senatorlambie.com.au | June 2015

PUTTING FIRST

Jacqui’s Journal PUTTING TASMANIA FIRST

Inside this issue G’day! Welcome to my first newsletter! Thank you for your kind support and honest feedback.

Since my election as a Senator I’ve been on a steep And while Government critics will whine that the learning curve. Yes, I’ve made a couple of mistakes on Senate is a place of chaos - the official record clearly this high-pressure roller coaster ride, but thanks to you shows that an independent crossbench has ensured - I’ve been able to use my vote in federal parliament to that the Senate is now a place of real consultation and get a better deal for Tasmania. commonsense. Your guidance and my vote have ensured that To-date, the Senate has passed $2.7B of prudent Tasmania finally, has a strong, independent voice in budget savings, but has protected struggling families, our federal parliament. And it has meant that Tasmania pensioners, unemployed, veterans and uni-students Freight Equalisation Meeting can no longer be taken for granted by the Federal from the terrible lies, gross exaggerations, unfair Government. cutbacks and worst policy excesses of the current government. The growing political support for the Network has resulted in the PM and other senior My advocacy and support for our Diggers on behalf government ministers spending more time and money of all Tasmanians, forced the Liberals to add an extra in Tasmania. The unexpected independent political $200M to our soldiers’ pay over 4 years while returning competition has forced the Federal Government to leave and travel entitlements that Mr Abbott tried to begin to share the wealth of in a fairer way take from them. with Tasmania. I’m determined to lead a group of like-minded people The extra federal money our state government in the Senate who are pro- small business, mining, received for their recent budget, is proof of that fact. timber, manufacturing, local government, and farming Other announcements of extra federal spending in the - but who also truly care about our underdogs - North West of Tasmania would never have happened struggling families, pensioners, unemployed, veterans if the Government thought that the Apple Isle was a and uni-students. safe place for them. To get back on our feet, Tasmania - when compared While the Tasmanian Federal Government Senators with the rest of Australia, must have the cheapest Manufacturing in Tasmania and MPs will never admit it – the threat of losing their energy, fuel, travel, freight, internet connections and seats has forced the government to carefully and zero payroll taxes for our business and families. respectfully listen to the people of Tasmania. The facts If you would like to know more about my recovery speak for themselves. plan or the Lambie Network, contact me at www. After I took a leading captain of Tasmania’s lambienetwork.com.au or [email protected]. manufacturing industry to the Prime Minister and I hope you enjoy the information in my newsletter. detailed the crisis in our Bass Strait shipping costs, and Cheers, Jacqui the subsequent threat to hundreds of workers’ jobs - the Federal Government, despite doing nothing for decades to fix the crisis, announced an extra $200M for our freight equalization scheme.

PO Box 256, 22 Mount St, Burnie TAS 7320 [email protected] Mining in Tasmania (03) 6431 2233 SENATORLAMBIE.COM.AUsenatorlambie.com.au PUTTING TASMANIA FIRST 2014-2015 | 1 PUTTING TASMANIA FIRST

A Voice for the People

An attempt by the Abbott Government to improve business owners, will benefit from disallowing the financial advice laws completely forgot about the Corporations Amendment (Streamlining of Future every-day Australian and only further protected of Financial Advice) Regulation 2014. financial advisors. Without this protection, seeking financial advice On November 19, the Senate voted to disallow the from the big financial institutions becomes a Corporations Amendment (Streamlining of Future David and Goliath battle, but this time David didn’t of Financial Advice) Regulation 2014. have a slingshot. If passed, this amendment would have put I initially voted for this legislation when it first came investors like pensioners and families in a to the Senate, I was in the Palmer United Party vulnerable position, left open to being taken and was given advice to vote for this legislation. advantage of by financial advisors. But I didn’t feel comfortable supporting it and this Under previous laws, financial advisors did not was one of the reasons I left the Palmer United have to let potential investors know if they were Party – to have the opportunity to apologise to receiving kickbacks or commission for selling Australia for supporting legislation that would not risky financial products or schemes. benefit them. Today, because my colleagues and I stood I was relieved to be given a second chance to up for the underdog, financial advisors are right my wrong. required to disclose if they receive benefits from Australians wanting to secure their retirement or a recommending a particular financial product or future for their family through investment will now scheme. be protected from the powerful big banks and Ordinary Australians, like our pensioners, families, large investment companies. nurses, police officers, public servants and small Say no to $100,000 uni degrees

