Media Releases by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson
States and territories should do more for homeless people
States and territories will be urged to use some of their multi-billion dollar revenue windfalls from GST, stamp duty and gambling to help Australia’s homeless…
Self-funded retirees better off
More than 297,000 self-funded retirees holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC) will on Monday start receiving the first instalment of their new payment of…
New childcare centres for regional Australia
Eight new long day care centres located in Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales will provide 360 places for children, including 130 for…
Funding to strengthen families
Eight organisations will receive Howard Government funding offers under the Strengthening and Supporting Families Coping with Illicit Drug Use (‘Strengthening Families’) initiative. Minister for Family…
Funding to support care leavers
Professional and specialised counselling services for people who grew up in institutional or out-of-home care and their families will be increased with funding under the…
New legislation to deliver on Howard Government election commitments
Australia’s seniors will receive a boost following the passing of legislation in the Senate today, which will deliver on the Howard Government’s election commitments.I am…
Women’s achievements set in stone
In recognition of the achievements of those Australians, who achieved for women both the right to vote and stand in national elections, a Centenary of…
Ministers agree to explore options for succession planning for older carers
A plan by Federal Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, to help ageing carers plan for the future of their sons and…
Investing in Our Children
Around $90 million dollars will be provided to community groups and programs Australia-wide to supply services for children in the important developmental stages of their…
Improved data on disability support opens door to better services
The capacity of Australian, States and Territory Governments to provide support services for Australians with a severe or profound disability has been boosted with the…
Schools to Help Students Say ‘NO’ to Domestic Violence
The confronting real-life story of teenage domestic violence victim Angela Barker is the centrepiece of the Australian Government’s innovative new education pack being delivered to…
Problem Gambling Support Centre welcomed but States and Territories need to lift their game
The launch of a Problem Gambling Support Centre in south west Sydney by the Salvation Army and the Fairfield RSL Club, is a positive initiative…
Australian families changing
Changes in Australian families over the past two decades and the challenges they face have been tracked in a research report launched in Melbourne today.…
Key Report A First Step Towards Better Future For Australia’s Children
The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today welcomed the release of a bulletin on children’s health, development and wellbeing as an…
New legislation to deliver on Howard Government election commitments
The Howard Government will introduce legislation tomorrow to continue to deliver on its election commitments and ensure that the value of Family Tax Benefit (FTB)…
Howard Government delivers more Outside School Hours Child Care places
The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson today announced a new allocation of over 6300 Outside School Hours Care places. ‘The new…
Emergency assistance for Bundaberg train crash victims
The Australian Government will provide emergency assistance to the victims of the train crash near Bundaberg, Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson…
Community Input Sought on Wide-Ranging Family Law Reforms
A discussion paper released today seeks input from the community into the implementation of wide-ranging reforms to the family law system, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock and…
Howard Government delivers more help for Grandparent carers
The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today delivered on the first of the promises made by the Coalition during the 2004…
Labor Divided Over Family and Tax – Time For Plibersek To Clarify
Labor is divided over whether they will keep their Family and Tax policy and whether the Howard Government’s $600 per child payment is real.Media reports…
Report confirms Howard Government helping the homeless
The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today welcomed the findings of a new report released by the Australian Institute of Health…
Report Highlights Role of Carers
A new report, released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, demonstrates the value of the Australian Government’s support for carers of older…
Time for Tanya to tell where she stands on ALP family policies
Labor’s new Shadow Spokesperson for Work, Family and Community, Tanya Plibersek, must tell Australian families whether she supports Labor’s election policies. Ms Plibersek must come…
New Shadow Treasurer fails to grasp the reality of the $600 family tax benefit increase
Labor’s new Shadow Treasurer has shown his true colours this afternoon, failing yet again to acknowledge that the $600 increase in Family Tax Benefit is…
September unemployment benefit numbers fall to 14 year low
The number of people receiving unemployment benefits in September has fallen to its lowest level in 14 years. The Minister for Family and Community Services,…