David Smith MP | Politician

David Smith MP

Phone: +61 2 6293 1344

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25.01.2022 Before the storm today I was able to attend the #worldpeaceday ceremony at the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell. Thank you to all involved in this important ceremony including representatives from diplomatic missions, UN representatives, Gordon Ramsay MLA, Tim Gavel and guest speaker Tim Weeks. Congratulations to David Savage, who received the Chief Ministers Rotary Peace Prize for his extraordinary service in East Timor and Afghanistan and at home. Thanks to the Rotary Club of Burley Griffin for the great work you do.

24.01.2022 Thank you Niugini Arabica and Cafe Viin for the great coffee at the most recent Coffee Catch-ups. I enjoyed the company of everyone that attended. It has been valuable to hear about the issues that are important to you. The next catch-up will be at Two Before Ten Greenway on Friday 27th November at 10-11am. Feel free to come past for a chat.

24.01.2022 Stella had a science themed day today at school. Shes lucky to go to a #STEM school but its crazy that at a time when we should be investing more in STEM education and careers the Morrison Government is cutting funding to universities for science and engineering degrees and ultimately STEM careers.

22.01.2022 Great to drop off a set of new flags at Gilmore Primary School. A proud school in a strong community. Thanks for making me feel welcome.

21.01.2022 It was great to catch up with Stanley Mitchell, President of Tuggeranong United Football Club, recently. The club is an integral part of the football community in Canberra with a long history, developing football greats such as Tom Rogic, Carl Valeri, Lydia Williams, and Nikolai Topor-Stanley. Thank you for stopping by to discuss some of the challenges and ideas for the future, for the club and Canberra football more broadly.

21.01.2022 A great announcement from ACT Labor, with plans for a further 5 Walk-in Health centres, including one in Lanyon and one in the Molonglo Valley. These centres will have nurse-practitioners and offer a range of health services that will help Canberrans to access free healthcare and ease pressure on our emergency departments.

21.01.2022 A Mr Tea mug, a coaster made by Stella with her own jokes on it (most at my expense), a packet of musk sticks from my lads (they know I wont share them) and a care package by Vanilla and Blossom Cake Design from Liesl adds up to a pretty good Fathers day. And being able to have lunch with my dad for the first time in months makes me very lucky. I know that many of us are not able to do so this year - separated by the consequences of the pandemic. Heres to better days ahead and fixing the problems we have identified this year.

21.01.2022 At every turn this Government fights transparency and integrity in Government. We have a right to know.

21.01.2022 Great to be involved in the #AuslanCommunityLeadersChallenge2020 and support the Deaf Community on #InternationalDayofSignLanguages. I have appreciated all the challenging work of Auslan interpreters that has ensured essential information has been coveyed to our deaf community during both the bushfires and pandemic this year. Ensuring wide access to interpretive services is key to understanding and assisting our deaf community.

19.01.2022 Many Canberrans who have a loved one in aged care or have been touched by the system in some way would truly understand first-hand the importance and urgency for the need to get the aged care sector back on the right path. The COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified the deep flaws that have for way too long affected the sectors providers. Unfortunately, we have a government that has failed our elderly Australians. They refuse to acknowledge and rectify their mistakes and fix... the systemic issues which are rife throughout Australia. In parliament their approach has been to either walk away or shut down debate. https://www.davidsmith.org.au//government-must-act-now-to/ See more

19.01.2022 This isn't leadership.

19.01.2022 Another great community project underway at Theodore Primary School (Official Site). The Bicycle Skills for Student Well-being program is a great way for the students to develop skills, increase fitness, and build confidence, and I enjoyed seeing them in action. A big thank you to the teachers and students for the tour and I look forward to working with you again on future projects.

18.01.2022 Today is World Narcolepsy Day and while it is not all that common a condition - it affects 1 in 2000 people worldwide - I wanted to post as it has particular relevance and impact for my family. My son Eamonn was diagnosed with narcolepsy last year. His sleep/wake mechanism doesnt function so he is prone to bouts of sudden overwhelming daytime sleepiness and has days where he struggles to get out of bed in time for school. Its like he has relentless jet lag and when the br...ain fog descends, he cannot take anything in despite being a very good student. Narcolepsy symptoms vary from person to person and can include muscle weakness when laughing or experiencing strong emotions, scary hallucinations and insomnia. There is no cure and symptoms seem to worsen with age. Eamonn was 13 when he was diagnosed, following 2 years of going to various doctors trying to figure out what was happening. He is one of the lucky ones as the average amount of time between symptoms and an accurate diagnosis is 8-15 years if its detected at all. It is not unusual for narcolepsy to be mistaken for depression, epilepsy, schizophrenia, diet deficiency or just plain laziness or having an attitude. This means that often the condition is not properly treated until well into adulthood, after people have struggled through school, higher education and career, all the time wondering why its all so hard. So I want to emphasize that people with narcolepsy arent unmotivated or weak. They cannot just will themselves to push through their tiredness. And even on good days, they are often dealing with a neurological heaviness that they may have learnt to manage but doesnt go away. For more information, please go to the Narcolepsy Australia website (www.narcolepsyaustralia.org.au) and if you or anyone you know suspects they have narcolepsy, please ask your GP for a referral to a sleep specialist. Project Sleep #WorldNarcolepsyDay

18.01.2022 The comments made by former senior public servants Paddy Gourley and Andrew Podger are similar to issues I have raised before. The explosion in contracting out and labour hire is not value for money, undermines the effectiveness of public service codes of conduct and provides an environment in which both nepotism and corruption can flourish. It erodes expertise within the public service and encourages a growth in job uncertainty when we could and should be investing in ongoing employment. In the Defence environment the revelations of the size of the contractor workforce also have national security implications.