Does an offer of $400 million to upgrade The government hasn’t put pen to paper granted to universities. infrastructure at the University of Tasmania to and guaranteed funds for this much-needed Bruce Felmingham of Bruce Felmingham support the Liberals’ university fee deregulation investment in capital upgrade – yet there is $50 Economic Consulting agrees with me about sound like bribery? billion sitting in infrastructure spending waiting to the effect university fee deregulation is likely to be used. While UTAS needs $400 million to upgrade have, writing ``we continue to lag behind most infrastructure and to meet demand by the UTAS has also identified a growing demand for of the developed world in the proportion of introduction of more associate degrees, I am not associate degrees and hoped to provide 10,000 our national income that is spent on higher willing to compromise my stand on university fee of them in the future, a move I whole-heartedly education’ ’. deregulation. support. ``The problem with fee deregulation is that it If the Liberals’ plan to deregulate university fees But the government has placed an arbitrary cap doesn’t seem to connect with the dual principles were to go ahead, it would mean Australia would on the number of associate degrees that can be regress to a time where big business made all the money and title, position, privilege and bank balance meant more than ability, hard work and perseverance. Do we want to return to a system whereby your status at birth determined the path your life would take? If this legislation had passed, Tasmanians would have particularly suffered as our state only has one higher education provider – UTAS. UTAS contributes $1.7 billion to the Tasmanian economy, is in the top two per cent of universities in the world and is ranked 10th in Australia for research. Yet the legislation, I and other cross bench Senators knocked back, would put UTAS out of business. So I will never support university fee deregulation, but I will continue to lobby for UTAS to receive $400 million in federal funding – WITHOUT voting for university fee deregulation.

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A Hung Parliament is the People’s Friend

Is a hung parliament a good thing or a bad thing? helped is ADF pay and entitlements. food and motor vehicle allowances will remain. The federal Liberals will tell you a hung parliament I was furious to hear last year the government had The changes passed through the Senate, making has caused chaos. planned on giving the ADF members a pay rise of me the first Independent Senator to get an 1.5 per cent – ON THE CONDITION their annual unsponsored bill through. In fact, at the next election, you can guarantee the leave was cut by six days. Liberals will run a scare campaign to bring to an The decision is now in the hands of the Lower end the hung parliament – because apparently a Take into consideration CPI, which is generally House. hung parliament is bad. around 3 per cent, and the ADF members would I take my role as the balance of power seriously, get a pay cut. Yet any reasonable and sober assessment of and consider every topic from every angle before the facts will show the independents in the If I didn’t stand up for ADF members, who would? taking a vote, to ensure the government doesn’t Senate, and a hung parliament, has guaranteed They don’t have a union and the government forget Tasmania. consultation for the Liberal Government. were going to take advantage of that. I defied my surgeon’s orders to remain in bed for Do you feel comfortable knowing the government I introduced the Defence Amendment (Fair Pay post-operative recovery and flew to Canberra has to consult people with NO party ties, before for Members of the ADF) Bill 2014 in December, to not only make my vote count, but make the making a decision? calling on the government to link the rate of pay masses’ voices heard on this matter. increase to the federal politicians’ pay rise or the The proposed changes to Medicare were also an This forced consultation has stopped the CPI – whichever is higher. Liberal government from breaking their election easy one to knock back. promises, ruining the economy with wild talk of an I also put the pressure on the government to Our Aussie battlers should be helped and not economic crisis and stealing money from those backflip on removing entitlements, so restoring treated like pawns for the big end of town. who need it most. the allowances will mean discretionary leave, As the next election comes around, please be wary of those who predict and preach doom of independents that hold the balance of power. People peddling doom and gloom are peddling lies when the facts show the independents with the balance of power entrusted to them by the Australian people, has been a successful insurance policy against the lies, extremes and excesses of the major parties. A hung parliament has brought under control the Liberals’ greed and born-to-rule arrogance, the Nationals’ lack of courage and the Greens’ extreme environmental views and Labors’ desire to please the Greens at the expense of jobs. Do you think the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme would have been extended without a hung parliament? This was on the top of my list to advocate for on behalf of Tasmania, and I pushed it with the Prime Minister because, without extending the TFES, the Tasmanian economy stalled. Yet Federal Member for Braddon made one half-hearted attempt to bring the dire need for an extended TFES to Parliament, to the Prime Minister’s attention. This has been an issue for two decades, but Tasmanian Senators and members simply turned a blind eye. In less than a year in the Senate, under my urging, the Abbott Government announced a $203M extension to the TFES – bringing necessary relief to Tasmanian exporters and an expected 2400 extra jobs! All that is left to do is for the government to bring the start date forward to 1 July 2015, which I have urged them to do on more than one occasion. Another example of where consultation has

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Fighting For Those Who Can’t

It still surprises me when the government tries to cut corners and take advantage of people they think won’t kick up a fuss – all in the name of saving a few dollars. Last year, I played an integral role as the balance of power in knocking back legislation that would have taken advantage of workers with an intellectual disability. The Business Services Wage Assessment Tool Payment Scheme Bill 2014 (BSWAT) proposed back-paying more than 10,000 workers with an intellectual disability only half of what they were owed – as long as they gave up their right to bring a class action suit.

