PRESS CLIPPINGS
Aug 27, 2008 Medicare may provide another budget bump
...A lot of the focus with the Medicare Levy surcharge changes has been to do with who's going to be better off, and obviously families earning over $100,000 get a tax break, but what Family First has raised concerns about is that families earning between $50,000 and $100,000 they will get slugged with a private health premium increase and Family First want to know what the government is going to do for these low income earning families...
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Aug 15, 2008 'RBA must cut rates now'
An official rate cut will mean little to homeowners if the retail banks don't pass on the move in their mortgage rates. The banks are still refusing to guarantee that they will match a move by the RBA in full, bringing a renewed spray from influential Family First senator Steve Fielding.
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Aug 15, 2008 Trial fuel plan in NSW if it's that good
The Rudd government should trail its FuelWatch scheme in NSW before rolling it out to the rest of the country, Family First senator Steve Fielding says. The government is facing an uphill battle in the Senate to have its draft laws for a national petrol price watch scheme passed by Parliament.
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Aug 07, 2008 Unit pricing will save all of us some money
It's never-ending, isn't it? The weekly shop - pushing a wobbly-wheeled trolley up and down the aisles, loading up on the essentials and a few treats, picking over the fruit ad vegetables for the freshest and waiting in line before hauling everything home until next time. But shopping for food and groceries has changed quite a bit over the past year...
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Aug 07, 2008 Pubs face more curbs on pokies
A wave of regulatory reform is set to break upon a pub sector already suffering from a slowdown in transactions, credit crisis woes and the tight consumer dollar. Two bills brought into federal parliament earlier this year by Family First leaser Steve Fielding propose a new tax on poker machines, and would limit cash bets on poker machines to $1 a spin and limit payout prizes to a maximum of $1000.
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Jul 29, 2008 Senator pledge on river
Fielding to use Senate pressure to get water into Murray
Family First senator Steve Fielding has promised to use his influence in the Senate to return water to the Murray River. Senator Fielding will push for water to be piped across to Victoria from Tasmania and build a tunnel throught the Great Dividing Range to send water north to the Murray. Yesterday, he waded in the Murray at Psyche Bend with a dripper to show how little we can expect from the Federal Government.
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Jul 29, 2008 The binge goes on
By any account the Federal Government's controversial alcopops tax appears to have neglected to do what the Government claimed it was all about - tackling the culture of binge drinking. Data released by the Liquor Merchants Association of Australia has shown that the alcopops tax has pushed sales of standard alcohol drinks up by a staggering 21 million. It confirms what Family First thought would happen all along...
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Jul 23, 2008 Bread, butter and a hint of flavour
Reflecting upon his first four years in Federal Parliament, Family First senator Steve Fielding maintains he will continue to work on the "bread and butter issues" with the possible odd stunt thrown in. "I suppose most of us want to make a difference. When I got onto local council, there was no objective of going elsewhere..."
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Jul 21, 2008 Yarra tunnel to save Murray
A tunnel from the Upper Yarra Dam to Lake Eildon would feed the starved Murray River and give hope to struggling farmers along the Murray River system, Family First leader Senator Steve Fielding said yesterday.
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Jul 18, 2008 Call for rates hike control
Family First Senator Steve Fielding said banks should seek approval from the Federal treasurer for interest rate hikes. Speaking about the recent rate hike by the major banks without an increase from the Reserve Bank of Australia, Senator Fielding said banks should have to seek approval from treasurer for mortgage interest rate rises above Reserve Bank increases.
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Jul 03, 2008 Threat of alcohol curbs still in the air
The head of the peak body for advertising agencies says pressure for further regulations on alcohol will continue even though in the past fortnight two senate inquiries have rejected restrictions on selling and advertising alcopops.
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Jun 27, 2008 It's O-week for senators
The Government will need to win support from the five Greens, Family First's Steve Fielding or independent Nick Xenephon to push its program through the new Senate.
Senator Fielding is well aware of the power he will exercise as a go-to man. ``The major parties want to deal with us because they know we go about business constructively,'' he says, subtly contrasting his party with the harder-line Greens.
