Tonight I rise to make to make some comments on how the government's higher education reform will expand opportunities for regional students. As Sam Seaborn famously said, 'Education is the silver bullet.' It is critical for our economic and social wellbeing as a nation. I am concerned and frustrated that the benefits have been in…
DetailsABC local radio is vital for regional communities and must not be cut further, Nationals Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie told the national broadcaster's Managing Director, Mark Scott in Senate Estimates this week. The exchange took place as the Senate Environment and Communications Committee questioned Mr Scott and other ABC executives in Parliament House, Canberra…
DetailsA new collaboration project between business, industry and Deakin University is a huge leap forward for Australia and it is all happening in regional Victoria at the University’s Waurn Ponds campus, according to Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie. Senator McKenzie was speaking after the official opening of Deakin University’s new pilot carbon fibre manufacturing line, Carbon…
DetailsA Senate Committee inquiry into childcare has heard damning evidence on the disastrous impact which new regulations brought in by the Gillard/Rudd Governments are having on the operation of childcare centres in regional Australia, according to committee member and Victorian Nationals Senator, Bridget McKenzie. “The Labor reforms were intended to raise standards, but it is…
DetailsNationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has welcomed the recommendations made by the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee regarding the importation of potatoes from New Zealand. The report recommends that before potatoes are imported from New Zealand an Import Risk Analysis should be conducted, which should consider scientific research into disease…
DetailsNationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has welcomed the support of Labor and the Greens for a notice of motion which asked the Senate to note the importance of high quality teaching to student outcomes. Senator McKenzie said the motion acknowledged that all Australian students deserved quality teachers and teaching to ensure the highest standard…
DetailsNationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has condemned Labor and the Greens for voting against the repeal of Mining Rent Resources Tax in the Senate this week saying the vote highlighted the need for a strong regional Western Australian presence in the Senate. ‘‘This is an anti-Western-Australian tax that has not worked,’’ Senator McKenzie said.…
DetailsOver the past month Boral Chief Executive Mike Kane has brought to public attention the orchestrated and costly secondary boycott campaign waged against it by the Victorian branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union. The continued thuggery by the CFMEU prompted an excellent question from Senator Boswell yesterday during Senate question time, which…
DetailsI only have a limited amount of time available to me, but I do recognise that government procurement is an attractive option as a solution to shoring up local manufacturers. I understand that. Australian manufacturers would love to have something like the Buy American Act, just as Australian farmers would like our own version of…
DetailsI rise this evening to speak about Labor's failed mining tax and its impact on Western Australia. This is an anti-Western-Australian tax that has not worked. It is time that this tax was abolished so that we can get on with the business of fixing the mess that the former government has left us. Today…
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