CONROY SHOULD GUARANTEE DIGITAL SERVICE FOR YANKALILLA This evening at a public meeting in Yankalilla I will launch a petition to be tabled in the Federal Parliament in an attempt to force the Federal Government to guarantee Yankalilla residents television services.   In 2013 when the Federal Government intends to switch off the Adelaide analogue television signal, the residents of the district of Yankalilla will be without television reception.   In conjunction with the District... more

Spot the difference between China and Stephen Conroy In the past few months we have seen the highs and lows of our relationship with China on display. Firstly we saw Australia avoid recession largely because of the strong demand by China for Australia’s resources.  Then we saw a series of diplomatic incidents including the arrest of Australian businessman Stern Hu on grounds which are yet to become clear.  In addition it appears the Chinese Government has taken proactive action to s... more

Speaking with Kate O'Toole on the Hack Program - Friday 21 August 2009 Download Here: LinkClick.aspx

Time For Point Sturt Water Security Today along with the Shadow Minister for Water, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, the Federal Coalition is calling on the Federal Government to step in and fund the water security of the Point Sturt community. The Point Sturt community has been waiting for the State Government to guarantee their water security for some time however it has failed to act. Experiencing one of the worst droughts on record, the Point Sturt community can no longer rely on Lake Alexandrina... more

Volunteer Grants 2009 I am pleased to announce that the 2009 Volunteer Grants round is now open and I encourage non-profit organisations throughout the electorate of Mayo to apply.   Under the initiative, non-profit organisations can apply for grants of up to $5000 to assist with the costs of petrol and to purchase new equipment.   Since 2001, the grants have helped organisations purchase a variety of equipment including first aid kits, gardening equipment, printers and microwave... more

Speech to the House, ADJOURNMENT - SOUTH AUSTRALIA: PROPOSED INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION, 19 August 2009 Mr BRIGGS (Mayo) (7:39 PM) —I will slightly amend the remarks I was about to make this evening in the adjournment debate, as the member for Oxley unfortunately continues the representation of Oxley in this place by appalling members of parliament. That contribution was one of the most ridiculous rants we have heard in this place for some time, but it actually leads me to the to... more

Speech to the Main Committee, CONSTITUENCY STATEMENT - TELSTRA, 19 August 2009 Mr BRIGGS (Mayo) (9:36 AM) —It is a pleasure to follow the member for Banks. I rise this morning to talk not about a positive issue, as the member for Banks has just done so eloquently, but, unfortunately, about an issue which is affecting many people in my electorate, particularly older constituents, and that is the decision by Telstra to apply a fee when people pay their bill over the counter. I am sure many member... more

Speech to the House, AUTOMOTIVE TRANSFORMATION SCHEME BILL 2009, 19 August 2009 Mr BRIGGS (Mayo) (1:52 PM) —I also rise to speak on the Automotive Transformation Scheme Bill 2009 and a related bill. I follow the member representing the Electrical Trades Union in this place and I acknowledge that that member has had a bit to do with the car industry over time. He mentioned some of that at the beginning of his speech, and I am sure he also had ETU members that he used to service in the car indus... more

South Coast Veteran Association's Vietnam Veterans' Day Ceremony - 18 August 2009 Firstly please accept my apologies for not being part of today’s ceremony. Unfortunately I am in Canberra for a sitting week and I look forward to visiting the new memorial when I am back. I congratulate the South Coast Veterans Association for establishing the memorial to one of Australia’s most famous battles and more broadly a memorial to honour those who served our country in Vietnam. This memorial ... more

Speech to the House, RENEWABLE ENERGY (ELECTRICITY) AMENDMENT BILL 2009, 17 August 2009 Mr BRIGGS (Mayo) (1:06 PM) —I rise to indicate my support for the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2009 and cognate bill and for the position put so eloquently by the shadow minister for the environment and water at the beginning of the debate today—albeit a little earlier than I thought I would have the opportunity to do so. This legislation aims to set in place a renewable energy target of 20 ... more

Discussing the latest from Canberra, Sky News Agenda - 17 August 2009 Download here: LinkClick.aspx

Economics Committee Hearing - Friday 14 August 2009 Attached is the Hansard from the House of Representatives Economics committee hearing from Friday 14 August 2009. The Committee heard from the Reserve Bank Governor that the next movement in interest rates is likely to be up, that the Government will need to reconsider fiscal stimulus at the appropriate stage, that labour market reforms over the last 15 years helped Australia manage this downturn and that industrial action in Western Aust... more

Speech to the House, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IMPROVEMENT AMENDMENT BILL 2009, 13 August 2009 Mr BRIGGS (Mayo) (9:55 AM) —This is my first attempt at addressing the chamber from my new position. I rise to oppose the government’s attempts to water down or destroy the very successful ABCC today. This is, as we have just seen from the speech from the member for Longman, a campaign being run by union members for union bosses, not for the interests of actual workers on the ground. Let me j... more

 Your local country show is under threat One of the great benefits of representing a regional electorate is the opportunity to attend many local shows.  Whether it is Mount Barker, Mount Pleasant, Strathalbyn or Kangaroo Island – shows represent what is great about regional Australia – although you can take or leave the Dagwood Dogs. But there is a danger lurking for these regional celebrations in the form of yet another bungled Rudd Government “reform”, a danger that threatens the ... more

Speech to the Main Committee, MURRAY-DARLING RIVER SYSTEM, 12 August 2009 Mr BRIGGS (Mayo) (9.48 am)—I rise again in this place to speak about issues in relation to the Lower Lakes in my electorate of Mayo, and in particular the issue of water for the communities of Point Sturt and Hindmarsh Island. This is an issue I have raised in this place on numerous occasions. I wish to update the House on the situation and the ongoing crisis for these communities, who seek a freshwater supply and ask f... more

Man on a mission - Adelaide Hills Magazine, Winter 2009 Download here -LinkClick.aspx

Honouring The Past The Mylor History Group has successfully been granted $2,035 and the National Trust of South Australia, Penneshaw/Kangaroo Island Sub-branch has been granted $3000 under the Federal Government’s Saluting Their Service program to undertake projects in Mayo. Saluting Their Service, an Australian Government initiative, aims to honour all Australian servicemen and women and promotes appreciation of their sacrifices. The grants will help the Mylor History Group purchase a light... more