THE YEAR THAT WAS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS
Thu, 10/12/2020 - 13:50 The year 2020 is coming to an end. As years go, this one has been an absolute shocker. A global pandemic hit. Lives were lost and livelihoods were shattered. It took…
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AUSTRALIA – CHINA RELATIONS
Wed, 09/12/2020 - 09:36 The Australia-China relationship is under strain. As we tackle the challenges that lie ahead, it is important we do so from a position of strength. A part of that strength is…
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ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION
Wed, 09/12/2020 - 09:38 Today I attended a briefing from the Australian Federal Police which was disturbing and confronting. It was on the issue of online child sexual exploitation. We all have a role to play…
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MEN’S SHEDS
Mon, 07/12/2020 - 17:11 At a time when participation in civil society has fallen dramatically in Australia due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s great to see that our Men’s Sheds are booming…
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OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPICS GAMES
Wed, 02/12/2020 - 13:50 All of us have some sort of love of the Olympics. For some, it's the extravaganza of the event; for others, it's the great feats of human athleticism. But we are…
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REMEMBRANCE DAY 2020
Wed, 11/11/2020 - 11:09 In addressing Parliament on Remembrance Day, 11 November 2020, I shared a story about one of my great uncles - Private William O’Brien (known as “Dinkum” to his mates) – who was killed…
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AUSTRALIA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS (STATE AND TERRITORY ARRANGEMENTS) BILL 2020
Tue, 10/11/2020 - 18:18 I think what we all know is that we are amidst a period of unprecedented uncertainty for those of us living today. That was the case before COVID-19. COVID-19 hit, and…
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WALK FOR DANIEL – DAY FOR DANIEL 2020
Thu, 29/10/2020 - 15:04 Today, 30 October 2020, Australians across the nation joined two Sunshine Coast parents to honour the memory of their precious child. By starting the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Bruce and Denise Morcombe…
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YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT
Mon, 26/10/2020 - 10:36 I rise today to pay tribute to young Australians, in particular, young Australians in the seat of Fairfax on the Sunshine Coast. We've all been hit by the COVID-19 in many…
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$12 BILLION BLACKHOLE IN QUEENSLAND’S INFRASTRUCTURE SPEND
Thu, 22/10/2020 - 16:27 An independent analysis by the Federal Parliamentary Budget Office has uncovered irrefutable evidence which proves that the Queensland Government is spending half as much on infrastructure compared to the governments of…
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SUNSHINE COAST COMMUNITY GROUPS
Wed, 21/10/2020 - 12:39 I had a great time recently, throwing the footy around at the Maroochydore Junior Rugby League Club after donating a marquee in recognition of the important role the Club plays in our…
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INTRODUCING THE BOXER
Fri, 16/10/2020 - 15:24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjXvcGVEQHY&feature=emb_logo Introducing the BOXER – the most lethal piece of equipment in the combat reconnaissance range. These 35-tonne state of the art vehicles were built by Rheinmetall at their brand-new Military…
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2020 BUDGET FOR THE SUNSHINE COAST
Wed, 07/10/2020 - 13:17 The 2020-21 Federal Budget was handed down on the 6th of October 2020 and sends a clear message to all Australians that the Federal Government has their back as we embark…
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MEN’S SHED WEEK – MENS SHED ASSOCIATION’S PODCAST
We are blessed with many Men's (and one Women's) Sheds here on the Coast and I spoke to the Mens Shed Association's podcast host, Aaron Kearney about the Parliamentary Friends of Mens Sheds and Shed DGR…
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COOLUM AND NORTH SHORE COAST CARE RECEIVES $20,000
Thu, 01/10/2020 - 10:32 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaTPxULK2vE&feature=emb_logo I welcomed the Hon Trevor Evans, Assistant Minister for Waste Reduction and Environmental Management to the Sunshine Coast on 30 September 2020 to announce a $20,000 Communities Environment Grant to…
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$12 BILLION BLACKHOLE IN QUEENSLAND’S INFRASTRUCTURE SPEND
Queensland risks becoming the rust belt of Australia An independent analysis by the Federal Parliamentary Budget Office has uncovered irrefutable evidence which proves that the Queensland Government is spending half as much on infrastructure compared…