17.01.2022 This isnt a Government that you want to do the weekly shop.

17.01.2022 Thank you to the Islamic School of Canberra for making me feel so welcome. Great to see the results of their Bean school community infrastructure grant. The grant was put towards improving their school environment, enriching their students experience and play areas. I look forward to the next visit.

17.01.2022 Of course it's someone else's fault. In this case the Minister can't blame another jurisdiction so it must be the fault of the public servants providing him with advice. In a Melbourne Cup sized field of ministers' refusing to be responsible for their portfolios Minister Fletcher is making a burst on the outside with responsibility for Australia Post, the NBN blowouts, the decline of regional media and this fine bit of work all within his portfolio responsibilities.

16.01.2022 Great to see the new fitness equipment in action down at the Wanniassa P-10 School senior campus and meet with teachers and students. We were able to provide funding for the equipment through the Bean School infrastructure program and is already been put to good use by the students.

16.01.2022 I was honoured to meet and present Commemorative Medallions and Certificates of Appreciation to Australian veterans of the Second World War and their families yesterday. It was incredible to hear all the stories from Ernest Terence Colhoun AM, Major Sidney Norman Penhaligon and his family and friends, and the late Arthur Alexander Grant's family on their experience of the largest global conflict of the 20th century. Their stories are a stark reminder the contribution and immense sacrifices made by our fellow service men and women. The Commemorative Medallions and Certificates are a small but meaningful way we can thank Australia's veterans. If you or someone you know has served and would like to receive a token of appreciation, please contact my office on (02) 6293 1344 or at [email protected] for details.

15.01.2022 You haven’t properly lived in Woden if you haven’t dined at Rama's Fiji Indian Restaurant

12.01.2022 This week is National Child Protection Week, and the theme for this year is 'Putting Children First'. I would like to draw attention to Priya, Nades and their two Australian born daughters, Kopika and Tharunica. The family have now spent nearly two years of their lives living in detention. These children were born here, the family has contributed to the town of Biloela and their community want them to remain in Australia. ... Recent media reports referred to the health of Priya, including her relocation to Perth due to poor medical facilities on Christmas Island. Priya was flown back to Christmas Island without notice and under guard by the Australian Border Force. Minister Alan Tudge MP could bring this to an end at his discretion under the Migration Act and allow the family to return home to Biloela. And in doing so, end the outrageous cost to the taxpayer to operate the Christmas Island detention facilities. Further information on Child Protection Week and how you can get involved are at https://www.napcan.org.au/.

12.01.2022 Points if you can spot me in the throwback photo from 1976

12.01.2022 Great to be with Chris Steel MLA at the opening of the SHOUT Inc inclusive garden at the Pearce Community Centre and catch up with many of the great people and organisations that make up SHOUT including Arthritis ACT, Epilepsy ACT, Parkinson's Canberra ACT and Bosom Buddies ACT Inc. The inclusive garden was funded through support from ACT Government and wouldn't have been possible without the myriad of tradespeople and gardeners who assisted in making the SHOUT vision for the garden a reality.

11.01.2022 If you are a volunteer-based organisation, I encourage you to apply for the 2020 Supplementary Volunteer Grants that are now open. Grants of between $1,000 - $5,000 can be used by organisations to support the efforts of their volunteers and encourage and increase participation in volunteering. This includes adapting practices to support volunteers safety in relation to COVID-19. For further details and where to apply, visit Volunteering ACT at https://www.volunteeringact.org....au//supplementary-volunte/. Applications close 20 September at 11:59pm.

11.01.2022 Its hard to understand why the Morrison Government would use the pandemic as cover for freezing the pension other than basic meanness.

11.01.2022 Congratulations to Pat Turner and Caroline Hughes on their ACT Australian of the Year nominations. Two local Bean residents that are both strong Aboriginal women and passionate about making a difference in their community. #NAIDOCWeek2020 https://davidsmith.org.au//congratulations-to-act-austral/

11.01.2022 School Holiday activity! There's 3 weeks left of my photo competition and entering only takes 2 minutes. If you have a photo of somewhere in Bean please enter it for a chance to win $250 and be featured as my Christmas card this year. There's a school aged and adults entry, so it's a great opportunity to get out and get the kids taking some pictures during the school holidays (and even enter yourself as well). Some examples of popular spots in Bean include The Arboretum, ...The Cotter, Uriarra Crossing, Gibraltar Falls, Stromlo and of course all the local parks and suburban areas, feel free to be creative and capture something special in your community. https://davidsmith.org.au/community/photography-competition/

