far the other way, giving everything to the unions. Both of them are unbalanced” Mr Churchill said.

“What the Democrats are proposing is a system that protects workers rights without unfairly impeding business. It’s about balance – getting the mix right.”

“We propose a single national Industrial relations system; an independent national Industrial Relations Commission; a national Workplace Regulator: a safety net for wages, minimum conditions, and streamlined awards; flexible bargaining with choices; the right to join or not join a union and to have them represent you.”

“If Labor wins on Saturday, they will face problems from the Greens who are extremist and not skilled at negotiating. The Democrats, on the other hand, negotiated 176 amendments to the 1996 Workplace Relations Act. We made it fairer. We have negotiated fairness into many pieces of legislation.” said Mr Churchill

“The negotiation record of the Democrats is second-to-none. We are the true party of balance in the Senate. And I will uphold that tradition in the House of Representatives too, if elected on Saturday.”

“Just as a good trade unionist know how to negotiate. So too does a good crossbencher with the balance of power.” Mr Churchill concluded.

 

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser

Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au

0412 196 473

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As the elected member for FRASER I will:

21/11/2007

  • balance economic policy with social and environmental considerations. Good economic management is about getting the balance right. It’s a “triple bottom line;”
  • introduce human rights and privacy legislation that will protect all people, regardless of race, gender, religion or place of origin. NO privacy invasions, NO Access Card;
  • ensure that law enforcement agencies are accountable to the courts and the parliament;
  • maintain the traditional Democrats principle of supporting legislation that is fair and equitable and seek to amend and make fairer that which is not;
  • support social spending programmes for affordable housing and Paid Maternity Leave;
  • ensure that whichever party forms the government, they are held accountable for their actions;
  • support industries that create jobs and are kind to the environment, and not those that will make problems for future generations. NO uranium mining and NO nuclear reactors;
  • encourage investment in sustainable agricultural practices and sensible rural water management.
  • encourage sensible use and management of urban water;
  • encourage and support environmentally sustainable practices in renewable energy and energy efficiency

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Media Release: 21 November 2007: Let’s get serious about Urban Water say Democrats

21/11/2007

Bring Back Balance

ACT Democrats 2007

Media Release 21 November 2007

Let’s get serious about Urban Water say Democrats

“The rainfall in recent weeks would have topped up rainwater tanks. But high temperatures have meant our dam water supply has actually decreased. Urgent action is needed to address our water supply”, says Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill.

A recent edition of The Chronicle warned that average water consumption in the ACT is increasing and that stage four water restrictions may have to be brought forward if it continued.

Canberra’s water supply just over three weeks ago was said to be 41.79% of capacity, according to the Weather Channel. Now it is 41.47%

“I’d like to see a Federally funded scheme to allow people to purchase rainwater tanks and an in-line water filtration system for households. Ideally, this should be combined with a programme for domestic greywater recycling for non-potable uses.”

“Rainwater is great for many household uses. I personally like drinking it but I recognise that is a concern for some people” said Mr Churchill, who grew up in country NSW. “It doesn’t contain the additives of town water, which is an attraction for many people and adding a filtration system would make it even cleaner. Being able to choose rainwater for some household uses and current tap water for others would provide real choice for water management”

“I think we should investigate the recycling of water in more detail too. We can’t afford to exclude any proposal, which will help us to conserve and ration this most valuable resource. We’re down to almost 40% of capacity now. How much lower does the water supply have to drop before we get serious about urban water solutions?”

“Overall, we need a National Urban Water Policy with all levels of government co-operating on water saving and water efficiency measures, combined with a water education campaign” Mr Churchill emphasised.

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser

Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au

0412 196 473

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Darren on ABC Breakfast Radio with Ross Solly 19-11-2007

21/11/2007

the-candidates-for-fraser-abc-breakfast.jpgcandidates-at-abc-nreakfast-with-ross-solly.jpgdarren-on-live-abc-breakfast-radio.jpg

Photographs by Nicholas Kittel

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21/11/2007

A national ID system too risky

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Media Release: 20 November 2007: Only the Democrats will protect your privacy

20/11/2007

poster.gif Bring Back Balance

ACT Democrats 2007

Media Release 20 November 2007
Only the Democrats will protect your privacy

“We will stop mobile phones from being bugging devices!” declared privacy campaigner and Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill

The Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2007 which gives significant new powers to law enforcement agencies to listen to private conversations, was passed by the Liberal government with the support of the Labor opposition in September

There is no provision for them to require a warrant. And no accountability to the courts or to the parliament. The government plans to replace the Medicare Card with an Access Card (a national identity card) by 2010.

The Democrats Privacy Policy and Access Card survey were released by Senator Natasha Stott Despoja in Adelaide today.

