Sharon Bird MP

Ms BIRD (Cunningham) (4:15):  I thank the member for Whitlam for putting this very important matter of public importance on superannuation and retirement incomes before the chamber. I acknowledge the previous speaker, the member for Chisholm, has indicated that she believes her government will always put improving the retirement income of Australians first. I look forward to her crossing the floor when the government attempts to freeze the superannuation increase that's coming up—an increase that will clearly improve the retirement incomes of Australians. I was pleased to hear her make that commitment, and I look forward to her following through on that.

Ms BIRD (Cunningham) (11:57):  by leave—I thank the House and add my words to my esteemed chair colleague in commending this report to all members of the House, but also to the broader public who may have an interest in the challenges and opportunities posed by managing the various streams of waste in our communities and across the nation. It was a challenge for the committee in interrogating the evidence presented to the inquiry over the last year as the necessary restrictions imposed by coronavirus severely curtailed the normal round of public hearings and inspections that we would have had. Having recognised this, I would like to sincerely thank the many witnesses who persevered with the committee through video and audio hearings and all those who provided written submissions for our consideration.

Illawarra and South Coast families going through the trauma of relationship breakdown have been abandoned by Scott Morrison and his decision to abolish the Family Court.

Complex family law requires specialised legal skills that only Family Court judges can deliver.

Ms BIRD (Cunningham) (14:50):  My question is to the Minister for Government Services. Can the minister confirm the Administrative Appeals Tribunal first determined that robodebt was illegal in March 2017, and on at least 75 other occasions, but the government persisted with its illegal scheme right up until December 2019?

Ms Bird (Cunningham) (19:28): A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a function that I regularly go to in my electorate, the Illawarra Business Chamber's annual business awards. For so many businesses in my electorate, as in all of my colleagues' electorates, I'm sure, it's been a really tough year. This was an opportunity to particularly acknowledge a range of businesses who, even in the toughest of times, have been able to really make significant achievements in their businesses.

The Illawarra Business Chamber has a very rigorous process to determine the winners of the categories. A panel with very esteemed local people goes through a whole process of application and interview to decide who the winners are.

Ms Bird (Cunningham) (10:50):  I want to start my contribution today by acknowledging the First Nations people of this country and, in particular, the original owners and custodians of the land on which this parliament meets and the original owners and ongoing custodians of the land that encompasses my electorate, around Wollongong. They are owed our acknowledgement and respect, in particular because this is NAIDOC Week. In my electorate, there are many, many people and organisations taking the opportunity to acknowledge and pay respect to our First Nations people. Of course, NAIDOC Week is normally earlier in the year but, due to the COVID pandemic, we have seen it moved to this week.

Ms Bird (Cunningham) (18:26): I have on very many occasions spoken in the appropriation debate each year in which a budget has been brought down and I have been the representative of the electorate for Cunningham. But I will say that it has been an extraordinary year, and we have, as a result of the extraordinary events that our nation has faced, a later budget than we would normally have. We of course have been through the terrifying and devastating fires, the damaging floods and now the coronavirus pandemic, which is something that none of us, I think, could have envisaged at this time last year. It's something that we have, as a community, as a nation and as a parliament, had to deal with.

As new national home care wait list figures again remained over 100,000, Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones today slammed the Morrison Government’s ongoing neglect of our older Australians and called on them to properly address the lack of home care places.

Ms Bird (Cunningham) (13:21): I'm pleased to support this motion before the Chamber today. For context, the motion discusses the importance of understanding the impacts of the COVID pandemic on young people and calls on the government to take an holistic national strategy around dealing with that, but I'll make the point here that for many young people there were already issues that were playing out significantly for them that they were talking to members of parliament and attempting to get messages to government about pre-pandemic.

Local Federal Labor MPs today called on the Morrison Government to invest in childcare in order to make early education and care more affordable for thousands of families across the region.

The Budget provided the Morrison Government with an opportunity to invest in early education and care.

Local Federal Labor MPs were astounded that despite the Morrison Government plunging Australia into one trillion dollars of debt, there was not one project for the Illawarra.

The Prime Minister and the Treasurer are happy to use BlueScope and the Illawarra as a backdrop for their media doorstops but they have failed to deliver one single cent of investment in infrastructure in the Illawarra. 

Local Federal MPs, Sharon Bird and Stephen Jones, today called on the government to make the Illawarra a priority for infrastructure funding in the Federal Budget on 6 October.

The Prime Minister’s visit yesterday contained not one single direct announcement for funding for the Illawarra.  Nothing for desperately needed social housing, nothing for local transport infrastructure to connect our Port to south-western Sydney and nothing for our tourist industry as they struggle to recover from COVID-19.

