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Monday 1 March 2021

Three years since first raising the issue, Shadow Minister for Women Nicole Lawder MLA expressed disappointment that the ACT Government’s target for women feeling safe at night in public places is a measly 40%.

“It is frustrating, that after raising this issue three years ago in estimates hearings the Minister and I are again revisiting the same debate.” Shadow Minister for Women Nicole Lawder said.

“The Minister’s argument that this target is reflective of the national statistics for women feeling safe at night doesn’t stack up. This isn’t Sydney or Melbourne; Canberra is a smaller, city and should be aiming higher when it comes to women’s safety.”

“Perhaps the Minster should focus more on working with her colleague Minister Steel to fix the broken streetlights, reduce the walking times for public transport users and improve basic local services. Research shows women feel less safe in areas of poor lighting, litter, and graffiti and with little community police presence. Practical and simple measures must be taken to help women feel safe at night in public places.”

Monday 8 February 2021

The Office of Seniors and Veterans has not been included in the ACT Legislative Assembly inquiries into Annual and Financial Report Hearings. Following the demotion of the Seniors and Veterans ministry into the Family and Community Services portfolio, the Labor-Greens Government insisted that seniors would still be represented under Assistant Minister Emma Davidson MLA.

“The decision to not include the Office of Seniors and Veterans in the Annual Reports and Estimates Hearings is just another example of this government’s continued contempt for seniors and veterans,” Shadow Minister for Seniors Nicole Lawder said.

“It was disappointing enough when the Labor-Greens Government chose to demote the Seniors and Veterans portfolio, but to now not include them in the public hearings process is a disgrace.”

Shadow Minister for Veterans Jeremy Hanson has also questioned the government about their track record on seniors and veterans. “During December last year I asked the Chief Minister about his government’s mistreatment of the portfolio and received assurances that seniors and veterans would be treated the same as any other area. This is clearly not the case,” Mr Hanson said.

“Seniors and Veterans deserve respect not just in the community but by their government as well. It is a terrible shame that this Labor-Greens Government has failed to include the Office of Seniors and Veterans in the hearing process and they should remedy this mistake immediately,” Mr Hanson concluded.

 

Nicole Lawder MLA
Member for Brindabella

MEDIA RELEASE

Wednesday 4 November 2020                         

Seniors portfolio demoted by Labor-Greens Government

The Seniors Ministry has been dropped from the Labor-Greens Government’s new cabinet. The Canberra Liberals are disappointed by this decision, believing this is just another example of the Labor-Greens Government leaving seniors behind.

“The demotion of the Seniors portfolio demonstrates the Labor-Greens Government’s disdain for older Canberrans,” Nicole Lawder said.

“Continuously throughout this pandemic, seniors’ organisations and stakeholders have been pleading for better consultation and communication from the ACT Government.

“Shuffling the portfolio into another is not the answer and it’s simply not good enough.

“We know we have an ageing population and our government should reflect that. The Canberra Liberals are calling on the government to recognise seniors in its own portfolio as has previously been done,” Ms Lawder concluded.

Media contact:

Liam Develin    M 0421 876 758   E This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Nicole Lawder MLA

Shadow Minister for City Services

Shadow Minister for Seniors

Shadow Minister for Women

Shadow Minister for Arts

Member for Brindabella

MEDIA RELEASE

Friday 13 November 2020

Labor-Greens Government fails to take out the trash

Thousands of Canberra residents’ usual garbage collection services have been disrupted over the past weeks due to a scheduled truck driver strike over a pay dispute. Forty Canberra suburbs have been directly affected, the majority of which are on the southside.

“Many Canberrans are already suffering with cost of living pressures under this government’s expensive rates regime. The least the government can do is ensure that these basic services are provided,” Shadow Minister for City Services Nicole Lawder said.

“Canberrans work hard and shouldn’t have to be carting their rubbish around to drop off sites because the government fails to deliver the most basic services.

“Not everyone is physically able to drop off their garbage, nor does everyone have a vehicle to do so and it is disappointing that the government hasn’t made alternative options for these residents.

“Less than one month into this new Labor-Greens Government and they can’t even ensure that residents’ garbage gets collected. Basic government service standards continue to fall and of course, it’s mostly the southside that once again suffers the consequences,” Ms Lawder concluded.

Media contact:

Liam Develin    M 0421 876 758   E This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Adoption processes are set to be more child-centred thanks to the steadfast efforts of the Canberra Liberals and community advocates.

 

Nicole Lawder MLA
Deputy Leader of the Opposition 
Member for Brindabella

Elizabeth Kikkert MLA
Shadow Minister for Families, Youth and Community Services
Member for Ginninderra

 

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday August 13, 2020

 

ADOPTION PROCESSES SET TO BE MORE CHILD-CENTRED AFTER LONG PUSH FOR CHANGE

Adoption processes are set to be more child-centred thanks to the steadfast efforts of the Canberra Liberals and community advocates.

Long-awaited changes to the Adoption Act 1993 due to be debated in the ACT Legislative Assembly today were first advocated for by the Canberra Liberals in 2015.

Then Shadow Minister for Families and Community Services Nicole Lawder moved motions in the Assembly to improve adoption processes to produce better outcomes for children and adoption parents.

A Domestic Adoptions Taskforce was subsequently established which recommended legislative change in a 2017 report.

The changes currently before the Assembly will make adoption processes more child-centred by expanding the definition of what’s in the best interest of the child. This expansion will include consideration of the preservation of cultural inheritance and identity of the child, intellectual needs, emotional and stable living conditions, existing relationships and the need to protect the child from exposure to abuse or neglect.

“While these are small changes, they are important to ensuring the wellbeing of children is the focus of the adoption process,” Ms Lawder said.

“Adoption is an incredibly complex and nuanced process which requires great sensitivity. After years of pushing for reform, I am pleased that the Assembly is taking this positive step forward.”

The Shadow Minister for Families, Youth and Community Services Elizabeth Kikkert will move an amendment to ensure the application of the new laws can be assessed after two years.

“We understand the role that stability in home life plays in the healthy development of children. That’s why it’s important to remove any unnecessary obstacles to achieving permanency, including adoption. This bill puts the best interests of the child first,” Mrs Kikkert said. 

Media contact Deborah Seccombe:

P (02) 6205 1580           M 0451 255 891            E This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 

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