MARK DREYFUS MP

This protection for pensioners has been ripped away by the Baillieu government, which has revoked the Victorian government commitment and is trying to extract an extra $10 per week from the most vulnerable in our community.

We do have reason to be very proud of our country, but we also have reason to be very proud of Sir Zelman Cowen, a truly great Australian. We mourn his passing and we will miss him

I rise to speak about the most recent openings of the Building the Education Revolution projects in my electorate, which have delivered tremendous educational benefits for students and of course supported jobs in our community through the economic downturn in 2009 2010.

The news of Gilad Shalit's release brought joy and relief to all those who had hoped and prayed for his safe return.

Councils across Australia understand that they need to protect assets and infrastructure in the event of sea level rises and with the increased risk of bushfires. They are giving excellent service to their ratepayers by strategically planning for the future.

We must begin the transformation to a clean energy economy and a low-carbon economy. This transformation will begin with the passage of the clean energy bills.

The reform of the government's carbon price package is about creating new jobs for Australians and attracting investment in the clean technology industries of the future

I joined the Mordialloc College community to celebrate the official opening of the $2 million discovery centre, which was funded under the federal government's Building the Education Revolution program. The discovery centre was funded through the science and learning centre component of the BER program.

We entered the refugee convention and we participated closely in the drafting of the refugee convention because Australia, as a compassionate nation, did not want to see a repetition of the horrific events that preceded the Second World War and occurred during the Second World War.

Using energy in the smartest and most productive way is in Australia's best interests. It makes good economic sense.