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Jun 25, 2008 Threats to block tax on alcopops
The controversial $1 a bottle tax hike on alcopops should be blocked in the Senate and drinkers who've been charged the tax since April 26 may have to be reimbursed. In a major embarrassnment for the Rudd Government, Family First Senator Steve Fielding said he would block the tax unless the Government did much more to curb binge drinking.
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Jun 22, 2008 Labor of love: wooing the senate's wild bunch
When the Senate regroups at the end of August after an eight-week winter hiatus, it will be controlled by a diverse group of minor players. And for the first time in 30 years, there will be no Democrats. The new order will see Labor's bills in the 76-member house hingeing on the votes of five Greens, Family First's Steve Fielding, and South Australian independent Nick Xenophon. Labor, which will have 32 senators, will need the support of all seven to capture the 39 votes necessary to pass any piece of legislation not supported by the Coalition, which will have 37 seats.
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Jun 18, 2008 Family First backs Nats over wheat
Family First Senator Steve Fielding yesterday teamed up with the Nationals to vote against a new Bill scrapping the single wheat export.
Victorian Senator Fielding, who has long championed for cheaper grocery and petrol prices, accused Labor of turning its back on those who needed protection.
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Jun 17, 2008 Pay on the internet at your own risk, say the big banks
"Options to pay ordinary bills in cash continue to be eroded, but the shift from cash to electronic transfer for utilities has allowed banks to saddle customers with some of the risks involved in these arrangements,'' Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW policy co-ordinator Paul Versteege says... Mr Versteege said the association supported the Fair Bank and Credit Card Fees Amendment Bill, introduced by Family First Senator Steve Fielding.
A Senate inquiry into the draft bill, which aims to rein in bank penalty fees, held a public hearing in Sydney last week, and is due to report by September.
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Jun 16, 2008 Senator wants to shrink pokie jackpots
Pokies prizes would be limited to a maximum of $1000 under a plan to combat problem gambling in Australia. Family First Senator Steve Fielding will this week introduce a Bill into Parliament to restrict prizes and limit the amount punters can bet on poker machines.
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Jun 12, 2008 It's time to stop banks' penalty fee profit grab
Are you fed up with banks making massive profits while ripping off customers with exorbitant bank penalty fees? Australian families are struggling to make ends meet and getting hit with a penalty fee of up to $50 can be a real blow.
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Jun 08, 2008 Seniors use credit to live
Pensioners are risking their homes by using reverse mortgages to pay off spiralling creidt card debts, an independent review reveals... Family First senator Steve Fielding said pensioners were suffering because their entitlements had become a political issue.
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Jun 02, 2008 Pitiless banks damned
...The Senate committee is considering a Bill, proposed by Family First Senator Steve Fielding, which would slash bank fees, limiting any penalties to the actual cost incurred by the lender. It would also ban penalty fees for customers receiving a dishonoured cheque - described in a submission from The Smith Family as a "double penalty" on struggling families.
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May 27, 2008 Coles downplays size in grocery price inquiry
Coles has denied using its dominant market position to take advantage of consumers... Family First senator Steve Fielding said families would save money on their grocery bills if the federal government and supermarkets agreed to introduce unit pricing so families can easily compare prices.
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May 16, 2008 Seniors strip in pension protest
Angry pensioners and a Family First senator have stripped off and stopped traffic on one of Melbourne's busiest intersections in a protest against a lack of support for seniors in this week's Federal Budget.
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May 15, 2008 Saving thousands on food
Shoppers might soon be able to save "thousands of dollars a year" on groceries if Family First Senator Steve Fielding's new laws are adopted by Parliament.
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May 15, 2008 Family First's Unit Pricing Legislation Good For Consumers
The Queensland Consumers Association has welcomed the legislation for compulsory unit pricing of pre-packaged grocery products introduced into the Senate by Family First Senator Steve Fielding. The unit price would be shown in addition to the selling price.
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May 13, 2008 Four alcopops equal four doughnuts
A Senate inquiry into alcohol laws has concluded many people may cut back on the amount of alcohol they drink if they knew how many calories were in each glass.
