2006 Media Archive

NEWCASTLE DRIVE FOR SAFETY - 9 December 2006
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Grierson will help raise awareness of safety in the transport industry by taking part in the National Drive for Safety.

JCPAA RECOMMENDS ACTION ON AVIATION SECURITY - 4 December 2006

The Report of the Joint Committee of Public Accounts & Audit into aviation security gets the balance right between public safety and affordable and convenient air travel.

RUDD & GILLARD TO TAKE FEDERAL LABOR FORWARD - 4 December 2006

The election of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard to the leadership of the Australian Labor Party is a positive move for Labor and for the nation.

NEWCASTLE GROUPS TO SAVE 37 MILLION LITRES OF WATER - 30 November 2006

Five local organisations will share $485,113 in Commonwealth grants to implement projects to save our City around 37 million litres of water each year.

NEWCASTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHARE $1.44 MILLION - 30 November 2006

$1,441,520 in Commonwealth grants will be shared between 20 Newcastle public schools to build on the already excellent education being provided by our public schools.

FEARS FOR VETERANS' HOME CARE IN NEWCASTLE - 28 November 2006

Around 450 veterans in Newcastle and the Hunter face an uncertain Christmas after their local provider of Veterans' Home Care services did not have its contract renewed by the Howard Government.

INFERIOR INTERNET ACCESS COSTS THE HUNTER $55.4 MILLION - 27 November 2006

The Howard Government's failure to invest in high quality internet services will this year cost the Hunter $55.4 million in lost economic opportunities and 628 jobs, according to a new report.

LAUNCH OF WATERWISE HOUSE - 24 November 2006

Two Dominican Sisters living at Maryland are on their way to achieving their dream of becoming self-sufficient in water with the help of a $32,000 Commonwealth grant.

CFMEU CONTRIBUTION ON GREENHOUSE DEBATE WELCOME - 16 November 2006

CFMEU's contribution to the greenhouse debate today acknowledges that a planned agenda of political, industry and community cooperation is needed to address climate change, and that investment in research into emissions reduction and clean coal technology is vital.

RATES HIKE ADDS TO WORKPLACE INSECURITY - 8 November 2006

Today's interest rate hike adds to the insecurity workers and families are expressing over the Howard Government's industrial relations changes.

GOVT LABELS A QUARTER OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE 'JOB SNOBS' - 24 October 2006

Today's comments by the Minister for Human Services that the majority of unemployed people are 'job snobs' are an insult to the 26% of teenagers who can't find a job in Newcastle.

MEDIA BILL GAG A DOUBLE BLOW FOR DEMOCRACY - 18 October 2006

The Government denied many Labor Members of Parliament the opportunity to voice their opposition to the cross-media ownership laws in Parliament today.

NOT-IN-MY-BACKYARD BALDWIN MUST RULE OUT NUCLEAR - 17 October 2006

It is hypocritical of the Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin, to suggest putting a nuclear power plant in South-Western Sydney.

GOVERNMENT SHAMED INTO ACTION ON SKILLS CRISIS - 12 October 2006

Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Grierson today welcomed the Howard Government's long overdue admission that it had created a massive skills crisis.

FUNDING FOR NEWCASTLE'S INNOVATIVE RESEARCHERS - 11 October 2006

The University of Newcastle was today congratulated for securing over $9 million in Commonwealth funds through the Australian Research Council.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR SPORTS AWARDS - 10 October 2006
Sharon Grierson has today called for nominations from the Federal Electorate of Newcastle for the 2006 Commonwealth Sports Achievement Awards.

GOVERNMENT FORGETTING COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES - 9 October 2006
While the Howard Government was spending another $20 million promoting the sale of Telstra, it had forgotten about basic phone, broadband and postal services, Sharon Grierson told Parliament today.

TELSTRA CONTRACTORS' WAGES SCREWED DOWN - 27 September 2006
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Grierson today joined with ACTU President Sharan Burrow to address a rally in protest against moves to cut the pay of Telstra sub-contractors by up to $25,000 a year.

GRIERSON ASKS HER PHARMACIST - 27 September 2006
Sharon Grierson will show her support for 'Ask Your Pharmacist Week' with a visit to Doc's Newcastle Night & Day Pharmacy.

$100k FOR UNI ON WORLD ALZHEIMER'S DAY - 21 September 2006
Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Grierson, marked World Alzheimer's Day today with the announcement of a $100,682 Commonwealth Dementia Service Development Grant to the University of Newcastle.

GOVERNMENT SHOULD GET BALL ROLLING ON STADIUM - 14 September 2006
Sharon Grierson today called in Parliament for the Howard Government to get the ball rolling on the next phase of EnergyAustralia Stadium's upgrade, so that Newcastle did not miss out on hosting matches in any Australian World Cup bid.

NO TIME TO LOSE ON LOCAL DEMENTIA RESOURCES - 7 September 2006
On the eve of National Dementia Awareness Month, Sharon Grierson has called on the Howard Governments to provide funding for a Dementia Resource Centre in Newcastle.

CALL FOR UNITED EFFORT ON NEW COMMONWEALTH COURT BUILDING , 4 August 2006
Sharon Grierson today called for a united effort from the region to support a proposal for a Commonwealth Court building in Newcastle.

HOUSEHOLD BUDGETS TAKE ANOTHER INTEREST RATE HIT , 2 August 2006
Novocastrians are again bearing the brunt of John Howard's broken promises, with today's interest rate rise adding about $35 per month to repayments on an average mortgage.

MEDICAL PLACES TO EASE GP SHORTAGE , 14 July 2006
Sharon Grierson today welcomed the announcement that the University of Newcastle and the University of New England would receive funding for 80 additional Commonwealth supported medical places as part of a joint program.