09.01.2022 Yesterday I spoke in the matter of public importance debate on the Government's failure to take responsibility for the significant challenges confronting the Australian people. It's time for the Government to stop doing a "Colbeck" and take responsibility for their work. https://davidsmith.org.au/news/speeches/mpi/

09.01.2022 The story of the 7 years of this government in 100 seconds courtesy of Jason Clare

07.01.2022 A big thank you to Linda Burney, Andrew Leigh MP, Rachel Stephen-Smith MLA, and all who attended the Closing the Gap Forum yesterday. It was great to hear from a variety of representatives from Indigenous organisations including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body (ATSIEB), Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, Yeddung Mura, and others with a wealth of knowledge and experience in Indigenous Affairs. Many important topics were raised,... including mental health, incarceration rates, and domestic violence. Concerns were also raised on the renewed Closing the Gap targets, such as shortcomings in the consultation process, and the lack of detail from the federal Government on how they will resource and support grass root organisations to meet these targets. I look forward to hearing from everyone again in the near future.

06.01.2022 Its clear we need a federal integrity body with teeth now. The Auditor General said, amongst other things, that the acquisition fell short of ethical standards...

06.01.2022 An excellent community project at Arawang Primary School. Their Indigenous garden with carvings, artwork, bush tucker beds, yarning circle all informed by the local Aboriginal community is fantastic. Congratulations to all involved and thanks for having me. Happy that we could provide our support to some of the new shaded spaces.

06.01.2022 As cafés in Canberra have adjusted to restriction guidelines including added hygiene measures, I have resumed regular Coffee Catch-ups in Bean. Thank you to everyone that attended yesterday. I enjoyed having a friendly chat and discussing a range of issues including aged care, climate policy, and national security. A big thank you Pitch Black Cafe and Morning Dew for accommodating the visit. Keep an eye out for more catch-ups over the next fortnight!

05.01.2022 Acknowledging the significance of the 75th Anniversary of the End of the Second World War, the Department of Veterans Affairs have produced a Commemorative Medallion and Certificate of Commemoration to living veterans. The medallion and certificate are a small but meaningful way we can thank living veterans of the largest global conflict of the 20th century. Should you or a loved one wish to receive a medallion and certificate, please contact my office on (02) 6293 1344 or at [email protected] for application details.

04.01.2022 Qantas plans to outsource its entire ground operations which means no baggage handlers, cabin cleaners, push-back drivers or ramp operators will ever work for Qantas again unless the board stands up for the airline and pressure management to keep these jobs Qantas. #SaveQantasJobs

04.01.2022 Terrible news for ANU staff and their families and comes on top of 230 jobs already made redundant. Instead of trying to cut uni funding and increase fees for students, Scott Morrison should help save these jobs and those under pressure across the higher education sector.

03.01.2022 There isnt a buck this Government wont try and pass. Somehow it is the victims fault that they were subject to an illegal scheme. A scheme that has devastated thousands of families.

03.01.2022 Yesterday I met with Peter Burnett and Brendan Price from LArche Genesaret, a long-standing Canberra based community of people with and without intellectual disability to discuss many of the challenges and pressures arising out of changes to the NDIS price guide. It is critical such communities and their associated workforce are heard and supported.

03.01.2022 Another good community infrastructure project at one of our schools, this time at Charles Conder Primary School. Thank you for the tour and the great community engagement you do with your kitchen. Great to support this project.

02.01.2022 Yesterday I caught up with local travel agents about their challenges at this time. Like many businesses JobKeeper has been critical to them keeping their staff employed and reducing the level of JobKeeper will lead to reduced hours. The staff at Southlands Travel & Cruise have been going above and beyond in supporting their customers get refunds as well as help Canberrans get back home from many different places across the globe with travel advice changing daily. They would like to see the national cabinet work to get travel working across the low risk jurisdictions. I appreciate the time Cathy and her team (including Tommy the doggo) took to explain their current challenges and provide ideas on how we can work together.

02.01.2022 There are still 25,000 Australians from every part of Australia stranded overseas - people who have tried to get home for months, and faced cancellation after cancellation or exorbitant ticket prices. Anthony Albanese clearly articulates how the Morrison Government can and should be helping these citizens get home. We have a responsibility to get our stranded brothers and sisters home.... We arent short of the means - were just short on leadership. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au//86268471531f609d5327751

01.01.2022 $51 billion later, endless snipes at Labor, and nearly a decade wasted... and the Liberals finally admit that fibre was better all along.

01.01.2022 The federal government was warned 76 times by a tribunal that Centrelink robodebts were not legally enforceable, according to court documents. Gordon Legal claims that the dozens of judgments which were previously hidden from public view show the government knew the scheme was unlawful because it declined to appeal on every occasion. In a fresh statement of claim filed days before a federal court trial, the firm also names government minister Alan Tudge among a handful of... insiders said to be aware the program was flawed as early as January 2017. And it alleged several instances through 2017 and 2018 where top officials were made aware how people caught up in the program were threatening self-harm while on the phone to Centrelink staff. Wicked. Plain and simple.