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May 12, 2008 A shoppers' guide to happier little Vegemites
Retailers would be forced to display the prices of grocery items by the kilogram or litre to help customers choose between different sizes and brands under proposed laws to be introduced to Parliament this week by the Family First senator Steve Fielding. Family First estimates shoppers could halve the cost of their grocery bill if they always opted for items at the cheapest per unit price.
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May 06, 2008 Save kids from alcohol ads
...The problem is alcohol companies and advertisers quite naturally pursue their own interests, which are not always what's best for the rest of us and our kids. This is why Family First has proposed new laws that would restrict alcohol advertising to after 9pm and require a health warning label to be placed on all alcohol products. These changes to our laws would help curb problem drinking and promote a culture of responsible drinking.
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May 05, 2008 Booze group rejects labels
The alcohol industry has denied Australia is in the midst of a binge drinking epidemic and is resisting a push for health warning labels to be placed on products... The warning labels and advertising restrictions have been proposed by Family First Senator Steve Fielding. I just tend to think the alcohol industry's not fair dinkum," he said.
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May 04, 2008 Bid to cut food costs
Supermarkets may be forced to display costs-per-measure on products under a radical new grocery pricing plan being considered by Kevin Rudd... The Prime Minister last week met with Family First Senator Steve Fielding, who has been pushing the idea. Senior Government sources said Mr Rudd was prepared to look at it.
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May 04, 2008 Banks' threat to Rudd
Banks have threatened to scrap low-fee accounts for pensioners and battling families and increase interest rates if the Rudd government cracks down on excessive penalty fees... "Bank penalty fees should be to recover their cost, not profit off people's genuine mistakes," Family First Senator Steve Fielding said.
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May 03, 2008 Grog warning labels plan
Alcohol containers could carry compulsory health warning labels under a plan approved by state and federal governments yesterday... Family First Senator Steve Fielding said most Australians wanted health warning labels on alcohol. "Surely warning labels on alcohol products will reinforce a culture of responsible drinking."
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May 01, 2008 Brakes on borrowing as banks keep closer eye on credit
..."Banks are a law unto themselves, and no one is holding them to account for hiking interest rates above Reseve Bank increases, and charging exorbitant penalty rates," Senator Fielding said. "Banks should have to seek approval for interest rate increases, much like approval is sought for increases in private health insurance premiums."
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Apr 30, 2008 Push for laws on container deposit
...Last week, Family First's Drink Container Recycling Bill 2008 was referred to a Senate committee for inquiry. Family First leader Steve Fielding said the proposed laws would establish a scheme similar to the one operating in South Australia for the past 30 years.
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Apr 30, 2008 Rates threat on fees
Australia's banks have threatened to lift interest rates even higher if forced to slash customer penalty fees... "They are holding the lowest-income earners to ransom," Senator Fielding said. "I don't believe people are sitting deliberately at home trying to frustrate the banks. And for banks to be profiteering, especially when people are really feeling the pinch from higher interest rates, it's just outrageous."
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Apr 27, 2008 Bank rorts must cease
It's high time we put a stop to these unconscionable, maybe illegal, penalty fees.
Last week marked the beginning of a Senate inquiry into penalty fees, prompted by a private member's bill tabled by Family First's Senator Steve Fielding. We won't know the outcome until a discussion paper is released next month, with the final report expected by the end of the year...
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Apr 26, 2008 Lion roars at grog label plan
The booze industry has hit back at suggestions Australia should follow international models and place health warning on alcohol labels... The Senate's Community Affairs Committee is examining a Bill by Family First Senator Steve Fielding to give health information to alcohol consumers and restrict alcohol advertising.
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Apr 20, 2008 Calls to cut bank fees
...Family First leader Senator Steve Fielding has introduced a Bill into the Senate to outlaw the penalty fees. "For some people a penalty fee of $30 can be the difference between putting food on the table," he said. Mr Fielding was especially critical of banks that charged dishonouring fees to their customers who had the misfortune to have a cheque bounce on them.