NEW FAMILY COURT JUDGE A WIN FOR NEWCASTLE , 23 June 2006
Years of lobbying by the Newcastle community, the legal fraternity and the Federal Member for Newcastle have been rewarded today, with the appointment of a second Judge to the Newcastle Family Court Registry.

TASKFORCE FINDS COMMUNITY UNEASE ABOUT WORKCHOICES RACE TO THE BOTTOM , 20 June 2006
The preliminary report of Labor's Industrial Relations Taskforce, WorkChoices: a Race to the Bottom, has found that insecurity and uncertainty about WorkChoices are widespread in the Australian community.

LABOR TO PROVIDE ALL NOVOCASTRIANS WITH HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND , 13 June 2006
Sharon Grierson says Labor's commitment to build a new national network would make a faster broadband service accessible to all households and businesses in Newcastle.

NEWCASTLE PRIVATE HOSPITAL SACKINGS , 8 June 2006
The full force of John Howard's WorkChoices laws hit home today, with Newcastle Private Hospital sacking 8 workers and offering 36 workers "other positions".

MIGRANT SERVICES - STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS , 23 May 2006
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Grierson says she is still looking for answers on the continuing problems in the delivery of services to humanitarian migrants in Newcastle.

TOP MARKS FOR SCHOOLS - FAIL FOR THE GOVERNMENT , 4 May 2006
After months of delays, the Federal Government has finally released the list of Newcastle schools recieving grants under Round 2 of the Investing In Our Schools Program (IOSP).

WORKFORCE TOMORROW: WHAT ABOUT WORKCHOICES TODAY? , 3 May 2006
While the Minister for Workplce Relations is hosting a Breakfast With The Bosses to flog his Government's WorkChoices package, Sharon Grierson and the Labor Industrial Relations Taskforce will be in regional Australia consulting with low-paid workers, small businesses, and community groups to assess its real impact on the ground.

GOVERNMENT MUST ANNOUNCE SCHOOLS FUNDING , 2 May 2006
Sharon Grierson says the Howard Government must immediately announce which public schools have secured funding under Round 2 of the Investing in our Schools Program (IOSP).

INTEREST RATES & TAX CUTS: FAMILIES SHORT CHANGED , 2 May 2006
Sharon Grierson has warned that Newcastle families will continue to be short-changed by the Howard Government, regardless of the outcomes of today's Reserve Bank meeting on interest rates and next week's Federal Budget.

LABOR EXAMINING ENERGY POLICY IN NEWCASTLE , 1 May 2006
Member for Newcastle Sharon Grierson MP and Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, Resources, Forestry and Tourism, Martin Ferguson MP, are today consulting with key stakeholders in Newcastle on energy policy.

DO NOT CALL REGISTER: GOVT FINALLY ADOPTS LABOR POLICY , 4 April 2006
Sharon Grierson today welcomed the announcement that the Government would adopt Labor's policy for a National Do Not Call Register to stop unwanted telemarketing phone calls.

NOVOCASTRIANS SALUTE , 27 March 2006
Member for Newcastle Sharon Grierson today announced two Commonwealth grants under the Saluting Their Service Program to help Newcastle commemorate those who served our nation in war time.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NEWCASTLE STUDENTS , 21 March 2006
The Federal Member for Newcastle today announced the two recipients of the 2006 Sharon Grierson Education Scholarship.

FUNDING FOR NEWCASTLE SCHOOLS , 20 March 2006:
Sharon Grierson today announced Commonwealth grants totalling $2,240,855 to two Newcastle schools.

COMMUNITY WATER GRANTS FOR NEWCASTLE , 17 March 2006
Sharon Grierson today announced federal funding for Community Water Grants totalling $145,925 to five Newcastle organisations, including two local primary schools.

GRIERSON SEEKS MORE AGED CARE PLACES FOR NEWCASTLE , 16 March 2006
Sharon Grierson today called on the Howard Government to provide an increased allocation of aged care places for Newcastle and the Hunter.

HOWARD TO THE HEALTH FUNDS: ASK AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE , 24 February 2006
The Howard Government today ripped another $156 a year from the pockets of Newcastle families with its decision to lift private health insurance premiums by an average of 5.68%.

GOVERNMENT INSULTING AUSTRALIAN WORKERS ON RIGHT TO NEGOTIATE , 14 February 2006
Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Grierson today spoke in Parliament to condemn the Howard Government and the Member for Paterson for failing to take action to resolve the dispute at the Boeing Williamtown site.

SHARON GRIERSON EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS , 14 February 2006
The Federal Member for Newcastle today invited nominations for the 2006 Sharon Grierson Education Scholarships.

HUNTER SHOWCASED AT INTERNATIONAL DEFENCE INDUSTRY EXPO , 31 January 2006
Member for Newcastle Sharon Grierson today congratulated the Hunter region's defence and manufacturing industry for its combined presence at this week's Pacific International Maritime Expo in Sydney.

BIG NEWCASTLE WELCOME FOR QUEEN'S BATON RELAY , 26 January 2006
Sharon Grierson today called on Novocastrians to extend a big welcome to the Commonwealth Games Queen's Baton Relay when it passes through Newcastle on Friday and Saturday this week.

DON'T LET MIGRANT SERVICES GET LOST IN THE RESHUFFLE , 25 January 2006
Sharon Grierson today called on the Howard Government to commit to fixing migrant services in the Hunter, following the shifting of the responsible minister out of the portfolio in yesterday's reshuffle.

LABOR IR TASKFORCE TO EXPOSE THE STORIES GOVT WANTS TO HIDE , 17 January 2006
Member of the Labor Caucus Industrial Relations Taskforce & Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Grierson today called for community feedback on the impact of the Howard Government's industrial relations changes.