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Emotional Sen Hanson admits shedding tears at her Family Law inquiry success

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ONE NATION leader Pauline Hanson has revealed how she shed tears on the confirmation that her long awaited inquiry into Australia’s family Law system would go ahead.

Senator Hanson has pushed personally for the inquiry for the past three years, believing it to be the most important social matter facing Australia today.

She added that the news of the high-level and far-reaching review will actually go ahead will bring hope to hundreds of thousands of Australians who “are floundering” in such difficult situations.

“When I received confirmation that this inquiry into Australia’s Family Law system is going ahead, I actually cried,” Senator Hanson told journalist of the Canberra Press Gallery.

“I cried because I know the heartache that is felt by hundreds of thousands of Australians impacted by the shortcomings of the Family Law system, at a time when they are going through one of the most difficult challenges of their lives – creating normality after separation and divorce.

“I also cried because of the realisation of the hopethat this inquiry will finally bringto people who are floundering in these situations.”

Senator Hanson noted that past investigations had revealed that three men each day commit suicide and one woman each week is murdered, as a result of the stress and hardships of the Family Law and Child Support regime.

“Just imagine, over the weekend, while most of us were enjoying time with friends and family, an average six men took their own lives, and far too many women experienced serious family violence,” she noted.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t live with that on my conscience, and these deaths are only occurring because Governments have failed to listen and act on the broken family law system.”

Senator Hanson noted that the Joint Select Committee on Reform of Australia’s Family Law System “will delve into the various aspects that have been making life unbearable for so many people dealing with separation and the aftermaths”.

“It will investigate all aspects of the family law and child support regime – custody arrangements, the division of assets, the impact of decisions made at ‘judges’ discretion’; the costs of legal representation, the behaviour of lawyers who, at times, drag the matters out for their own financial gain; the well-being of children; access for grandparents and other family members, and more.”

Sen Hanson said she expected the inquiry to be conducted over the course of 12 months, with public hearings to be held across Australia, in both rural areas and cities.

“This inquiry will not be an easy one,” she said.

“It will be emotional; I can imagine that I will not be the only one shedding more tears – most often in private – as this process goes forward.

“I thank the Prime Minister for his support of this ground-breaking inquiry, and I encourage the media here today to provide its support as we journey through this huge and important task.

“My goal – with community, political and media support – is to totally rebuild and make a better, more-workable, family law system for separating and separated couples and their families.

“And for those who are in the midst of family breakdown, those contemplating suicide and facing potential family violence, I’m asking you to stop and know that you’ve finally been heard.

“I beg you, please give me a chance to try and make change.” 

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Pauline Hanson: More subsidised apprenticeships needed

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MEDIA RELEASE

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has called for extra apprenticeship funding to add to Australia’s Regional Apprenticeship Program, along with some tweaking of guidelines, to help boost graduate numbers.

Places are particularly urgent in the electrical trade in Western Australia as numbers are in decline.

Senator Hanson negotiated an apprenticeship pilot program with The Australian Government, creating 1600 new subsidised apprenticeship places for regional Australians.

The program’s success has led to a further 1600 additional places being announced on July 1, to meet the countries growing demand for trainees and graduates in a number of trades.   

“The only way we reduce Australia’s reliance on overseas workers is to rebuild our own skilled workforce, using young Australian people,” Senator Hanson said.

“I’m very pleased that the Government agreed with my push for more apprenticeship places, but it’s no longer a pilot program and I’d like to see an extra zero added to the original number used in the trial.”

The comments follow a visit last month by a One Nation delegation to the National Electrical and Communications Association’s Western Australian apprenticeship training facility. One Nation’s WA leader Colin Tincknell led the delegation after Senator Hanson was a late withdrawal due to the flu.

NECA’s College of Electrical Training is the largest employer of electrical apprentices in Australia, with its apprentices regarded as being amongst the safest and best trained in the electro-technology industry.

But the college and the industry generally needs more funded training places to meet demand.

“Apprentice commencements in the electrical trade in Western Australia have been static and declining over the last couple of years; we’re not replacing the natural attrition in our industry, so, if we’re not careful, we’ll see a trade shortage within a couple of years and, with a four-year apprenticeship, that lag cycle will impact on the workforce,” Steve Hall, NECA’s GM of Training, said.

“It’s a wonderful start, but it’s a drop in the ocean compared to what we need; when you actually translate it out into actual apprenticeships that we can utilise, it worked out to maybe 16 or so for the electrical trade here in Western Australia, so we’ve got a long way to go.

