If we want our Future Made in Australia to be made by Australians, we need the government to be a lot more ambitious when it comes to procurement reform.

the-riotact.com/pocock-wants-p…

With so much grim news around on housing, this is something to celebrate.

It's not the specialist youth housing shelter we asked for in the Budget but it is a welcome. Thanks to PCYC, CHC, Snow Foundation & all involved for all your hard work.
canberratimes.com.au/story/8628852/…

Labor acknowledges our whistleblower laws are inadequate yet are allowing David McBride to be jailed and Richard Boyle to be prosecuted.

Why is it only the crossbench who seems to care? The community has been so strong on this, their politicians should represent these views.

Instead of backing my motion to split another terrible omnibus bill, Greens teamed up with Labor to subvert proper process & gag debate.

They gave up the opportunity to press govt for a way better return on the sale of our offshore gas, instead waving through 💩 legislation.

Labor and the Coalition don’t want Australians to get a fair share from the export of our gas and the Greens are letting them get away with it!

Breaking - the Govt is trying to ram through heinous offshore gas bill, woefully inadequate Petroleum Resource Rent Tax changes (bundled in with PWC changes) and vehicle efficiency standards without any debate in the Senate.

Giving an extra $9.50 a week to less than 40% of renters is not going to turn this around.

Tax reform, doubling the Housing Australia Future Fund, extending the National Rental Affordability Scheme, a sensible debate about migration - these are some of the big solutions we need.

Australian nurses paid 3X more tax than the gas industry in 2022. The gas myths need to end.

Future Made in Australia has strong investment in hydrogen and critical minerals, but nothing for household electrification and there’s virtually nothing in the budget for Nature.

The small business community really needed this budget to deliver for them.

Beyond $325 energy rebate for 40% of small businesses & extending the instant asset write-off increase from last year’s budget, it’s hard to find anything here that will shift the dial for small biz.

Some wins for students but other urgent changes not actioned.

#1 is scrapping the failed JRG system that’s saddling students with debt.

Need expanded paid placements & further changes to indexation.

On June 1 ppl will still be paying interest on HECS they’ve already repaid 🤦‍♂️

A new national convention centre has been talked about since early 2000s!

ACT Govt still doesn’t have a plan.

ACT Govt need a business case & an actual ask of the Fed Govt or we’ll keep missing out.

Feds can’t fund things ACT Govt doesn’t ask for 🤦‍♂️
canberratimes.com.au/story/8629308/…

17 April 2024 - ACT Govt asks PM for funding for Convention Centre

15 May 2024 - ACT Govt says didn't ask PM for funding for Convention Centre

🧐

I think maybe politicians are just out of touch.

We've got three million Australians living in poverty in this country, and you're going to give me and other politicians on six figure salaries $300.

It doesn’t make sense to me.

The first Australian prosecuted for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan is the whistleblower.

A perverse outcome - whistleblowers deserve better protection.

Labor allowed the prosecution to continue.

We need reform now.
abc.net.au/news/2024-05-1…

Worth reading Mariana Mazzucato’s piece on a Future Made in Australia.

Huge opp to invest in our future while dealing with the biggest challenges we face.

Govt needs courage to ensure we attach conditions to support + use Govt procurement to back 🇦🇺 businesses
afr.com/policy/economy…

Production Tax Credits - if designed well - can be a powerful tool to build sovereign capability & support the clean energy transition.

But they shouldn't be used to subsidise profitable industries & increase the wealth of resource-sector magnates.
afr.com/companies/mini…

Just a reminder that economists back lifting our safety net payments so ppl aren’t living in poverty.

🇦🇺‘s shouldn’t have to starve for a surplus and being able to afford food can’t be considered inflationary.