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Apr 16, 2008 Aquifer farmers left dry
South Gippsland farmers are putting pressure on the Federal Government to announce its response to a report on the shrinking LaTrobe aquifer... Family First Senator Steve Fielding said farmers has waited for government action for more than 10 years.
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Apr 14, 2008 Wowser at the bowser
With motoring organisations across the country backing the idea of fuel watch schemes, Family First leader Steve Fielding says he will introduce national fuel price monitoring laws when the Senate gets back to work next month, if nothing is done in the interim, and reckons he could save motorists about $300 million a year.
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Apr 13, 2008 FuelWatch scheme gets green light
The Federal government is about to adopt a national FuelWatch system that could save motorists as much as 5c a litre at the petrol pump... Family First leader Steve Fielding, who has been campaigning hard for the introduction of the scheme, welcomed the news.
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Apr 13, 2008 Grog lobby hits TV ban
Cricket Australia, rugby codes and racing clubs have threatened to raise ticket prices if the Rudd government bans alcohol advertising on television... The inquiry is examining laws to restrict TV and radio alcohol advertising to after 9pm and before 5am, to prevent alcohol being marketed to young people. The bill, proposed by Family First, also suggests a ban on alcohol advertisements that link drinking to personal, business, social, sporting, sexual or other success.
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Apr 07, 2008 Bank inquiry kept low profile: Fielding
A major review of the banking code of practice has been kept so quiet few Australians have had a chance to complain about 'outrageous' morgage exit fees and bank penalty fees, Family First says.
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Apr 07, 2008 Banks in hidden conduct reviews
An independent inquiry into the banks' code of conduct has been going since December and the results will be finalised and handed to the Australian Bankers' Association by May 31. But according to Family First senator Steve Fielding, only the most forensic bank customer will have had a chance to have their say on issues such as the banks' $2.6 billion in account-keeping and credit card fees.
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Apr 02, 2008 Push for supermarkets to display unit pricing
Supermarkets would be forced to display unit pricing in their stores - making it easier for customers to choose the cheapest product - under new legislation being drafted. Family First is working on federal legislation to make it mandatory to display the price of the product in unit form, such as the price per kilogram, per litre or per item.
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Apr 02, 2008 Canberra feels aquifer pressure
Political pressure has been placed on the Federal Government to reveal how much compensation farmers affected by falling groundwater in the Latrobe Aquifer can expect to receive... "The new government has been there for 127 days so they should have had time to get their heads around it," senator Fielding said.
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Apr 01, 2008 Choc-a-block
That will teach sweet-toothed senator Steve Fielding for devouring 42 blocks of chocolate, one a day, during last year's gruelling election campaign (it was even more gruelling for unloved J.Howard). Steve's GP has delivered the bed news that his choc-around-the-clock has contributed to his cholesterol skyrocketing to 6.5. So it's bye-bye dairy and milk chocolate. Celery has never looked so good. As for a healthier party slogan, how about Family First: Chocolate Last?
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Mar 26, 2008 COAG 'musn't be cosy Labor chat'
A key meeting between state, territory and federal leaders must not turn into just a "cosy chat" between fellow Labor politicians but deliver real action on important issues, Family First says.
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Mar 25, 2008 Consumers pay the penalties for banks' creaky systems
Banking systems and practices will come under scrutiny in a Senate inquiry on the Fair Bank ans Credit Card Fees Amendment Bill, introduced by Family First Senator Steve Fielding last year. "Outrageous bank fees need to be reined in," he said. "Banks have been encouraging people to use electronic transactions, but instead of fees coming down they're gove up."
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Mar 25, 2008 Minister dilutes push to lift booze age limit
The Rudd Government has backed away from populist solutions to Australia's binge-drinking culture, with Health Minister Nicola Roxon declaring raising the drinking age limit off the agenda... Family First Senator Steve Fielding urged COAG to adopt the NSW law that made it illegal to serve someone else's child alcohol in their own home.
