Protecting Our Innocence
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ISSUE 45, AUGUST 2012 OVER EXPOSED Protecting our innocence OUT OF THE SHADOWS NET BENEFIT Health time bomb Wealth in the water UP FRONT MORE DETAIL NEEDED ON remaining 1,270 gigalitres needed to WATER PLAN meet the proposed target. A parliamentary committee looking Committee chair Tony Windsor (New into the proposed Murray-Darling England, NSW) told ABC Radio the Basin Plan wants a better explanation government and the Murray-Darling of how the federal government will Basin Authority should make it very acquire the water it wants to return clear how they intend to put together to the river system, before parliament their water recovery plan. “So that not considers any legislation on the plan. only is it feasible for that water to be At the end of May, the Department delivered to some of the environmental of Sustainability told the House of icon sites and some of the productive Representatives Regional Australia uses, but the community actually Committee that of the 2,750 gigalitres understands how that water would be required, 1,480 gigalitres were already delivered,” Mr Windsor said. under contract. The committee’s report is available The committee believes the public at www.aph.gov.au/ra or for more needs much more information on how information email [email protected] DATA FLOW: More information sought on the proposed plan will acquire the or phone (02) 6277 4162. Murray-Darling barriers of time, distance and physical The United Nations founded the limitation,” Senator Bilyk said. International Day of Democracy THINKSTOCK “It is a matter of equity that older in 2007 to promote the values of Australians are confident to enjoy the freedom, respect for human rights and ease of digital communication, and so the principle of holding periodic and participate more fully in society.” genuine elections by universal suffrage which are the essential elements of The survey, which only takes about democracy. 10 minutes to complete, has attracted significant interest to date and Speaking on International Day of CYBER SAY: Survey for seniors Senator Bilyk encourages more senior Democracy 2011, UN Secretary- Australians to have their say. General Ban Ki-moon reaffirmed that democracy does not belong to any CYBER SURVEY FOR SENIORS To take the survey visit country or region but rather is the right www.aph.gov.au/jscc or for more People aged 55 and over have been of all people to fully participate in all invited to take part in the Australian information email [email protected] or aspects of their lives. seniors’ cyber-safety survey which aims phone (02) 6277 4202. to find out what older Australians “On this International Day of think about online services. Democracy, let us redouble our efforts The anonymous survey, being to support all people, in particular the young – the drivers of this year’s conducted by federal parliament’s THINKSTOCK Cyber-Safety Committee, gives senior momentous events – in making Australians the chance to share their democracy a working reality,” online experiences and help the Mr Ban said. government understand how they can “This day belongs to them. Let us make the internet more accessible and honour their commitment to a lifelong safer for seniors. JUST A MINUTE: Taking time out for democracy journey in democracy.” Committee chair Senator Catryna Bilyk (Tas) said the committee is DEMOCRACY HAS ITS DAY So this September 15 why not take investigating the best means to reduce 60 seconds to think about what Nations around the world will democracy means to you. the risks, enhance consumer protection celebrate the universal right of people and build online confidence for older to determine their own political, For more information about internet users. economic, social and cultural systems International Day of Democracy “The internet has opened a whole new on International Day of Democracy, events visit: www.un.org/en/events/ way of communicating and removed September 15. democracyday/events.html ABOUT THE HOUSE – AUGUST 2012 | 3 18 OVEREXPOSED Protecting our innocence ISSUE 45, AUGUST 2012 House of Representatives 24 magazine WAITING FOR THE WINS Gambling with our future About the House is published by the Department of the House of Representatives. For more information on the work of Australia’s House of Representatives visit: www.aph.gov.au/ath 34 NET BENEFIT Produced by: International and Wealth in the water Community Relations Office, PO Box 6021, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Telephone: Freecall 1800 139 299 38 Fax: (02) 6277 8521 ROAD TO NAY PYI TAW Email: [email protected] Burma’s democratic journey Editor: Andres Lomp Deputy Editor, News: Andrew Dawson Deputy Editor, Production: Jeremy Kennett 42 Associate Editors: Joe Italiano and OUT OF THE SHADOWS Michelle Murray Health time bomb Correspondents: Michael York and Annelise Young Creative Direction, Design and 46 Production: Prue Beckett, PBMC and DARK SIDE OF THE BOOM Kate Gosnell Trials of a travelling workforce Printing: CanPrint Communications Pty Ltd To advertise in About the House THE LAW contact the International and Community Relations Office. 