“It’s a great start but we’d like to see a lot more places.”

Mr Hall also suggested support for mentoring, which he said had a huge impact on apprenticeship completion rates. He also suggested tailored incentives to encourage higher numbers of females, who traditionally enter apprenticeships a little older and therefore qualify for higher wages and fewer government support initiatives.

“Particularly novice learners as they’ve left school, enter a trade or an apprenticeship they often have those life issues, and having a mentor helps them get over those issues and allows them to complete their trade,” Mr Hall said.

“Often those programs only run for two years, so we never realise the true benefit of them, so it would be ideal if we’re going to fund a mentoring program, to fund it for at least the entire four-year program, that way we get a real longitudinal study and really see the results of providing mentoring for apprentices.

“Currently we have a female participation rate of between one-percent and three-percent; considering that over 50% of the population are female, we’re missing out on a lot of potential employees in our industry simply because we can’t attract them in.

“Whether it’s in the form of incentives to help the employees bridge that gap for the wages, or alternatively, maybe some concessions toward taxation or other things that allow the employer to not have to absorb the full cost of that wage increase by taking on a mature age person.”

The Regional Australia Apprenticeship Program secured by Senator Hanson sees the Federal Government pay 75% of the apprentice’s first year’s wage, followed by 50% in the second year and 25% in the third year.

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One Nation’s dire warning over proposed Qld timber industry changes

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MEDIA RELEASE

Senator Pauline Hanson has issued a dire warning over the Queensland Labor Government’s proposed changes to the timber clearing code, saying it will destroy the state’s hardwood industry.

The warning comes after Senator Hanson and fellow One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts attended a hardwood industry rally at Maryborough late last month (August 18).

“If we allow the State Government to continue down this destructive path, it will ruin the timber industry; it will shut down plantation owners, mills and the on-going employment that it creates,” Senator Hanson said bluntly.

The Queensland Labor Government is proposing changes to the clearing code that will greatly reduce the allowable harvest on private farms, who say the new laws are unworkable and will make harvesting unviable.

“A lot of these communities that have relied on the timber – like Maryborough – will feel the backlash if they start shutting down plantation owners,” Senator Hanson said.

“At the moment, they are saying you have to leave 150 stems – that is, trees – per hectare, and they’re wanting to increase that to 300 stems.

“That makes it too dense. It stops healthy growth of trees because they’re crowded, and, with that many trees on a hectare, it also means you can’t graze cattle because the grass won’t grow, so it’s just unproductive for people with plantations trying to grow trees.

“Farmers also can’t control the rubbish on the ground, which increases the risk of bushfire, so it’s an all-round negative impact, and One Nation will be totally opposing this.”

Many private landowners harvest timber to generate extra income, a practice that has helped new landowners get financially established, has helped keep farms viable during drought, and has helped fund local saw mills and jobs.

“The State Government is determined to shut down these private plantations and make them unviable, unworkable, and that’s their whole aim,” Senator Hanson said.

“This is the Labor party agenda, and the Greens agenda as well; there’s no rhyme or reason to it as far as I’m concerned.

“One other thing we need to be mindful of is: if we don’t produce timber here in Queensland, we will be looking at importing timber from other countries, and a lot of these countries will be actually felling their forests, being detrimental to the environment.

“It’s the most renewable resource we have; shutting it down is not the answer.”

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Pauline Hanson wants safety upgrades to keep rock climb open. | Media release

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Powerful emotions were on display when Queensland Senator Pauline Hanson met with the Anangu Mayatja Council of Elders at the base of Uluru to discuss Anangu jobs, the parliaments push to accept the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the imminent closure of the Rock climb.

The unlikeliest of allies flew into Uluru at the request of Traditional Elders following comments by Senator Hanson on Nine’s Today Show, that she didn’t understand why after 55 years of climbing, local aboriginals were keen to shut the tourist trail once and for all.

Senator Hanson said, “My view on keeping the climb open hasn’t changed, but my understanding of the need for better safety has.”

“After standing at the base of the Rock, I knew the climb was going to be tough – but after making it as high as the chain and having my shoes slip a number of times, I was terrified the further I went, the more likely I was to have an accident and fall down.”

“I’m surprised the Territory and Federal Government’s have allowed the climb to remain as unsafe as it is for this long.”

“If the Rock is to ever re-open, it needs a major overhaul of its safety, somewhat similar to the type of protection used on the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb.”

Visitor numbers are set to exceed 500,000 this year as the October 26 deadline fast approaches and the climb is closed for good.

