Next Saturday you will vote for the next Government. That is a privilege that democracies have. But not all candidates are equal.

FAMILY FIRST NSW has an impressive group of candidates standing for the Legislative Assembly. Every one is active in their electorate and is hard working for the election. Some other parties have candidates who do not live in the electorate and do not work for their election, just allowing their names to be on the ballot paper.

But there are no “sleeper candidates” in FAMILY FIRST’s campaign team!

There are too many such good candidates for the lower House for me to present a personal profile on each one here. But you can trust in the integrity of these people. Every one is a committed Christian.

In the Legislative Council we have also a committed group of candidates. Unlike other parties, we do not have people unable to actively work for the community. FAMILY FIRST NSW is willing to list their candidates with a brief profile: Continue reading →

FAMILY FIRST is the only Party in the Parliament that can be relied upon to defend those values that Australians hold dear. Values like family, marriage, life, housing, choice in schooling, looking after pensioners, the disabled, the homeless, new immigrants, asylum seekers and others in need.

Our policies are directed towards securing family values and adding to them. Family First is committed to the development of sound policies that reflect the values we hold and guide the actions we take in standing up for families, communities and life. Continue reading →

ELECTING MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IN NEW SOUTH WALES

In NSW, State Government elections are held on the fourth Saturday in March every four years. At State elections, the people of NSW elect Members of Parliament to represent them in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. After the election the political party, or coalition of parties, that has the majority of Members elected to the Legislative Assembly, becomes the Government.

WHY VOTE IN THE STATE ELECTIONS?

Australia is a representative democracy where people elect representatives to speak in parliament and make decisions on their behalf. Voting for a person who represents your views allows you to have a say in the laws passed, and decisions made, in parliament. Voting at elections is compulsory in all Australian elections. Compulsory voting was introduced in 1924 and first used in the 1925 elections. Voting is by secret ballot. South Australia and Victoria were the first places to use the secret ballot in 1856. NSW introduced the secret ballot in 1858. Continue reading →

4 March 2011 @ 7pm
Oberon Ministries
20 Ross Street, Oberon

6 March 2011 @ 9.30am
Berowra Baptist Church
41-45 Berowra Waters Road, Berowra

6 March 2011 @ 6pm
House of Praise
14 Tathra Street, West Gosford

9 March 2011 @ 10am
Lugarno Anglican Church
3A Old Forest Road, Lugarno

10 March 2011 @ 4pm
Community Night
Uniting Church, Anson St, Orange

11 March 2011 @ 7.30pm
Community Night
TBA, Wellington

13 March 2011 @ 10am
C3 Church
46 Robert Street, Rozelle

15 March 2011 @ 7.30pm
Community Night
TBA, The Entrance

20 March 2011 @ 9.30am
Springwood Uniting Church
4 Lewin Street, Springwood Continue reading →

Parliamentary Leader of Family First NSW, Rev Dr Gordon Moyes, and South Australian Family First MLC, Robert Brokenshire, have publicly backed dairy farmers, in a bid to guarantee Coles and Woolworths price slashes on generic brand milk will not hurt the farmer at the farm gate. The call comes from reports that the reductions on generic brand milk in supermarkets to $2 for two litres, will fall dangerously close to below-cost prices, ultimately affecting the sustainability of the Australian dairy industry. Continue reading →

The Orange Aboriginal Health Service (OAMS) has welcomed plans by the nurse and Family First Candidate for Orange, Mrs Fiona Rossiter, for an inter agency “Health For Life” bus for the electorate and supports her suggestion that it based at the OAMS headquarters.

Mrs Rossiter is pushing for the introduction of the bus staffed by health professionals who’ll be able to complete health checks, provide health information and referrals to local services, as well as, offering support groups and classes.

“It will bring together existing services including hospitals, community health centres and non-government organisations, as well as emergency service personnel and council staff,” stated Mrs Rossiter.