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Mar 24, 2008 Liberals seek hope in a fortune cookie
...After the 2007 Budget, Peter Costello's last, Senator Fielding began a campaign on the "alcohol toll" and binge drinking, and it seems something of his efforts stuck in the mind of Kevin Rudd. Rudd launched his own antibinge drinking campaign recently and although he didn't give Fielding credit, I understand the two have met privately and discussed it and other social issues.
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Mar 20, 2008 Alcohol ads ban 'ignores internet'
Advertiser will argue in submissions to a Senate inquiry that legislation to ban alcohol advertising before 9pm is flawed as it focuses on television and radio and ignores the internet. Family First senator Steve Fielding, who proposed the bill to crack down on alcohol consumption, this week called for submissions to the related Senate inquiry to examine whether the internet should also be included.
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Mar 20, 2008 Advertisers and alcohol industry prepare for inquiry showdown
Today marks the deadline for submissions to a senate inquiry, initiated by the Family First senator, Steve Fielding, looking at a bill restricting TV and radio alcohol advertising to after 9pm, banning ads aimed at children or that link drinking to sexual or financial success and putting health warnings on alcoholic drinks. Senator Fielding has also proposed including restricting alcohol ads on the internet.
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Mar 19, 2008 Senate to investigate bank fees
Bank penalty fees are set to be examined by a Senate Inquiry after the Senate referred a Family First bill on bank and credit card fees to the Economics Committee for review. The bill aims to reduce the amount banks can charge in penalty fees and boost the powers of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to monitor fees and investigate complaints.
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Mar 19, 2008 Choice welcomes Senate inquiry into bank penalty fees
Australia’s leading consumer group has welcomed today’s
decision by the Senate to investigate penalty fees in the
banking sector."We need a regulator with the powers to look at penalty fees and take action where
they are unfair. This inquiry will bring consumers a step closer to ending the banks’
practice of gouging customers on penalty fees,” said CHOICE Senior Policy Officer
Elissa Freeman.
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Mar 14, 2008 Taking a fancy to dress-ups
Senator Fielding yesterday strode the corridors of Parliament House dressed as a giant bottle to promote his plan for South Australian's drink container deposit scheme to be introduced Australia-wide.
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Mar 14, 2008 Power of poker machines under scrutiny
Political pressure on the gambling industry will intensify after the Senate agreed to conduct an inquiry into a plan to impose punitive taxes on poker machines in clubs and pubs. Labor and the Coalition backed a move to refer an anti-poker machine bill introduced by Family First to the Senate's community affairs committee for a three-month inquiry.
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Mar 13, 2008 Fielding pushes recycling 'message in a bottle'
Family First Senator Steve Fielding is pushing for a national bottle recycling refund scheme and has dressed up as a beer bottle to promote the cause. Senator Fielding says he will be tabling legislation today for the South Australian scheme to be rolled out cross the country.
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Mar 13, 2008 Family First lead tax plan to phase out pokies
As representatives from Australia's gambling industry were meeting officials in the Prime Minister's office this morning, the Senate was looking to the possibility of imposing a novel new tax on the industry.
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Mar 12, 2008 Fielding pushes for aquifer answers
Family First Senator for Victoria, Steve Fielding made a special visit to Yarram on Tuesday, March 4 to bring irrigation farmers up to date on issues surrounding the Latrobe aquifer.
"I wanted to come down here and give farmers a first hand update of what transpired in parliament recently when I put the question to the Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong.
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Mar 06, 2008 $3 a litre petrol 'a stunt by Caltex'
The NRMA says Caltex is softening up motorists for more price rises by projecting petrol prices of $3.34 a litre... "Not enough is being done to get to the bottom of petrol gouging," Senator Steve Fielding. "The ACCC should call for more powers if it needs them. If it needs the power to tap phones to find out why we are paying so much for petrol, then give it to them."
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Mar 03, 2008 You might not believe it, but we're a cleaner nation than ever before
...Family First will introduce legislation for a cash-for-trash recycling scheme, emulating South Australia's deposit system for bottles and recyclable materials, Senator Steve Fielding said yesterday. The party estimates such a scheme would result in an extra half a million tonnes of rubbish being recycled every year, reduce litter by a quarter and save families $30 a year on kerbside recycling.