“If tourist numbers drop off following the climb closure, I hold grave concerns for Aboriginal jobs and the ability for the $300 million dollar loan to purchase the resorts will be repaid to the Government.”

Local Anangu Elders also described their worry over the National Indigenous Training Academy (NITA), who they say disregard local Anangu people for jobs at the Ayers Rock Resort.

Anangu Mayatja Council Elder, Tjimpuna Ruby said up to 150 Anangu people live in the Mutitjulu community, but are overlooked for some of the most menial of jobs like cleaning, customer service and some of the more desired positions including Park Ranger.

Ms Ruby said, “Jobs are going to First Nation people from Queensland, New South Wales and other locations across Australia before her own people which is affecting the mindsets of locals. They are feeling ignored and rejected by their own people which is creating enormous divide amongst traditional owners of the Rock.”

The six Anangu Mayatja Council Elders also told Senator Hanson that they do not accept the Uluru Statement from the Heart, describing it as a “rag” that does not speak for their people.

Ms Ruby said, “I want the aboriginal academics and activists to stop talking on behalf of the Anangu people. They are not closing the gap, they are widening and whitening the gap.”

Senator Hanson has given her commitment to helping the Anangu people meet with the Minister for Indigenous Affairs, Ken Wyatt and have a voice amongst other Government Ministers in Canberra.

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Media Release | Pauline Hanson suspended from Twitter

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Pauline Hanson suspended from Twitter

22/08/2019

Pauline Hanson has been suspended from Twitter over her unique suggestion to use electric cattle prods to disperse Brisbane’s disruptive criminal protestors, even though other users who seem to be wishing her ill-will are continuing to tweet.

The One Nation senator has appealed the suspension, describing it as part of the ongoing efforts of the left to stop freedom of speech and silence anyone with whom they don’t agree.

“I don’t see how my tweet was somehow offensive and potentially harmful, if those tweets wishing I’d fall of Uluru are not,” Senator Hanson said.

Video that got Pauline Hanson suspened from Twitter

“This is just a concerted effort by the left to once again push for the censorship of conservative politicians and commentators, but I won’t be silenced and I will keep working for the good of all Australians.”

Senator Hanson has been the subject of abusive tweets that seem to support her death or serious injury:

One user, @wito_eminem, tweeted:  “Praying for Pauline to fall off Uluru”.

Another, @RunAtMeBro, tweeted: “I wouldn’t mind seeing Pauline slip & break her neck climbing Uluru”. To that, user @foxydubz1 replied: “100%”.

And still another, @drunkyayo, had suggested:  “why is pauline hanson trending… bitch, I’ll kill u”

Archive link: http://archive.is/PXbAH
Archive link: http://archive.is/SUVl3
Archive link: http://archive.is/XfOFy

The tweets, which have not (yet)  seen their users banned, are emerging as Senator Hanson meets with traditional owners at Uluru, to discuss options to prevent the closure of the iconic tourist attraction and save valuable jobs and income for many Aboriginal workers.

Twitter ruled that her cattle prod tweet from Sunday was in breach of a rule that says users “may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so. We consider abusive behavior an attempt to harass, intimidate, or silence someone else’s voice.” 

Twitter suspension notice

Senator Hanson said her account suspension highlighted the double standards and weaknesses in Twitter’s administration.

“The left has bullied Twitter into suspending my account, yet others who are quite vicious are free to keep going on with their ill-informed rubbish,” she said.

Senator Hanson tweeted a link to a video on the weekend, where she suggested cattle prods might be useful for police to disperse protestors who are regularly blocking traffic and disrupting hardworking everyday Australians going about their lives.

“When the farmers have trouble getting the cattle up off the floor of the trucks, or in the cattle yards, they just touch them with this and they’ll soon move; it doesn’t matter how big the beast are, they will move with this,” Senator Hanson says in the video, while holding the cattle prod.

“Well, recently, we’ve had all the protestors in Brisbane, lying on the streets, gluing themselves. And what about the protestors now? They want to go to the airports, stop the traffic at the airports.

“How about you? How about if you need to get through the traffic, maybe take a loved one to hospital, or desperately need to get to your job, or something’s happening, and the protestors are there? You know what I reckon the solution. Let’s use one of these on them. I think they’ll soon move.

“Let’s give the idea to Annastacia Palaszczuk; see if she’s actually got the guts to give it to the police to actually start using these. I would.”

In her Twitter suspension appeal, Senator Hanson said tasers and cattle prods were low voltage and non-lethal and only suggested their use on people who block traffic or airports.

