From my Desk
The ACT Government still has not fully compensated Calvary for the compulsory acquisition of Bruce Hospital, as both sides continue to negotiate the final amount to be paid, one year after the government’s take over of Calvary Hospital. Part of the acquisition legislation requires the government to provide compensation for Calvary.
I penned an Op-Ed on this matter last year, the day after the Health Infrastructure Enabling Bill 2023 was passsed to compulsorily acquire Calvary Hospital. The Bill was rushed, and the ACT Labor/Greens Government proceeded without adequate community consultation, believing they knew best. Mr. Albanese was in full support of the Bill and stated that the forced takeover was not “driven by religion.”
Indeed, the Bill may not have been driven by religion, but it was propelled by values that undermine those who follow the Catholic and Christian faiths, forcing this Catholic hospital to no longer operate and providing an alternative to public hospitals for Canberrans. Ironically this acquisition stripped Canberrans of their freedom of choice, removing options between public and private healthcare and instead compelling them towards what the ACT Government deems as correct procedures within healthcare.
Though this issues occurred a year ago, it remains a continuous reminder of the lengths to which the ACT Government will go to suppress Canberrans’ ability to exercise their freedom of religious belief, particularly within religious organisations. I still recall the symbolic first step of the compulsory acquisition being the removal of the cross. It serves as a stark reminder that actions speak louder than words, and despite Christians still being able to practice their faith, there are now restrictions on how they can seek healthcare in the ACT.
In conversations with constiuents, the memory of the Calvary takeover persists, evoking shock at the Government’s overreach. It is not Big Brother watching, but Big Barr squashing our basic individual freedoms and pushing us towards a radical leftist agenda by removing our freedom to choose the type of hospital we attend. If we do not see a change in government this October, who will prevent them from going even further?
Out and About
What a great turn out we had at Franklin last month! A big thank you to everyone who popped down for a hot chocolate and a chat. A few local issues were brought to my attention like, the lack of seating around the Franklin pond, urban maintenance and the cost of living.
I have written to the Government regarding these issues, and more. For an update on the Minister’s response, please head to my socials @jameskmilligan.
This month I have been busy with stalls and doorknocking Nicholls and Forde. I also had the privilage of visiting Good Shepherd Primary School in Amaroo.
I was grateful to tour the school and speak with Principal, Trazel Scott. Gungahlin is a fast growing region, with many young families so diversity of education opportunities available to parents and carers is essential. My visit to Good Shepherd gave me significant insight into the quality of education Trazel and her staff, as well as the other catholic school in the region are providing to our community.
Back in 5
In this episode of Back in 5 we chat with Amy from KAN Kreate and Co in Hall, click below to find out more.
Community Hot Chocolate
Saturday the 25th of May I will be holding a community Hot Chocolate event in Forde from 12-2 pm!If you’re in the area, pop down for a Hot Chocolate and a chat
Portfolio
This week’s newsletter for the portfolios is all about Community Safety Issues. This last week was a busy one in the Assembly. I used my time in the Assembly to speak to two motions.
ACT Policing Matters
The first was an Assembly Motion I tabled calling on the Members to request an inquiry by the Justice and Community Safety Committee into the issues confronting ACT Policing. I raised the matters within my motion out of grave concern for the safety of Canberrans.
As you will all know by now, the Gungahlin JESC is not the only problem with accommodation facing our hard working front line officers. In a recent interview, the retired Chief of Police, stated that forty per cent of the police stations in the ACT were not fully functioning! It just shows yet again, as I said in my speech, that this Labor/Greens government does not prioritise the needs of ACT Policing members. It’s just all reacting to issues and situations, but not actually going on the front foot and ensuring the issues don’t arise!
Lack of appropriate accommodation, low wages, the lack of resources, funding, and investment by the ACT government has significantly impacting the physical and psychological welfare of ACT Policing members. You may have seen their cars around the place with the message undervalued and overworked. My opening speech in the Assembly highlights the issues, so I invite you to head to my website and read the full transcript of my speech there.
Unfortunately, the Members of the Assembly on the other side of the chamber did not agree, and the Motion was defeated along party lines.
Jack’s Law
Mr Cain tabled a Motion calling on the ACT Government to consider increased powers for ACT Policing consistent with ‘Jack’s Law’. This is legislation granting police additional powers to use metal detection wands on people without reasonable suspicion in designated areas, including shopping centres, night precincts and transit hubs. The purpose of the laws is to reduce knife-related violence, such as has been seen in the last few months in Sydney.
I spoke in support of the laws, highlighting the fact that even in the ACT we have had knife-related violence, such as the event last year at ANU, but also that the number of acts intended to cause injury and assaults are on the rise. Now, these may not all be knife-related violence, but it is worrying.
There are some serious community safety aspects to the Motion, which is why I was happy to support it. And there are also benefits for officer safety. Aside from using a metal detector wand being a more human rights approach, if police had the ability to ‘wand’ someone, this could alleviate the need for the person to have to remove outer clothing, make the search much quicker, and safer for everyone concerned. It’s just common sense.
Further update on the Gungahlin JESC
And finally, the government holds fast that the Gungahlin JESC will be available for reoccupation, after months of closure, and years of neglect, at least to Policing from the end of May. Though no firm date has yet been set, unlike with the City Police Station, which the Minister was happy to announce would fully re-open on May 31. It’s a wait and see situation!
Let me know what you think, I would love to hear your thoughts on these matters.
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