The heart of this nation is good, but it needs healing. For us to move forward and be the best that we can be, its foundations are to be put right. The custodians of this land for over 60,000 years formed a cradle which nurtures the younger nation of 240 years. It's time to formally acknowledge the past, seek forgiveness and accept the generous invitation to walk together, expressed in the Statement from the Heart. There is deep listening to be done on the part of settler people, and we must listen carefully because the voice of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is quiet but rightly resolute. The call for truth and justice can no longer be ignored. We need to listen humbly to what is wanted and needed by the First Peoples. Once and for all, we need to set matters to right honestly, and if we do not, we remain a diminished nation and we cannot truly move forward. There is so much to gain and nothing to lose.

The Statement from the Heart is a gift of great grace and goodwill, and the nation is blessed to have it. The wisdom and spiritual strength of our First Peoples is found in their voice, which needs to be heard in the governance of this land at all levels. To include their voice in national policy development gives us all a chance to benefit, and I welcome it with open arms. Australia must fold the Statement from the Heart into the heart of the nation.

Mental health providers, social workers and community nursing providers who provide vital services to our veteran community are set to receive a boost in funding from the Commonwealth Government.

Member for Monash, Russell Broadbent welcomed the Commonwealth Government’s commitment of $94.3 million in the Budget to increase fees paid to mental health, social work and community nursing providers, and ensure continued high-quality care for our veterans and their families.

“Maintaining competitive fees for these mental health and community support providers will enable better outcomes for our veterans and their families, as well as encourage providers to continue to offer services to support members of the veteran community through challenging times.

“It is crucial that the Government continues to invest in our veteran community by boosting support for veterans’ mental health and wellbeing, particularly as we navigate a global pandemic,” Mr Broadbent said.
The $94.3 million over four years is targeted to improve mental health outcomes and ensure high quality care for our older veterans and their families, and to better support their transition to civilian life by increasing fees paid to mental health, social work and community nursing providers.

“For any veteran out there in our community who may be struggling, I encourage you to reach out for help. Support is always available.

“Mental health is everyone’s business and we all have a part to play, so check in on a mate, ask them if they are ok, have a conversation and help them get the support they need,” Mr Broadbent said.

More information on mental health support available through DVA is available at dva.gov.au.

For support, Open Arms — Veterans & Families Counselling provides free and confidential support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families. Help is available 24/7 on 1800 011 046 or visit www.OpenArms.gov.au

The establishment of the Regional Forestry Agreements took great thought, effort and political will throughout the Hawke-Keating and Howard years. The people, our people, paid a great price to achieve consensus in order to have a sustainable timber industry across this nation. There are those who have found ways to circumvent the RFAs, to the detriment of regional communities and the Australian people. To close down our industry and import timber products abrogates our national responsibility in two ways: (1), we exploit other nations which do not have the environmental safeguards we do in timber; and, (2), we fail as a nation to become self-sufficient in managing this essential product. Has COVID taught us nothing about self-sufficiency? This is simple but not easy. It will take brave, intelligent leaders to examine the issue honestly and in detail without regard for political consequences. May commonsense prevail. This is an issue of national survival, not ideological warfare.