BSWAT was used to calculate workers’ wages, at I described it in my speech to the Senate last To make matters worse, the government proposed a proportion of the minimum wage for their work. November, as un-Australian and pointed out the Secretary of the Department of Social Services However, Federal Court found this to be unlawful to the Senate the Bill was inconsistent with the to appoint nominees on behalf of the workers as it required workers with an intellectual disability National Disability Insurance Scheme – an initiative with an intellectual disability for a class action suit to be paid based on questions they answered established to protect the rights of people with against the Government. disabilities. rather than how productive they were. Not only without their consent, but this is also a But I didn’t, and still don’t, think it is right to pay the I don’t think the Senate should be used as a way conflict of interest. workers half of what they were owed, as the Bill to steal wages from vulnerable people and to undermine the legal system. I voted against this Bill because I don’t believe in seems to suggest. taking away the rights of vulnerable people. Five minutes with Rural Health Tasmania CEO Rob Waterman

I work at Rural Health Tasmania, where we work predominantly with social determinants of health. I also advocate for early intervention and prevention strategies to nip ice abuse in the bud. Early intervention and prevention for drug use in general can be made easier by looking at social determinants. Social determinants of health are anything from mental health, diabetes, unemployment to obesity and stem from skills people did or didn’t learn as a child. All children are born with potential and some go down one path and others go down another and we can predict which ones will go down which paths now. We have really tried to create healthy and more resilient families and try to raise awareness around those factors. Over the last couple of decades, the need for treatment has increased, causing me to step back and think prevention is the best and most cost- effective solution. We need to change our model, if we can get these kids and divert them at a young age to a path are similar. It can address health and well-being Rob Waterman Rural Health Tasmania CEO where they choose more pro-social lifestyles. issues right across the board. Prevention is much cheaper and has a wide For more information on what Rob Waterman is impact, while we are targeting drug use, the doing in the community, please visit indicators for mental illness and family violence www.ruralhealthtas.com.au.

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RET: The Battle for Cheaper Energy and to Save 10,000 Jobs

The battle over the Renewable Energy Target this issue from the moment I stepped into the cheapest and most reliable energy available does not end at the agreement between the Senate. Leaving the Palmer United Party meant in the world. Liberal and Labor on a target number. I could support the issue wholeheartedly. Tasmania’s businesses and households should The inclusion of biomass and wood waste in I don’t believe Tasmanians should be not have to pay another tax for the greenhouse the new RET deal is a whole new battle ground, penalised when it is the only State 100 per cent gases they aren’t producing. with the Greens likely to throw their usual lies as powered by renewable Hydro Energy – the about the impact on the trees. The Greens’ lies and their extreme environmental propaganda states more trees will be cut down if biomass and wood waste is included in the new RET deal. We know this isn’t true, as the forestry industry in Tasmania has changed to be more efficient and sustainable and the new RET deal will only improve on that. The Greens have a long history of trying to destroy Tasmania’s economy - do you think their of the new RET deal will be any different? The new RET deal will save and secure jobs for 10,000 Tasmanians and big manufacturers won’t have to pay a RET penalty for a carbon footprint they don’t leave. I have fought for Tasmania on Jacqui with Rod Bender

Function at Government House 11 December 2014

Above: Jacqui and Dylan Right: Jacqui and Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner AM Governor of Tasmania

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Let the Games Begin

Following a meeting with Julie Bishop I organised ``The Games will create confidence in the for Devonport mayor Steve Martin, we received a investment, business, public and employment verbal commitment to have the Masters Games sectors.’’ held in Devonport. Tasmania hasn’t hosted the Games since 1987, I have supported Alderman Martin at every step but Alderman Martin said they will take a regional of the way and will continue to lobby until the approach to the Games, with competitions held promised $750,000 of funding is delivered. across the North and North-West Coast. Alderman Martin is excited about what the ``The aim is that it benefits as many communities Masters Games would bring to the region. as realistically possible,’’ Alderman Martin said. ``The Games themselves promote healthy activity, Did You one that despite being designed for participation is about competing against your own age group and yourself,’’ Alderman Martin said. Know? ``The North-West Coast has experienced chronic health problems for some time now, including There are three levels diabetes and heart conditions. of government in ``The inaugural Australian Masters Games was held in 1987 around Tasmania starting a revolution Australia: of participation in healthy activities for those who thought their sporting life was over, especially at Federal, state and local. a national level,’’ Alderman Martin said. There are six state and He said the Games provide that nudge to get off the couch, participate in a healthy activity and two territory Parliaments socialise. and 560 local councils ``Also having around 7000 people wandering around the region would be of great economic making laws for their benefit to the North-West Coast and the rest of area in Australia. Tasmania,’’ Alderman Martin said. Jacqui with Mayor Steve Martin

