Media Releases by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP
Northern Territory remote Indigenous housing targets exceeded
Almost 1200 Indigenous families in remote communities in the Northern Territory have improved housing after the Strategic Indigenous Housing and Infrastructure Program (SIHIP) exceeded its…
Australia’s first national paid parental leave scheme starts
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin today visited Westmead Hospital in Sydney to meet some…
Paid Parental Leave means a happy new year for new parents
Expectant parents will have extra reason to celebrate New Year’s Eve tonight, with Australia’s first Paid Parental Leave scheme officially starting tomorrow. This is a…
The countdown to Paid Parental Leave begins
The Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin, today met families and expectant parents for a baby shower at the Melbourne…
Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians appointed
The Australian Government today took a further step towards the recognition of Indigenous people in the Australian Constitution by appointing the members of the expert…
Retirement of Dr Jeff Harmer AO
I congratulate Jeff Harmer AO on his outstanding service to the people of Australia and to successive governments over the past three decades. During his…
New national standards to improve the lives of children and young people in care
New national standards to improve the lives of children and young people living in foster homes and other formal out-of-home care were today agreed by…
First Indigenous Australian awarded Rhodes Scholarship
The Australian Government today welcomed the announcement of the first Indigenous Australian to be awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in its 108-year history. Rebecca Richards is…
New Illawarra Regional Partnership Agreement
Today the Australian and New South Wales Governments and 17 Illawarra Aboriginal organisations committed to work together to improve the lives of local Aboriginal people…
Increasing employment and participation in remote Indigenous communities
The Australian Government is continuing to support Indigenous people in remote communities to find work and training opportunities, providing $6.5 million for Community Development Employment…
New autism services for young children in North-West Tasmania
Young children with autism spectrum disorders can now access specialist early childhood services vital for them to reach their full potential at a new, autism-specific…
Alice Springs Transforming One Year On
Today marks one year since the Australian and Northern Territory Governments began work on transforming the Alice Springs town camps. On 7 December last year…
Indexation increases payments to over 940,000 Australians
From 1 January 2011 more than 940,000 Australians who receive Carer Allowance, Disability Support Pension (under 21, without children), Austudy, ABSTUDY and Youth Allowance will…
New centre opens for children with autism in Melbourne
A new Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre in Melbourne will give young children with Autism Spectrum Disorders access to specialist early childhood services…
Supporting children and families in Ipswich
The Minister for Families, Jenny Macklin, today officially launched the Ipswich Communities for Children Plus service, which will provide a safe, happy and healthy environment…
30,000 Queensland families eligible for Paid Parental Leave from New Year
More than 700 Queensland families have applied for Australia’s first national Paid Parental Leave scheme, with a month to go until the scheme begins on…
Independent evaluation of Cape York welfare reform finds signs of change
An independent evaluation of the ground-breaking Indigenous welfare reform program underway in Cape York has found that positive change is occurring in the communities where…
Native Title Amendments Passed
Attorney-General Robert McClelland and the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin today welcomed the passage of legislation through Parliament that…
Ensuring essential air access in Far North Queensland
Essential air service access to Coen in the middle of the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland is being ensured with funding from the…
Helping new mothers spend time with their baby
The latest snapshot of birth trends in Australia highlights the need for the Australian Government’s national Paid Parental Leave scheme – with 292,156 women giving…
2010 National Disability Awards finalists announced
Nine outstanding individuals were honoured today for their contributions to the disability sector at the annual National Disability Awards. Among the award winners are educators,…
Lodge a tax return or risk losing family benefits
Australians receiving a Family Tax Benefit (FTB) need to lodge their tax returns for 2008-09 to make sure they have been paid their correct family…
Opposition playing politics with Paid Parental Leave
The Opposition’s Paid Parental Leave (Reduction of Compliance Burden for Employers) Amendment Bill 2010 is creating significant uncertainty for Australian families who have been waiting…
Passing of Indigenous rights activist Dr Roberta Sykes
The death of Dr Roberta Sykes means Australia has lost a strong activist for Indigenous rights, a renowned author and an outstanding member of the…
New police stations officially opened in the APY Lands
Law and order is improving and people are starting to feel safer in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands with the establishment of three permanent…