The cuts suggested in the National Commission of Audit Report could mean the end of ethnic radio programs and the closure of community radio stations. Ethnic community broadcasting is a vital and cost-effective community service that harnesses the skills, expertise and time of over 4000 volunteers from 125 distinct cultural groups to produce over 2,118 hours of content on 130 stations every week. Government investment is crucial to sustaining and building the capacity of this volunteer-driven sector. Ethnic community broadcasting provides quality local content in over 100 languages and plays a critical and unique role in facilitating Australia's remarkable cultural diversity and social cohesion.

We must prevent culling (shooting) of our Brumby in the Snowy Mountains. It is a method that results in extreme cruelty to an animal (remember Guy Fawke's National Park) who is an integral part of our history, heritage, and poetry. Our Brumby has been in the Snowy Mountains region for well over a century and should be admired rather than vilified as vermin to be destroyed. We do not want to be scratching our collective heads in 20 years time asking "what happened to our Brumbies, we can only see them in the museum now"

The expansion to accommodate a projected 3000 ships per year will involve massive dredging, dumping of dredge spoil, land reclamation, risk of oil spills, air pollution, beach and cliff erosion associated with channel deepening, and loss of habitat. This has the potential to destroy the Western Port we know, love, and depend upon. Our beaches, fishing, wildlife, tourism economy, clean air, clean water. Western Port is a wetland of international significance, and Australia has obligations to look after it under the Ramsar treaty. Please take some time to learn about the proposed port expansion and its likely impacts. To stay up to date visit http://preservewesternport.org.au and http://www.wppcinc.org Thanks!

The southern end of the Coogee foreshore area is the quiet end of Coogee being residential in nature with only low impact commercial development next door and the Grand Pacific heritage building next to that. This proposal is for a two level concrete commercial podium at the base of the high rise block of units on the corner of Carr St and Kurrawa Ave. The unit block is currently set back at ground level from Carr St and from the east and west boundaries, giving it an open and low key feel at street level despite the high rise above. The proposed concrete structure with its bulky podium and the disproportionately large balconies on the 7 floors above would be a gross imposition on this special part of Coogee dominating the location, detracting from the much valued small scale qualites of the bay area and undermining the relaxed village atmosphere that makes Coogee Coogee.

Please sign and share this petition as widely as you can to send a clear message to the Immigration Department that we don't support the mistreatment and blatant disregard for well being of five year old Ari (Aust. born) and her mum Eunsil (Chloe) Park. Recently the Minister of Immigration Scott Morrison stepped to delay Eunsil's deportation until June, but Mr Morrison is still refusing to grant Eunsil residency based on the grounds that it is 'not in the public's best interest'. Read media articles linked below. What could be more in the public's interest than a giving Ari - an Australian citizen - the right to live out her life happily in Australian with her mum? By signing and sharing this petition you can help change Mr Morrison's perception of what really is 'in the public's best interest' and persuade him to offer Eunsil residency. Eunsil has until until 6 June to pack her bags, say goodbye to her home in Australia and buy a one-way ticket out of country. Ari has no choice but to go with her mum or face gruelling and damaging separation. It is not an option for this family. If they don't leave, Eunsil will face detention. For the past 4 years, Eunsil has gone through all the processes to get permanent residency. The uncertainty has been tough, but she's struggled and persevered so that her daughter can grow up, go to high school and do all the other things kids are lucky enough to do in Australia. Nothing is more important for Eunsil than to stay in Australia with her daughter, Ari. In 2012 Eunsil was told to expect a positive decision on her permanent residency application - unfortunately the opposite has occurred. Eunsil is fearful of what will happen if her and Ari are deported back to South Korea - a country she hasn't known for 8 years. Chloe doesn't have a job or a home to go back to there and Ari would be entering a totally unfamiliar world. As a single parent family, Eunsil has fears she and Ari would be stigmatised, shamed or discriminated in South Korea. Mark Illingworth, Ari's loving granddad, can't believe his daughter-in-law and granddaughter will be forcibly deported. He desperately wants Chloe and Ari to stay in Australia so that their family can stay together. Mark has told the Immigration Department that he's prepared to support Eunsil and Ari in every way if that's what's required. Unfortunately, even a granddad's plea to see his granddaughter grow up has fallen on deaf ears. Please sign and share this petition as far and wide as you can. But please do it fast! If we act together now and share the petition as widely as we can, we can pressure the Immigration Minister to review their decision. Thank you! Ari celebrates her 5th birthday and the family continue to fight for her and her mum to remain in Australia (21 April) : http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/family-vows-to-fight-on-to-stop-deportation-of-fiveyearold-ari-illingworth-to-vietnam/story-fnihsrf2-1226890690221 Story in The Australian about the three month reprieve: (18 Mar) http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/south-korean-woman-eunsil-chloe-park-and-daughter-ari-allowed-to-stay-in-australian-three-more-months/story-e6frg6n6-1226857432764 Mark (grandfather) slams PM's resolve to deport family - the Australian 17 Mar http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/grandad-slams-pm-tony-abbotts-resolve-to-deport-family/story-e6frg6n6-1226856421822 A story in Courier Mail interviewing Mark and highlighting the abhorrent string of events putting Chloe and Ari in this incomprehensible position. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/former-immigration-minister-chris-bowen-was-set-to-use-discretionary-powers-to-let-south-korean-woman-and-daughter-4-stay-in-australia/story-fnihsrf2-1226855192127 Mark was interviewed on The Project last night (13 March), take a look: http://tenplay.com.au/channel-ten/the-project/video An interview with Mark by the ABC: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-13/deportation-may-split-family/5319760?section=qld An interview with Mark in the Courier Mail: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/grandfathers-plea-to-immigration-minister-scott-morrison-let-my-little-angel-stay/story-fnihsrf2-1226853013658

Since 2011 there have been 2,000 Indigenous children forced into homelessness on the streets of Perth as a direct result of public housing evictions. Since the hardline policy was introduced, over 500 Aboriginal households have been evicted – more than the total of all other ethnic groups combined and almost double the number from the previous two years. We are creating a generation of hopelessness that must be averted. The evictions of children must be stopped until alternate accommodation is located.

