OPPOSITION THWARTS GILLARD GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT
With so much focus on the impending release of the Prime Minister’s long-awaited detailed explanation of her carbon tax strategy, local Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP wants to be sure people hear of two quite important happenings in Federal Parliament this week.
‘On Tuesday, three of the Independents backed away from supporting the Labor Government’s moves to impose a means test on the 30% private health insurance rebate.’
Mr Ruddock said the Opposition was against means testing the rebate as this would ‘impose even more burdens on our already-stretched public hospital system, and cause private health insurance rates rise beyond the means of many average families, singles and pensioners.’
On a separate issue, the Opposition succeeded in initiating a Senate Inquiry which will address public concern about the growing interest of foreign companies and government agencies in the agricultural sector.
‘I receive a constant stream of calls and emails from people who are very concerned about the level of overseas ownership which the Gillard Government is permitting.’
‘The role of the Foreign Investment Review Board will be scrutinised, particularly given that it has specific restrictions in place for residential real estate, banking, telecommunications and the media – but not family farms.’
‘I do not dispute that foreign investment is important for our future, but I am very aware of the community’s desire to know that its concerns are being taken seriously by government and that future sales do pass the ‘national interest’ test.
Mr Ruddock said he supported the idea of selling our produce to other countries, ‘but I am loath to sell off the land from which it was produced.’