“We need to reform the Privacy Act to give people greater protection. Our privacy laws haven’t kept pace with new technologies. Anti-terror laws forced through by the government and the opposition have increased the powers of enforcement agencies, but have failed to guarantee protection of privacy.” Mr Churchill said

“There is no accountability, no checks and balances under these laws. The Democrats are committed to reform the Privacy Act to ensure peoples’ privacy and to making sure the draconian anti-terror laws are wound back immediately”

“Peoples’ right to privacy includes being protected from the introduction of an Access Card. It is nothing short of a national identity card, and will create the largest mass centralisation of personal information we have ever seen in Australia” Mr Churchill said. “The government claims it won’t be compulsory, but people won’t be able to use government services without it. That mightn’t be technically compulsory, but it is coercion, a bit like the poll tax the Thatcher government had in the UK.”

“The Access Card is worse that the old Australia Card which was proposed in the 1980s because technology and the ability to store and track personal information is so much more sophisticated than it was back then”

Mr Churchill (who was involved in the anti-Australia Card rallies of 1986) said “Only by the Democrats using the balance of power to block the Australia Card were we able to see it eventually abandoned. Again, it is only the Democrats who will protect people from the Access Card and centralised data bases now.”

“Even the best intended privacy legislation will not prevent future governments from increasing the coverage and uses of the card (function creep). It has the potential to become a domestic passport and will enable peoples’ every movement to be tracked.” Mr Churchill said.

“The Democrats survey showed that 73% of people are opposed to an ID card outright. I will continue to campaign against an Access Card, as the Democrats and I have always done. Democrats are the only party that can be trusted to protect your privacy.” Mr Churchill concluded.

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser

Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au

0412 196 473

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Media Release: 20 November 2007: Only the Democrats can win for the environment

20/11/2007

Bring Back Balance

ACT Democrats 2007

Media Release 20 November 2007

Only the Democrats can win for the environment

“Immediate action is needed to decarbonise the economy, if we are to be serious about avoiding dangerous climate change” says Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser, Darren Churchill

Last weeks Walk Against Warming, held in major cities, has again highlighted the dangers of global warming. Tonight, Greens leader Bob Brown was interviewed on Lateline.

“The Greens position on climate change is questionable. I’m not sure that they can really be trusted. They have allied themselves very strongly with the pro-uranium, pro-coal, pro-pulp mill Labor Party. Only the Democrats can guarantee a non-aligned position and a genuinely independent position on climate change.” said Mr Churchill

“We’ve been warning about climate change for years. The environmental consequences predicted by the Democrats nearly 20 years ago are finally starting to be taken seriously.”

”Democrats actions which were seen as radical in the early 90s, such as enabling ethanol to be blended with petrol, are now very much the norm.  We’ve been winning victories for the environment for many years.  Things such as excise cuts for clean fuels, greenhouse abatement and vehicle conversion packages for alternative fuels. There have been many others.”

”We will make much more progress on these matters now too.  The environment is a mainstream concern now, just as we always said it should be.  The Democrats are Australia’s first environment party, and we will continue to take a strong stand on these matters.” declared Mr Churchill.

”The Democrats will introduce a raft of environmental legislation into the new parliament, such as emissions certificate trading, greenhouse reduction targets, transferring coal and gas subsidies to renewables, tax on coal exports, and remove regulatory barriers to renewable energy and energy efficiency.”

“Only the Democrats have the experience to convince the other parties to tackle climate change head-on. Our track record is proven. We are the negotiators”

“It’s high time for Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and to show some leadership by pressing the USA and others to do likewise. We must take the initiative by leading by example with decisive action on climate change” Mr Churchill concluded.

Darren Churchill

Australian Democrats candidate for Fraser

Darren.Churchill@act.democrats.org.au

0412 196 473

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20/11/2007

You CAN change the world!

VOTE DEMOCRATS!!!

Give a Damn!

Posted in Federal Election 2007 | Leave a Comment »

As the elected member for FRASER I will:

19/11/2007
  • balance economic policy with social and environmental considerations. Good economic management is about getting the balance right. It’s a “triple bottom line;”
  • introduce human rights and privacy legislation that will protect all people, regardless of race, gender, religion or place of origin. NO privacy invasions, NO Access Card;
  • ensure that law enforcement agencies are accountable to the courts and the parliament;
  • maintain the traditional Democrats principle of supporting legislation that is fair and equitable and seek to amend and make fairer that which is not;
  • support social spending programmes for affordable housing and Paid Maternity Leave;
  • ensure that whichever party forms the government, they are held accountable for their actions;
  • support industries that create jobs and are kind to the environment, and not those that will make problems for future generations. NO uranium mining and NO nuclear reactors;
  • encourage investment in sustainable agricultural practices and sensible rural water management.
  • encourage sensible use and management of urban water;
  • encourage and support environmentally sustainable practices in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

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Posted in Federal Election 2007 | Leave a Comment »

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