The carbon tax legislation has lead to the development of new business opportunities in green industries and sustainable business models. Repealing the carbon tax will lead to job losses in the new green economy. We need to demonstrate to the government and the community the impact that repealing the carbon tax will have on new green businesses. Green business is just as important to the economy as dirty business.

This tree was planted in 1892 by prominent industrialist Henry Buttery in his residential property adjacent to his furniture factory, which was the first in South Australia to use steam powered machinery, and the nearby row of Victorian shops from 158 to 166 The Parade, which still retain their distinctive parapets and facades and were also built by Henry Buttery. The tree and the shops represent the cultural history of late 19th Century Norwood. The cork tree (quercus suber) is significant with respect to its species, trunk size and its age. It is of exceptional form, with a good crown and contributes to the interpretation and understanding of the important history and built heritage of the site. It is registered by the National Trust of Australia (No. 34) on the Significant Tree Register.

We want to be proud of the Wonthaggi Public Cemetery's historic grounds and the very special areas in which to honour and celebrate life. We need the grounds to be kept in pristine condition all year round for safe access to and from grave sites for all population groups including senior citizens and members of the public with a disability - even people with an injury or temporary disability.

With over 30,000 Australians killed or seriously injured each year, road safety is a health issue! Yet basic actions can be taken to protect people's lives! As part of Australia's Road Rules we need a national law that acts to protect those who find themselves vulnerable on our roads and highways. By making sure that passing drivers and riders "slow down and move over" when approaching an incident, crash or breakdown we can ensure road users "Drive So Others Survive!" (See Centre for Road Safety Video www.youtube.com/watch?v=H75mP0X41Gw ) There is no longer a Commonwealth Minister for Road Safety so we are asking the Deputy Prime Minister (who is also Minister for Transport and Infrastructure) to become the champion for National Road Safety. Given his portfolio responsibilities, we believe the Deputy Prime Minister needs to become the National Road Safety Champion by publicly stating his commitment to road safety. We then ask the Deputy Prime Minister to demonstrate this commitment to the protection of vulnerable road users and those who protect and assist (emergency services, tow truck drivers, roadside assistance personnel) by leading the push for a "Slow By at least 30" (SB30) Australian Road Rule.

Chevron is guilty of oil leaks and spills on and around the island. In the following link you can see images of leaking oil pipes: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/leaking-pipes-spill-oil-across-barrow-island/story-e6frg19l-1226067138923 What is the fate of animals relocated from Barrow Island? Read about it here: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/mammals-moved-to-radioactive-island/story-e6frg19l-1225832999056 And here is a report relating to an asbestos incident on Barrow Island (that would have threatened animals as much as workers): http://www.tlcwa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1235:asbestos-bungle-on-barrow&catid=131:top-1 It should be noted that the EPA has back-flipped on its original recommendations as reported prior to the Barrow Island Act of 2003 in which it advised against the use of Barrow Island for the Gorgon Project due to the serious risk of incontrovertible damage to the island's unique and fragile ecosystem. One can only wonder why that advice was ignored and ponder why the EPA now supports the clearing of the extra 32 hectares, albeit with conditions attached including a 10% increase in environmental offsets that Chevron has no intention of honouring. Chevron has a reputation for damaging fragile environments all over the world in its relentless pursuit of fossil fuels. It was a mistake to give them the go ahead to operate the Gorgon Project on Barrow Island in the first place. The clearing of a further 32 hectares will inevitably prove an even bigger error of judgment. Expansion of gas, oil and coal projects in Australia equals expansion of widespread environmental damage. State and Federal parliaments should be urged to withdraw support from fossil fuel projects and focus instead on environmentally friendly and cost effective alternative energy sources. The photo on this page is courtesy of Bob Winters.

Yesterday I heard on the radio news that a highly regarded Indigenous Elder refused to accept his Australia Day Award. That was perfect timing for me as I have been trying to change Australia Day for the past 5 years. When I was in year 12 in 1971, my maths teacher invited me to a week long camp at Lane Cove National Park, Sydney. I did not realise what sort of camp it was initially. I soon learnt that it was the yearly camp to reunite Indigenous siblings who were still being separated and living with different White families. I made many friends there and reflected that had my cousins been born into a family with an Indigenous mother, they too would have been taken away to live with White families. I still live with the shock of what that week was about to this very day. It tore at my heart to try to comfort two precious sisters who were about to be separated again for another LONG year. That was something I have NEVER forgotten. The camp was pervaded with PANIC that last day. I feel that we all need a Commemorative Day on 26 January. There is still much healing to be allowed and this day will also include minority groups such as mine - complex trauma, people from war-torn countries, and even asylum seekers who are feeling political unrest and torture. We all carry traumatic memories that need time to heal and given the respect of the nation to give us this day each year on 26 January.We need a national, inclusive Commemoration Day on 26 January to be dedicated to the memories of all the events that brought/bring/will bring the original generations of the First Peoples in Australia, the invaders and their generations of offspring, more recent migrants and their families, and asylum seekers together to actively remember the actions of past others and to celebrate the survival of all minority groups against enormous odds. Then we need to bring everyone together into the present time with an all inclusive Australia Day on 1 September, the first day of Spring. Then and only then will Australians be able to start growing up emotionally.