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Mar 02, 2008 Litter deposit push will ban the cans
Thousands of cans and bottles are needlessly littering Victoria's beaches and rivers or heading to landfill, supporters of a bottle deposit scheme claim. Family First Senator Steve Fielding, who is working on federal legislation for a uniform national container deposit scheme, said the situation was a disgrace.
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Feb 27, 2008 Binge drinking linked to alcopops
Almost a third of teenagers cannot taste the difference between soft drinks and pre-mixed alcoholic drinks, sparking new concerns about young people binging on the so-called alcopops. A survey by consumer group Choice found young people liked the colours, flavour adn packaging of alcopops... Choice backed proposed legislation from Family First seeking to force marketers and manufacturers of alcoholic beverages to improve health information labelling on their products.
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Feb 27, 2008 Senate urged to back tougher pokies laws
The Family First party wants the Senate to support its proposed poker machine laws to push gaming machines out of suburban pubs and clubs into casinos and race tracks. The new laws would impose a new federal poker machine harm reduction tax.
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Feb 22, 2008 Scrappy fight over AWAs
The federal opposition has demanded Labor promise its plan to scrap Australian workplace agreements will not leave any amployee worse off as it mounted another defence of the individual contracts... Meanwhile, Family First senator Steve Fielding used the Senate estimates hearing to call for changes to Labor's proposed new legislated national employment standards to guarantee rights to meal breaks and penalty rates for working unusual hours.
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Feb 21, 2008 Abuse of alcohol an epidemic, PM warms
Binge drinking has reached "epidemic" proportions, the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has said , as he forehadowed action to combat the growing problem of alcohol abuse... The Family First leader, Steve Fielding, who has got Senate approval for an inquiry into alcohol promotion, says he will ask all state police commissioners to inform the inquiry on the impact of the alcohol toll.
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Feb 21, 2008 PM: we're in booze epidemic
Kevin Rudd has flagged tough action on alcohol abuse, declaring Australia is in the grip of a booze "epidemic"... The focus on problem drinking comes amid a push by Family First senator Steve Fielding for health warnings on alcohol labels and tougher advertising restrictions.
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Feb 20, 2008 Bottles in hot water
Family First Senator Steve Fielding will push for the introduction of a national recycling scheme when the Senate sits in March. The Victorian Senator will introduce legislation for a national container deposit scheme, similar to a South Australian scheme. He said the scheme would lift container recycling from 38 per cent to 85 per cent, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 300,000 tonnes a year and reduce waste by half a million tonnes per year.
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Feb 20, 2008 Educated women less likely to divorce
Better educated women are less likely to divorce their husbands than they were three decades ago. Australian Institute of Family Studies director, Professor Alan Hayes, said this was a reversal of a previous trend...Under questioning by Family First Senator Steve Fielding, Professor Hayes explaines some of the main reasons for relationship breakdown. These included family conflict, financial management, differing values, work pressures, entering relationships and parenthood at a young age and an experience of parental divorce.
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Feb 15, 2008 TV liquor ads in senator's sights
Curbs on liquor advertising that would slash millions of dollars in revenue from live sport on television and compulsory health warnings on alcohol packaging are to be considerend by a Senate inquiry. The Family First senator, Steve Fileding, yesterday clinched Senate backing for an inquiry into his plan for tough laws to put a curfew on alcohol advertising and to require health information labels on alcohol.
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Feb 15, 2008 Blitz on TV booze ads
Alcohol advertising would be banned from TV screens before 9pm, under a proposal before a Senate committee. A Bill proposed by Family First Senator Steve Fileding to crack down on binge drinking was yesterday referred to an inquiry. If passed by Parliament, it would require health information levels on all alcohol products and ensure alcohol advertising was approved by a Government body, instead of by the industry itself.