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$12 BILLION BLACKHOLE IN QUEENSLAND’S INFRASTRUCTURE SPEND
Mon, 28/09/2020 - 07:12 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6HYaJnR8-Y&feature=emb_logo I have been questioning the Qld Labor Government's infrastructure spend for years and I asked the Parliamentary Budget Office to analysis the figures. The result? Irrefutable evidence of a massive…
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JOBKEEPER CHANGES
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has a range of information available to help the community understand the JobKeeper Payment and the new extension. Please see the links below to the latest information. The JobKeeper key dates page…
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AUSTRALIA’S VALUES – AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY
Thu, 24/09/2020 - 14:56 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcly5pDiZDs&feature=emb_logo What does it mean to be an Australian? on 23 September I had the pleasure of congratulating our newest Australian citizens at citizenship ceremonies here on the Sunshine Coast. To…
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JOBKEEPER AND CORONAVIRUS SUPPLEMENT EXTENDED
The current level of JobKeeper and Coronavirus Supplement payments (including JobSeeker, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment, Austudy, ABSTUDY Living Allowance, Farm Household Allowance, Special Benefit, Dept of Veterans' Affairs Education Schemes) will remain in place until…
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CITIZEN SCIENTISTS HIT THE SUNSHINE COAST’S FIRST CLIMATEWATCH TRAIL
Encouraging local families to get outdoors and become ‘citizen scientists’ is a key goal for the Sunshine Coast’s first ‘ClimateWatch Trail’ which has been unveiled just in time for the school holidays. Federal Member for…
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SUNSHINE COAST JOBS FORUMS
Fri, 18/09/2020 - 16:16 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_IhVugpFQ8&feature=emb_logo Together with my state colleagues, Fiona Simpson MP, State Member for Maroochydore; Dan Purdie, State Member for Ninderry; Brent Mickelberg, State Member for Buderim; and Marty Hunt, State Member for…
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NATIONAL AWARD DISTINGUISHES SUNSHINE COAST COUNCIL
Sunshine Coast Council has taken out the Multicultural Australia category in the 2020 National Awards for Local Government. Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien, joined by Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson, made the announcement in…
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HOW JOBKEEPER IS SUPPORTING BUSINESSES ON THE SUNSHINE COAST
Thu, 03/09/2020 - 08:51 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCKpWWL5qNg&feature=emb_logo Ted O'Brien MP speaks to TISCA's Steve Morrison about how JobKeeper has kept the doors open to his agricultural machinery business and his staff employed through the COVID pandemic.
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AFTERNOON BRIEFING INTERVIEW WITH PATRICIA KARVELAS RE AUSTRALIA’S RELATIONSHIP WITH CHINA
Fri, 11/09/2020 - 14:37 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x8vmXJTmN4&feature=emb_logo I had great pleasure in talking with ABC's Patricia Karvela's on Tuesday 8 September regarding my position on the Australian-China relationship and calling for a Free Trade Agreement with Taiwan.
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THE CHINA QUESTION AND THE NATIONAL INTEREST
Ted O’Brien has a wealth of experience in Australia-China business relations having lived and worked in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), in Taiwan and in Hong Kong for many years. He speaks Chinese Mandarin…
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Jobs Forums – have your say
Together with my State colleagues, I will be hosting three Jobs Forums across the Sunshine Coast to discuss rebuilding our local economy and creating jobs. We want to hear from local businesses, recruiters and job…
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JOBKEEPER EXTENDED
Thu, 03/09/2020 - 08:35 The Federal Government’s extension and expansion of the JobKeeper program has been passed through Parliament to ensure that we can continue supporting businesses, employees and families through these incredibly difficult times.…
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Ted’s Spring Road Trip
Ted will be out and about across the Sunshine Coast for his Spring Road Trip from 14-17 September. Both the State and Federal Governments will be represented at each location, with Ted being accompanied by…
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JOBKEEPER EXTENSION – WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
The Federal Government’s extension and expansion of the JobKeeper program has been passed through Parliament to ensure that we can continue supporting businesses, employees and families through these incredibly difficult times. While the JobKeeper payment…
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