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You are here : Representatives » Alex Hawke MP

Sunday, 5 February 2012

Alex Hawke
Member for Mitchell

CALLOUS SAFETY NET CUTS HURT FAMILIES IN THE HILLS

A study of Medicare data by the University of New South Wales has revealed that callous cuts made by the Gillard government to the Medicare Safety Net had prevented couples in the Hills from starting a family through assisted reproductive treatments.

‘Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Health Minister Nicola Roxon stand condemned by these revelations," Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP, said. "There are a lot of young couples looking to start a family in the Hills. The cuts Labor made to the Extended Medicare Safety Net put IVF treatment out of the financial reach of many couples.

"The Coalition, doctors and groups that represent those seeking IVF treatment all warned that this would be the case when they went to make the cuts in 2009. But in typical Labor fashion the government chose to not listen.

"Because of these actions we have seen a 13 per cent drop in the use of IVF technology in the year since Labor made this change. In real terms an estimated 1500 babies were not conceived and born thanks to Minister Roxon’s shameful short-sighted actions.

"Families in the Hills who are used to being let down by Labor will not be surprised to learn that this cruel decision represents yet another broken promise by Labor. In 2007 Labor promised they would not change the safety net, but two years later they capped payments on IVF and obstetric treatments. Working families cannot trust Labor.

"The Minister guaranteed that those seeking IVF treatments would not be worse off under the changes she made. The study confirms that this is once again, another broken promise.

"These changes are forcing some families in the Hills to abandon their hopes of having children because of the increased costs they would face amounting to thousands of dollars.

"Labor poor decisions making consistently makes life harder for families in our area. This financial barrier that the Minister has put in the way of young couples trying to start a family is another horrible example of this," Alex Hawke concluded.

MEMBER FOR MITCHELL

Alex Hawke

Pardon call for Harry 'Breaker' Morant, Peter Handcock and George Witton

Recently in Parliament I had the opportunity to speak in support of a petition to the United Kingdom Government regarding a pardon of Harry ‘Breaker’ Morant, Peter Handcock, and George Witton.

The three officers were court martialled during the Boer War in 1902, and Morant and Handcock were executed by firing squad. Witton was released from prison in 1904.

Today’s popular image of Breaker Morant is that of a charismatic figure, as portrayed by Edward Woodward in the film of the same name. This image maintains that Breaker Morant—an expert horseman and a soldier of the Empire—was not only caught up in a conflict against a ruthless enemy in the Boers, but also a conflict of orders and the conflict of morality in war.

I do not completely agree with this image. Morant, along with Handcock and Witton, were court martialled for crimes which were brutal and unacceptable. While these crimes should not be condoned, nor should the process and conduct of their court martial.

A public hearing of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Petitions earlier this year heard from direct descendants of the convicted men. It was compelling to hear their stories and also to hear the different arguments for and against a pardon.

To me there was an insufficient amount of time to hear the evidence in the court martial and to arrive at a decision and sentence for Morant, Handcock and Witton. There was also inadequate access to legal representation, and Morant, Handcock and Witton were not given access to avenues to appeal or seek clemency.

While we should not seek to perpetuate or to indulge a myth, in this instance the seeking of the pardon is more about overturning a failure of process, than condoning or diminishing the actions of those who were found guilty.

One unexpected consequence of this court martial was the influence it had on Australian public opinion, both at the time and up to the present. It is significant that despite 121 Australian soldiers being sentenced to death during the First World War, no Australian serving in an Australian military formation was executed.

As individuals we can judge the actions of Morant, Handcock and Witton harshly. But we should also be constantly alert to the failings a process, especially when it concerns our men and women serving overseas in uniform. A pardon of Morant, Handcock and Witton would overturn an injustice.