30 ILLEGAL TIMBER FACES THE AXE To subscribe free of charge to Wood without wreckage this magazine, phone freecall 31 Wheat exports open up 1800 139 299 or email 32 Divisions remain over marriage bills [email protected] 32 Wanted: life beyond work 33 Judging the judges Front cover: iStock REGULARS 4 DESPATCH BOX 53 ONE ON ONE 5 HILLSIDE 54 HOUSE RULES 7 NEWS 55 EXTRA 51 THE WRAP 56 D.I.Y. 52 QUESTION TIME 58 HOUSE WORK 4 | ABOUT THE HOUSE – AUGUST 2012 Despatch BOX PACIFIC PARTNERSHIPS: Kiribati Room opening at the ACT Legislative Assembly MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE PACIFIC Increased vocational education is a parliament, Australian state and key to improving the employment territory parliaments are twinned prospects of young people in the with the parliaments of Pacific island Pacific region, according to Kiribati countries. With funding from AusAID, Education Minister Maere Tekanene. the program supports capacity building of Pacific parliaments. ACT is twinned Praising Australia for its commitment with Kiribati. to improving education in Pacific island countries, Mrs Tekanene said Mrs Tekanene said the parliamentary vocational training is providing more twinning program provides an avenue opportunities for self-employment and for strengthening cooperation between innovation, giving greater access to developing and developed nations in LAST ISSUE: APRIL 2012 job opportunities and stimulating the the Pacific region. economy. Back issues are available at “There are many things our nation www.aph.gov.au/athmag or email “If there is more vocational training, wants to gain from its relationship with [email protected] or phone freecall students will be more employable,” Australia,” she said. 1800 139 299. she said. During the visit by Mrs Tekanene and opposition MP Waysang Kumkee, a Mrs Tekanene was visiting the ACT committee room in the ACT Legislative Legislative Assembly as part of a Pacific Assembly was named the Kiribati Room Parliamentary Partnerships program. in honour of the twinning arrangement Under the program, which is and the growing ties between the two coordinated by the Australian federal parliaments. PARALYMPIANS READY FOR LONDON Australia’s 2012 Paralympics squad AAP has been honoured at a ceremony at HAVE YOUR SAY Parliament House in Canberra. Send your letters to: One hundred and sixty-one athletes About the House Mail, were selected as part of the Australian International and Community team for the 2012 Paralympic Games Relations Office, in London. PR IDE OF THE NATION: Paralympians with PM Julia Gillard at Parliament House PO Box 6021, Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600, The athletes will be joined by 140 Reform Jenny Macklin addressed the or email: [email protected] officials in the largest Australian team or fax: (02) 6277 8521 ever selected for the Paralympics. athletes at the event, wishing them every success. Please include name, address and Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Opposition daytime contact details. Letters may be Leader Tony Abbott, Minister for Sport The Paralympics will begin with the edited to fit available space and Kate Lundy and Minister for Disability Opening Ceremony on August 29. for clarity. ABOUT THE HOUSE – AUGUST 2012 | 5 Hillside Diabetes AAP treatment shortfall MORE funding is needed to help meet demand for a groundbreaking treatment for juvenile diabetes, the Member for Pearce (WA) Judi Moylan has told federal parliament. The insulin pump, a small computerised device that provides rapid-acting insulin, has been shown to provide positive changes in diabetes management including better quality of life for type 1 diabetes sufferers as well as improved life expectancy. The pump is being provided to low- income families who do not have private NO SHORE THING: Coastal communities face an uncertain future health insurance through a subsidy scheme administered by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Coastal confidence eroding After an initial slow take-up, recent improvements to the scheme, including AUSTRALIA’S coastline is in danger of “I share my community’s frustrations a co-payment funding agreement being washed away if more is not done that despite the enormous economic, with the manufacturers and improved to battle coastal erosion, Rob Oakeshott environmental and social costs attached promotion, has seen a doubling of the (Lyne, NSW) has warned. to coastal erosion, we are no closer today take-up rate. His call for action came after fierce storms to a cooperative strategy involving all While the federal budget has provided battered his electorate, rendering some three levels of government than we were for the continuation of the program, beaches unrecognisable and threatening four years ago,” he said. forecasts by the Juvenile Diabetes homes and public infrastructure. He stressed it is now time for all levels of Research Foundation indicate that government to work together to protect funding for the scheme will meet less “Coastal erosion is much more than than half the projected demand of 556 an environmental story.