Thursday 17 December 2015
There were no local adoptions in the ACT, in 2014-15, according to a report released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) today. It again raises questions about the adoption processes locally, Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services Nicole Lawder said today.
“The AIHW’s Adoptions Australia 2014–15 report recorded no local adoptions in the ACT. This is in stark contrast to Victoria which had 24 local adoptions and Queensland which had 10,” Ms Lawder said.
“There are many families in Canberra who are willing and able to adopt a child or children who are in need of loving and stable homes. As Shadow Minister for Family and Community Services, I am concerned that the current ACT adoption process is not giving these families the opportunity to adopt locally.
“The ACT has the equal lowest number of local adoptions in Australia and in September this year I raised concerns in the Legislative Assembly and was assured by the government that all was well with the process. The report released today demonstrates otherwise.
“There are Canberrans who want to adopt, but the process needs to allow them to. There are children in need of loving homes and this issue should be a priority for the Barr government,” Ms Lawder concluded.
Contact: Joe Prevedello 040276843
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Thursday 26 November 2015
Member for Brindabella Nicole Lawder will open the Lifeline Canberra
Christmas Book Sale at the Calwell Shops tomorrow morning. The sale of
books will run tomorrow and Saturday.
“This is an excellent opportunity for residents to find Christmas gifts and help one of
Canberra’s great organisations at the same time. The sale is being run with the help
of the South East Tuggeranong Residents Association (SETRA) and will focus on
children’s items and fiction,” Ms Lawder said.
“Lifeline does an incredible job answering calls from people in our community who
are in crisis. They also do a fantastic job running three book fairs across the year
and the volunteers who make them happen are to be congratulated.
What: Lifeline Canberra Christmas Book Sale Opening
When: 8:45am Tomorrow - Friday 27 November
Where: Calwell Shopping Centre - Off Webber Crescent
“I encourage not just Tuggeranong residents but all Canberrans to drop in to the
Calwell Shops to browse and buy some of the great books available ahead of
Christmas,” Ms Lawder concluded.
Contact: Joe Prevedello 0402768432
Friday 11 December 2015
New data released today from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows there were hundreds of cases of unmet need for homelessness services in the Canberra community last financial year. It should sound alarm bells to the government that more needs to be done to address homelessness, Shadow Minister for Housing Nicole Lawder said today.
“I find it alarming to see that there were 599 instances of unmet need and more women than men in unmet need. It demonstrates a failure of the government’s response to the issue,” Ms Lawder said.
“While the number of Canberrans receiving support from homelessness services dropped, domestic and family violence was the most common main reason given for seeking assistance at 14.8% in the ACT (239 men, 489 women) (also largest group last year at 15%). Nationally this is also the most common main reason at 24%.
“The AIHW report showed that couch surfing is the most common type of housing situation on first presentation to homelessness services, at 20.9% of all clients in the ACT. This is much higher than the national average of 11.4%.
“Mental health is also much higher than the national average as a reason for seeking assistance at 21.9% (last year 19.6%, nationally 12.2%).
“Canberrans seeking assistance are generally in younger age groups than the national average. 13.5% of ACT clients were aged less than 9 years of age, while the most clients were in the 18-24 years (21.1%) and 25-34 years age groups (20.8%), similar figures to last year.
“I’m also particularly concerned about the lack of exits from homelessness services. This is down to the lack of housing affordability in Canberra. Almost 55 percent of ACT clients identified housing affordability or financial difficulties as a reason for seeking assistance, much higher than the 46.2% figure nationally. The ACT government knows there a problem but it actually needs to address the housing affordability crisis,” Ms Lawder concluded.
Contact: Joe Prevedello 0402768432
17 November 2015
Today the Canberra Liberals will lead a Legislative Assembly debate on the importance of the ACT’s regional community councils. These councils play a vital role promoting democracy and citizenship in Canberra, Member for Brindabella Nicole Lawder said today.
“It was disappointing to hear Andrew Barr discredit the community councils in recent Assembly Annual Reports hearings where he claimed they were unrepresentative. It’s a put down to the members of these councils who volunteer their time and energy standing up for their region of the ACT,” Ms Lawder said.
Andrew Barr, Public Accounts Committee Hearing, 4 November 2015 - “The idea that a community council is in any way representative, given that most of the attendees are of one particular gender in some councils and, again, way out of connect with the demographic distribution of people living in particular regions…”
“Community Councils play a fundamental role in promoting and engaging in grassroots democracy. I can speak for the members of the Tuggeranong Community Council for whom I deal with regularly; they are proud advocates for the community.
“Mr Barr’s position is also highly hypocritical given the government provides resources for the councils.
“The Canberra Liberals believe in greater representation and the vital role of community councils, which is why we’re bringing on this Matter of Public Importance (MPI) debate today. It’s disappointing Andrew Barr and his government don’t share the same view,” Ms Lawder concluded.
Contact: Joe Prevedello 0402768432
Authorised by Nicole Lawder, Canberra Liberals, 4/50 Geils Court Deakin ACT 2600