MEDIA RELEASE | Pauline Hanson urges funds for Coalstoun Lakes farmers, not Pacific Islands

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Pauline Hanson urges funds for Coalstoun Lakes farmers, not Pacific Islands

20/08/2019

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson wants some of the Australian taxpayer money earmarked for the Pacific Islands to be redirected instead to needy farmers in Coalstoun Lakes, near Maryborough.

The area includes some of the most fertile farming land in Australia, yet their crops struggle due to lack of a secure water source.

Senator Pauline Hanson and Senator Malcolm Roberts with members of the Coalstoun Lakes Development Group.

“I’m angry that the Government has given $500-million to the Pacific Islands based on this climate challenge rhetoric, as if it’s going to make a difference to them, which it won’t,” Senator Hanson said.

“And, meantime, we can’t provide the essential survival commodity, water, for our townships and the farming sector.

“They’re killing our farms, and the Government is reluctant to do something about it.”

The One Nation leader’s comments follow a weekend trip with fellow senator Malcolm Roberts to the North Burnett in Queensland, to attend various events and meetings in Coalstoun Lakes, Biggenden and Maryborough.

The duo met with about 40 representatives of the Coalstoun Lakes Development Group, which continues to push a case for a water supply from Paradise Dam to irrigate their crops.

One farmer at the meeting noted how his peanut crop had dropped from 150-tonne last year to 40-tonne this year, simply due to lack of water.

Senator Hanson said the Australian Government should fund a 35-kilometre water pipe from the dam, which already provides irrigation water to farms elsewhere in the region, to the properties in Coalstoun Lakes. The estimated cost of the project could be $100-million.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged $500-million to nations in the Pacific Islands, starting in 2020 and spread over five years, to support initiatives to address the alleged effects of climate change.

“Coalstoun Lakes is feeling the effects of the drought. It’s some of the most fertile land around – probably on par with the Lockyer Valley, it’s very fertile – but the problem is the lack of water,” Senator Hanson explained.

“I will be pushing for the government to put the money into the pipeline. It will boost the jobs in the area – up to 1000 jobs – and it will increase productivity on the farms.”

More information about the Coalstoun Lakes Development Group is available here: https://www.coalstounlakes.org/

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Media release | Pauline Hanson urges public input into Medicare card photo inquiry.

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Hanson urges public input into Medicare card photo inquiry.

20/08/2019

Senator Pauline Hanson is encouraging the public to submit their views to an inquiry investigating whether we need photo identification printed on our Medicare cards.

A Bill to add the extra security measure to the plastic cards has been put forward by Sen Hanson and One Nation to reduce cases of fraud in the health system and make significant savings to the health budget.

The Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs is holding an inquiry into the Bill, with the public invited to make submissions to that investigation.

Senator Hanson believes it is just too easy to commit fraud against the Commonwealth – with taxpayers bearing the cost – due to the simplicity of the card.

“Our Medicare cards are just a small bit of green plastic, with some text and numbers, but no security features,” Sen Hanson said.

“The identity of the ‘card holder’ can be easily faked due to that one big glaring shortcoming – no photo to help identify that the user of the card is actually the rightful owner.

“It’s easily used by someone who doesn’t actually own the card and who isn’t entitled to taxpayer-funded benefits.

“It is a practice that is costing Australia’s strapped health services and budget generally.”

Sen Hanson noted the plain Medicare cards could be used by family members, friends, as well as the 60,000-plus visa over-stayers who are not entitled to access Australia’s health services.

The cards can also be used as identification to set up bank loans, sign up for phone plans, apply for credit cards under a false name, registering a business and even buying or renting property.

“It’s quite a surprise really – in this era of security-consciousness, where almost every major business and government service provider requires you to satisfy several security questions and provide multiple items to prove your identity – that we do not yet in Australia have photos on our Medicare cards,” Sen Hanson said.

“We have photos on our driver’s licences, photos in our passports, university student cards and similar, all for security and identification purposes, and it makes sense to also have photos on our Medicare cards.

“Australia has left the entire Medicare bulk billing system vulnerable to abuse. It really is time for some serious action.”

Senator Hanson supports the Senate Committee inquiry into her Bill, to substantiate the extent of the misuse of Medicare cards and the cost to Australia.

Submissions to the inquiry must be lodged by August 30, to be followed by public hearings in September. The committee’s final report is scheduled to be tabled on October 16.

Details for making submissions are available here: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs/MedicarePhotoID

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