There is little community support for cloning human embryos for research.
A Swinburne University study last year found 63 per cent of the community oppose cloning human embryos for research.
Today, Family First voted to support legislation for voluntary student unionism.
I have listened to the arguments from all sides.
This issue has been a vexed one for me and for Family First.
I have looked at this issue on its merits and I genuinely believe the argument can run both ways – to retain compulsory student union fees or abolish them.
Nobody wants to have radioactive waste stored near them.
However the reality is that we need to find somewhere to store it because nuclear technology has become an indispensable part of our lives. The application of nuclear technology in medicine is an obvious example.
The Health Insurance Amendment (Medicare Safety-nets) Bill breaks one of the Federal Government’s major commitments at the last federal election, when it said it would keep the lower safety net thresholds.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Safety Net Bill is another piece of legislation which shifts health costs to Australian families. It is interesting to hear the word ‘savings’ when they are actually shifting costs onto families; it is a new concept.
My principle concern is that the Bill, when combined with other measures, will lead to significant increased health costs for families and individuals.
Family First is pro-woman and pro-child.
That is why Family First opposes legalising abortion, where abortion would be legal under any circumstances, regardless of the age of the unborn child.
Let me make it clear where Family First stands. Family First does not believe in the welfare state; Family First believes that those people on welfare who can work should work and that those who are caring for their children should be parents first and workers second.
One of the things that we believe distinguishes Australia from most other countries and makes Australia the best place in the world to live and raise a family is our lifestyle.
Australia is not like other parts of the world.