MARK DREYFUS MP

Extra assistance is now available for primary producers who were affected by severe storms and flooding in Northern NSW in January and February 2013, under the jointly funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management Mark Dreyfus QC and Queensland Minister for Police and Community Safety Jack Dempsey have today announced the Goondiwindi local government area will receive further assistance following the severe weather and flooding between 25 February and 5 March.

Measures passed by Parliament this week will give the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse flexibility to receive information and evidence in private sessions from those affected by child abuse in institutions.

Attorney-General and Minister for Emergency Management Mark Dreyfus QC today thanked pilots and support crew and farewelled fire fighting helicopters that have fought major blazes across the country this summer.

Applications are now open for funding to support anthropologists interested in native title work.

Public sector whistleblowers will have greater protection under legislation introduced by the Government today.

New laws to improve the services that Australians receive from marriage celebrants through the Commonwealth Marriage Celebrants Program will be introduced into federal parliament today.

For the first time there will be a permanent solution to providing disaster assistance to workers, small business people and farmers experience a loss of income as a direct result of a disaster.

The Gillard Government will introduce legislation this week to protect Australians against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status.

Australia and the United States have joined forces to co-host an international workshop in Washington DC today to tackle the emerging threat from online extremism.