"It's been a while since I have had an opportunity to update my news on my website my apologies for that. Since I last updated the information on my various activities, outside of the Chamber and Committee work, I have chaired the Select Committee on Estimates and had several weeks of sitting, during which the ACT 2006 Budget was introduced, debated and passed.

My Standing Committee on Education, Training and Young People has brought down an interim report on its inquiry into the application of Restorative Justice, but has much more to do in this area I believe. The report can be viewed by going on to the ACT Legislative Assembly site and clicking on Report :-

The Standing Committee on Health and Disability, of which I am Deputy Chair will shortly,I hope, be able to report on its inquiry into Access to safe, secure and affordable housing for people with mental illness, and you can access information about that inquiry on http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/committees/index1.asp?committee=54&inqu...

The Planning and Environment Committee, of which I am a member, is always very busy and at the moment it is considering, amongst other things, the following:-

Namadgi National Park draft management plan, the Exposure draft of the Planning and Development Bill 2006, the ACT as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and you can access information about the Committee's work on http://www.parliament.act.gov.au/committees/index1.asp?committee=55

The work of the Select Committee on Working Families,of which I am also Deputy Chair, is ongoing as it is looking into the effects of the new federal IR legislation on working families in the ACT.

Since the Budget was brought down on June 6th 2006 I have been working hard with all the school communities in my area, which are affected in any way by the 2020 proposals. I have attended all the formal consultation meetings that the Minister held in my electorate and also in Amaroo. I have visited all the schools and had meetings with the P&Cs, School Boards and interested parents. I have answered numerous emails and letters as you can imagine, and many people have disccused the issue with me at my various Mobile Offices. I have made strong representations to the Minister for Education regarding particular children that may be affected and also regarding various suggestions the schools have put to me about alternative solutions to our current dilemma.

I am pleased that the consultation period has seen some good discussions going on between different schools and thrown up some innovative models suggested by school communities themselves. Given the falling numbers in our public education system, and the drift to the private system, I agree there is a need for some intervention and and the urgent need to improve the general infrastructure of our stock as well as providing more up to date ITC capability.

As you are probably only too aware there is a rather worrying debate going on at the moment about so called Australian values and whether those who proposed to settle here should be required to pass a test. I have always tried to take every opportunity to attend as many multicultural events as possible, but right now I am making a even greater effort given the current environment.

We were all disappointed when the Federal Government overturned our Civil Rights Bill. There are still discussions going on to ascertain what might be acceptable. There is also a danger that our Terrorism Legislation, which has been tested against our Human Rights Legalisation, could suffer the same fate. Again the ACT Attorney is in discussion with his Federal counterpart.

I have been in discussion with various people about aged care in the ACT, for instance regarding the employment of staff and their wages and conditions. I visit aged care residential facilities in my electorate when I am able and I am glad to say I have had a number of successes in relation to issues that the residents of facilities along Burkitt St Page have brought to my attention.

As usual there are too many events and other matters to list here in my news however I will update my photo gallery shortly and I hope you enjoy the latest news I have been able to post.

Don't forget my Mobile Offices continue regularly and the dates are regularly updated on the site. Please let me know if you have any issue or want to raise a matter of discussion.

Mary.