It is important that the correct advice is followed in order to control the corona virus. Below are links to the Federal and State Health websites, which will contain the best, most up-to-date information for those that are concerned.

I urge all of my constituents to read this information and stay up to date on the best practices.

To protect others use must:

• practice good hygiene 
• practice social distancing
• follow the limits for public gatherings
• understand how to self-isolate if you need to

For more information follow the links below. 

I know it is a very hard time in our local community.  Things are changing rapidly as new cases of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) emerge.  I have put together the best online departmental sites for you to visit to stay up to date with the most accurate available information – including financial assistance for you, your business, your staff and your family should you need it.

Good personal hygiene combined with social distancing can help slow the spread of coronavirus through the community.  This will help to protect the most vulnerable members of our community and reduce the impact of coronavirus on our essential, life saving health services.

Key updates can be found here: https://www.australia.gov.au/

The Federal Government has launched the Coronavirus Australia app, which is available to download from the Apple App Store and on Google Play, as well as a WhatsApp information service. Message +61 400 253 787 on WhatsApp to register. 

I encourage you to share these links with those that may need them.

The most up to date health information on coronavirus – including information on social distancing and social gathering restrictions - can be found at the following websites:

Below is a link to the Government Response to Coronavirus which includes up to date information on payments, mutual obligations, and FAQS.

If you are an individual, sole trader, or a family needing financial support start here for information on how to access payments.

Here is the latest information on Payments

JobSeeker Payment - Information

From time to time constituents participate in email campaigns about particular issues that are of current interest to them.  As it is often very difficult to reply to these in a timely way I will place information here on the current status of those issues.

11 April 2013

Employers and apprentices will benefit from new purpose built premises to house the operations of Apprenticeships Queensland.

Federal Minister for Skills, Sharon Bird, today joined Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, to officially open the new centre.

Ms Bird said that the apprenticeships system is essential to delivering skilled labour into the economy and supports our future productivity.

“Australian Apprenticeships play a critical role in enhancing labour force participation and productivity at various levels,” Ms Bird said.

“Apprenticeships play a crucial role in skilling and training the Australian workforce. The new centre will help Apprenticeships Queensland to work with local businesses and employees to take on a new apprentice.”

Mr Neumann said the new purpose built premises located in West Ipswich will provide a modern base for Apprenticeships Queensland to continue its valuable work.

“Apprenticeships Queensland provides services such as advising businesses about the advantages and requirements involved with taking on an apprentice, managing recruitment and training and addressing any problems that may arise in the workplace,” he said.

Apprenticeships Queensland is a not-for-profit, community-based Group Training Organisation.  They currently employ approximately 300 apprentices and trainees and work with over 400 active host employers.

I would like to personally thank each and every person who participated in the National Disability Insurance campaign. This campaign was fundamentally important for the future of the NDIS in Australia and I was proud to have been a part of it.

The Gillard Labor Government announced in the 2013/14 budget that they would create and fully fund DisabilityCare Australia, the National Disability Insurance Scheme, transforming disability services throughout Australia.

These historic reforms provided certainty and security for 410,000 Australians with a disability, their families and carers and ensure they are provided with the care and support they need throughout their lifetime.

This was the most fundamental social policy reform since the introduction of Medicare, and one I have been very passionate about. We were committed to building a better life for Australians with a significant and permanent disability.

Sharon Bird MP was elected as the Federal Member for Cunningham (New South Wales) in October 2004, November 2007, August 2010, September 2013 and July 2016.

Sharon was Shadow Minister for Vocational Education on the 18 October 2013 until July 2016.

Sharon served as Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Regional Communications and Minister for Road Safety from 1 July 2013.

Ms Bird also served as Minister for Higher Education and Skills from 25 March 2013 and as Parliamentary Secretary for Higher Education and Skills from 5 March 2012 until her appointment as Minister. 

Ms Bird Chaired the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications from 2010 until 2012.  She was also a member of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties and the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Procedure from 2010 until 2012.

Ms Bird served on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Vocational Training from 2004 until 2010 and Chaired this Committee from 2008 until 2010. 

She has also served on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment and Workplace Relations (2008 – 2010); the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Transport and Regional Services (2004 – 2007) and served on the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics, Finance and Public Administration in 2007 as Deputy Chair.

Ms Bird was born on 15 November 1962 in Wollongong, New South Wales.

Ms Bird served as a Councillor on Shellharbour Council from 1991 to 1995.  Her occupations prior to entering Parliament are as follows:

• BA (Syd), Dip Ed (Wollongong)
• High School Teacher (1985-1989)
• TAFE Teacher (1989 – 1995)
• Electorate Officer to Colin Hollis MP, Member for Throsby (1995-1997)
• Senior Project Officer, Department of Juvenile Justice (1997 – 2004)