I introduced legislation in Parliament last week that will tighten laws for doctors issuing death certificates. This follows the tragic story of a lady who died in the Brighton Aged Care Nursing Home in July last year. The doctors who signed her death certificate owned the nursing home and are married to each other, which raised a number of concerns. My Bill will prevent doctors with a financial interest in medical or health care facilities from signing death certificates for people who die in such a facility. This would include hospitals, nursing homes and aged care services. 

A Bill is currently before State Parliament that will bring laws in relation to gene technology into line with the Commonwealth. A key element of the legislation is that the Federal Minister, in consultation with the Gene Technology Ministerial Council, will have the ability to quickly approve the use of a Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) in the case of an emergency. An example would be calling on the use of a genetically modified vaccine to respond to a disease outbreak or the use of a GMO to break down an environmental toxin.  Green groups are concerned this places too much power in the hands of the Minister and limits consultation in the application of GMOs.

As summer approaches there will be increasing focus on water conservation. To help I will be hosting a ‘Living with Water Restrictions’ forum at the Reynella Neighbourhood Centre on 6^th December.  A number of notable speakers will provide tips on helping gardens survive this time of the year.  More details to follow…

Dr Irvin Waller was the guest speaker at my dinner last Thursday night.  As an international specialist in the field of crime prevention, Dr Waller referred to proven research to reduce crime rates.  The most effective approach in addressing crime is through programs that offer education, youth development, improvement in living standards and prevention of violence against women.  Dr Waller also strongly holds to the need for victim support, empowerment and representation, particularly through court proceedings. He explained that the least effective and most expensive method of reducing crime is by putting more people in the prison system. 

I am currently drafting legislation that will address the design features of poker machines that falsely entice people into believing a win is not far away. From my extensive research I have found there is a pattern to many machines that have winning symbols coming up on four of the five reels, which lures players into believing the fifth symbol will soon come up, but it is could be only a one in 100 chance. This is a trick in the design of poker machines which has players parting with their hard earned personal and family dollars. My legislation will ban this kind of trickery in the design of poker machines. The cost on State social welfare, health and crime prevention resources far outweighs the revenue raised from these addictive machines … and that is before we talk about the human cost. 

In response to a recent Senate Inquiry into poker machines, I made a submission outlining my concerns and providing some recommendations. To view see:  Senate Inquiry Submission