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Feb 14, 2008 National peak strongly supports Alcohol Reduction Bill
Alcohol and other Drugs Council of Australia (ADCA) Chief Executive Officer, David Templeman, whole heartedly supports the Federal Government’s announcement for a Senate Inquiry to examine Australia’s growing alcohol toll, including issues around warnings, labeling, marketing and advertising of alcohol products. “ADCA congratulates Family First on introducing the Alcohol Toll Reduction Bill, which is a significant step in addressing a national health priority,” Mr Templeman said.
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Feb 12, 2008 'We need a bold plan to tackle the pokies problem'
Senator Steve Fielding suggests a new tax plan to render poker machines non-profitable after five to 10 years and to transfer them to racetracks and casinos.
Family First wants to tax poker machines out of pubs and clubs. Would you support such a plan?
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Feb 11, 2008 Tax plan for pokies
Tens of thousands of pokies could be phased out across suburban Australia within a decade under a radical new federal tax plan. The pokies purge would see gaming machines confined to casinos and racetracks. Family First Senator Steve Fielding will introduce the anti-pokies legislation in Parliament next week.
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Feb 11, 2008 Billion dollar addiction
Family First Senator Steve Fielding wants a new tax to nibble away at the profit from pokies. He proposes a 10-year scheme that would make pokies unappealing and see them ditched by pubs and clubs.
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Feb 11, 2008 Fielding wants inquiry into IR changes
The Rudd government faces a significant hurdle in its plan to completely abolish Australian workplace agreements, with key senators considering retaining some form of statutory individual contract... Senator Fielding , who will be a crucial player in the passage of the bill even after the coalition loses its grip on the Senate in July, said he wanted a full inquiry into Labor's industrial relations legislation. "Family First has some concerns about scrapping of AWAs. We would be looking at balancing the needs of families and small business."
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Feb 10, 2008 Families pushed to brink
Householders struggling to make ends meet need only to look at their shoppping trolleys each week to understand why... Senator Fielding said high petrol prices were also a massive burden. "The price of petrol has increased by more than 14 per cent in the last year alone", he said. "Families struggle to pay these prices because they need their car to get kids to school, sport and to see family on the weekend."
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Feb 08, 2008 Say sorry and then forgive
Saying sorry shouldn't be so hard. In families, just like in any relationship, we all know that we should be quick to say sorry when we do something wrong and mend any fracture we have caused. It is not abour blame. It is about being genuinely sorry the other person has been hurt, even if the action was unintententional...
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Feb 07, 2008 How to say we are sorry
...Sometimes, we can say sorry as a throwaway line. In our family, we teach that when someone says sorry, they must ask for forgiveness. Family First believes that saying sorry and being forgiven go hand in hand.
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Feb 02, 2008 Time to tackle lurking killer
We've tackled the road toll and the tobacco toll, but now it's time to address a culture that views binge-drinking as acceptable. There is a killer in our country that claims three times more Australian lives than all illicit drugs combined.
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Jan 27, 2008 Banking reforms pledge
Consumers who switch banks to access lower mortgage rates will be protected from early exit fees under new Rudd Government reforms... The Treasurer is also considering Family First Senator Steve Fielding's proposal to limit penalty fees for such things as dishonoured cheques and failed direct debt payments.
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Jan 24, 2008 Petrol, housing ruin comfort zone
...Family First senator Steve Fielding called for a 10c-a-litre cut in petrol taxes to take the pressure off commuter belt mortgagees. "Petrol tax is one factor the Government can control in trying to reduce inflationary pressures," Senator Fielding said. Those pressures could otherwise force another rate hike, which would only worsen housing affordability, he warned.
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Jan 20, 2008 Bank fees branded 'outrageous'
Australia's big five banks, which last year posted record profits, have been accused of charging customers higher fees than the real cost of transactions. Family First senator Steve Fielding said while banks should be able to charge fees, they should only be for cost recovery.
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Jan 19-20, 2008 Family First targets booze ads
A clampdown on sex-laden alcohol advertising is looking likely, as Family First seeks main-party support for its plans to tackle what it calls Australia's "binge-drinking culture". Family First leader Steve Fielding said the reforms were among the party's top two priorities, and he planned to meet Kevin Rudd, other government ministers and Brendan Nelson before parliament resumed to canvass support for the reforms.
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