Moroccan Sweet Potato, Carrot & Chickpea Soup Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large brown onion, roughly chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1 teaspoon ground coriander 2 teaspoons ground cumin 1/4 teaspoon chilli powder 600g orange sweet potato, peeled, diced 500g carrots, peeled, sliced 6 cups Campbell’s Real Stock Chicken Salt Reduced 300g can chickpeas, drained, rinsed 1/2 small lemon, juiced Turkish bread croutons (see note), to serve Method: 1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring often, for 3 minutes. Stir in coriander, cumin and chilli powder. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add sweet potato and carrot. Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes. Add stock. Cover. Bring to the boil. Winter is here, it’s cold, wet and Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. all you want is comfort food. 2. Add chickpeas to soup and simmer, covered, for 10 minutes or until chickpeas are tender But how do you have comfort food and still get enough nutrients 3. Blend soup, in batches, until smooth. Return to saucepan over to battle the cold or flu? medium-low heat. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in 1 tablespoon Soup! This Moroccan Sweet Potato, Carrot and Chickpea Soup is lemon juice. Heat, stirring, until hot (do not boil). Ladle into bowls. Top bound to meet all the above criteria. with croutons. Sprinkle with pepper. Serve.

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Lambie seeks to form Independent Network.

11. JLN supports the introduction of a carbon tax - only after our major trading partners introduce a similar tax on their coal-fired power stations. 12. JLN supports a monitoring and regulation system which ensures that our power and fuel prices for Australian consumers and businesses are not more expensive than our overseas competitors. There are many more policies and political positions that are being worked on. Since I’ve taken my seat in Parliament I have voted on many pieces of legislation and made my position clear on dozens of important matters.” said Senator Lambie. “In the near future I will launch an on-line book, which contains the majority of my Parliamentary speeches to-date. This will provide further detailed information on the policies that I will take to the Australian people.” said Senator Lambie.

“I’ve already achieved a number of major political accomplishments since I was elected, including:

1. Protecting University Students from $100,000 Independent Senator for Tasmania, Jacqui matters associated with veterans, serving degrees and UTAS from unfair deregulated Lambie has called for people who would like to members of the and mainland competition. be part of her political Network to make contact their families. 2. Stopping the Liberal Government through her facebook. 3. JLN will fight to establish a National discriminating against 10,000 disabled workers facebook.com/senatorlambie Apprentice, Trade and Traineeship system and denying them wages and back-pay incorporating both the Australian Defence ordered by a judge. The call comes after the Australian Electoral Force and TAFE’s. Commission placed advertisements in major 3. A $200M boost in the Tasmanian Freight papers as part of their process for the official 4. JLN supports the establishment of a Equalization scheme registration of the “” Financial Transactions Tax to guarantee extra 4. A $200m boost in Defence Pay government revenue for the protection of “Once the Australian Electoral Commission has pensions and entitlements of retired Australians 5. Protecting Bank Customers and Investors officially processed and cleared the Network’s and Defence Veterans. from dodgy financial advisors by supporting registration – just like other major political parties, stronger Future of Financial Advice laws (FOFA) the Network will be able to field senate and lower 5. JLN is opposed to Law being imposed house candidates in future federal elections. in Australia either formally or informally and will promote a policy of undivided loyalty to the Australian Constitution and people. With the help of people who will join JLN we’ll And just like other political parties, the people make sure that food security, energy security, of Tasmania and other states will have the 6. JLN will support the proper regulation of Australian job security and National security – option of voting above the line when they mark Halal and other food certification systems. will always be our top priorities.” said Senator their ballot papers, should they want to choose Lambie. 7. JLN supports dedicated indigenous seats the candidates I endorse.” said Senator Lambie. being established for Australian Parliaments. For more information contact: 8. JLN supports conscience votes on all moral & “While there’s a big job in front of the political Jacqui Lambie Network ethical issues. network I will lead and promote – there will be a P O Box 264 Burnie TAS 7320 number of core beliefs that will bring supporters 9. JLN supports a halving of the Foreign of the Jacqui Lambie Network together. Aid Budget in order to help boost federal Mobile: 0411 450 705 government investment in Higher Education Email: [email protected]

from .6% to 1% of GDP. 1. Members must always put their state first in all decisions they make. 10. JLN supports the creation of Special Economic Zones in regional and rural areas to 2. JLN will always have a special interest in all help boost business profitability and job creation.

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P O Box 264, Burnie TAS 7320 [email protected] JACQUI

LAM BIE LAMBIENETWORK.COM.AU NETWORK

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