The CEO of the Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS), Mr Jamie Newman, says he supports the concept 100 percent. Continue reading →

The NSW Government is conducting a Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program in partnership with the NSW Department of Community Services (DoCs), Housing NSW, NSW Police, NSW Health and Courts.

This program aims to prevent women and children becoming homeless, and will assist women who have experienced domestic violence providing them with practical and emotional support, and the option to remain safely in their own homes without the risk of further violence from the perpetrator. The violent offender is removed from the home and can be provided crisis accommodation, financial assistance and counselling. Continue reading →

With recent reports that Telstra will significantly upgrade its mobile network to take advantage of fast 4G technology, therefore ruling the viability of the proposed $40 billion dollar investment into the National Broadband Network almost obsolete, Rev Dr Gordon Moyes, Parliamentary Leader of Family First, stated:

“In September last year, even before the legislation was brought to our Parliament, and despite the reassurances of our Prime Minister, I made specific mention of the absolute waste of tax payers money to be invested into a National Broadband Network that already seemed to fail to compete with international standards.

“In my editorial ‘Broadband Issues’ dated 8 September 2010, I stated:

What could be faster and cheaper than even fibre optic? Will our present decision be hopelessly out of date, after all that expenditure? Sticking long lengths of cable through underground pipes to every house in the nation seems to be an antiquated system that could soon be out of date with wireless connections.

I understand that current wireless technologies are slower than fibre optic cable at the moment, but with new satellites coming into position and more powerful wireless transmissions available, in a country as vast as ours, is underground cable an old technology like telephone cables? Is cable the best answer for our needs in education, healthcare and business? Continue reading →

With the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) advising mobile phone use whilst driving can distract drivers and riders from the driving task, and can cause significant lapses in concentration resulting in tragic accidents, Rev Dr Gordon Moyes AC MLC, Parliamentary Leader of Family First NSW, stated:

“The RTA states that any hand-held mobile phone use whilst driving (including talking, sending or receiving text messages, playing games, or taking photos) is illegal. It is also illegal to perform these activities when your vehicle is stationary, for example when you are waiting at traffic lights.

“A hands-free device can reduce the physical effort to make and receive calls but it doesn’t necessarily make it safe to use a phone while driving. I am not sure if many people realise but a person can actually be charged if it is proven the driver had lost proper control of their vehicle whilst using a hands-free phone, for example serving on the road.

“I am totally against any form of mobile phone use whilst driving. If necessary, drivers must pull over, stop, and turn off their engine if they are to use their mobile phone in any capacity. I have done this consistently since being alarmed by the numbers of drivers talking and texting without giving full attention to driving and risking their lives, their families lives, and the lives of everyone else on the road.

“Studies have found that using a mobile phone while driving is dangerous as it slows reaction times and interferes with a driver’s perception skills and increases the chance of having a crash. Continue reading →

Family First MLC Dr Gordon Moyes will tour the Orange electorate in March with the party’s candidate for the state seat, Fiona Rossiter.

The two will speak about their professional and political backgrounds, as well as taking questions from constituents, at gatherings in Orange, Molong, Wellington, Gulgong and Mudgee on Thursday and Friday March 10 and 11. (see below for details)

Dr Moyes was elected to the NSW Legislative Council in 2002. He became Family First’s first parliamentary representative in November 2009. Dr Moyes has been inducted as a Member of the Order of Australia (AC) and received Australia’s highest honor, an AC - Companion of the Order of Australia.

Prior to entering politics in 2002, Dr Moyes was a Superintendent of the Wesley Mission for 27 years. He was also an accomplished broadcaster hosting TV’s Turn ‘Round Australia and Sunday Night Live with Gordon Moyes on radio.

“I’m looking forward to returning to the western region of NSW and accompanying Fiona Rossiter on a two day tour of her part of the state,” Dr Moyes said.

Dr Moyes will report on legislation significantly introduced and improved solely by the work of Family First in the Parliament this past year. Continue reading →