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Hansard
- Start of Business
- CONDOLENCES
- DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
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QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
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Parliamentarians: Redundancy Benefits Scheme
(Crean, Simon, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Australian Secret Intelligence Service
(Baldwin, Robert, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Ministerial Conduct: Senator Alston
(Tanner, Lindsay, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Economy: Performance
(Randall, Don, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Ministerial Conduct: Senator Alston
(Crean, Simon, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Waterfront: Productivity
(Neville, Paul, MP, Anderson, John, MP) -
National Security
(Rudd, Kevin, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Rural and Regional Australia: Youth
(Panopoulos, Sophie, MP, Truss, Warren, MP) -
National Security
(Rudd, Kevin, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Trade: South-East Asia
(Tollner, David, MP, Vaile, Mark, MP) -
National Security
(Rudd, Kevin, MP, Downer, Alexander, MP) -
Health Insurance: Rebates
(Draper, Trish, MP, Abbott, Tony, MP) -
Political Parties: Membership
(Latham, Mark, MP, Abbott, Tony, MP) -
Housing: First Home Owners Scheme
(Pearce, Christopher, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Trade: Banana Industry
(Katter, Bob, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Education: Overseas Students
(Lindsay, Peter, MP, Nelson, Dr Brendan, MP) -
Social Welfare: Carer Allowance
(Swan, Wayne, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Economy: Small Business
(Farmer, Patrick, MP, Hockey, Joe, MP)
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Parliamentarians: Redundancy Benefits Scheme
- PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS
- QUESTIONS TO THE SPEAKER
- JOINT HOUSE DEPARTMENT
- PAPERS
- MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
- COMMITTEES
- PARLIAMENTARY ZONE
- TAXATION LAWS AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 7) 2003
- CONDOLENCES
- FAMILY ASSISTANCE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (EXTENSION OF TIME LIMITS) BILL 2003
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HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT BILL 2003
HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT (TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS) BILL 2003 - MAIN COMMITTEE
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ADJOURNMENT
- Bailey, Fran, MP
- Animal Welfare: Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
- Defence: HMAS Barcoo
- Health: World Diabetes Day
- Calwell Electorate: Arthur Calwell Memorial Lecture
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Anniversary of B'nai Brith
Parliamentary World Cup Rugby Team -
Immigration: Preston Offices
Cairns, Hon. Dr James Ford
- Adjournment
- NOTICES
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QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
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Scullin Electorate: Child-Care Centres
(Jenkins, Harry, MP, Anthony, Larry, MP) -
Military Detention: Mr David Hicks
(McClelland, Robert, MP, Howard, John, MP) -
Crime: Money Laundering
(McClelland, Robert, MP, Williams, Daryl, MP) -
Legal Aid: Funding
(McClelland, Robert, MP, Ruddock, Philip, MP) -
Budget: Government Policy Decisions
(Latham, Mark, MP, Costello, Peter, MP) -
Fuel: Ethanol
(Thomson, Kelvin, MP, Macfarlane, Ian, MP) -
Red Cross Blood Service: Blood Donors
(Ferguson, Laurie, MP, Hardgrave, Gary, MP)
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Scullin Electorate: Child-Care Centres
Page: 21400
Mr Laurie Ferguson
asked the Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, upon notice, on 15 September 2003:
(1) Is he aware of comments by the Red Cross Blood Service reported in the Canberra Times on 10 September 2003 that blood donors should be able to speak English because it costs time and money for the Service to use interpreters.
(2) Are such comments consistent with the requirements of the Coalition's Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society; if not, will he ask the Minister for Health and Ageing to take appropriate corrective action.
Mr Hardgrave (Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister)
—The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:
(1) Yes.
(2) The Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) is an operating division of the Australian Red Cross Society and has a national budget derived from Commonwealth and State governments as well as the Australian Red Cross Society. The mission statement and activities of the Australian Red Cross is underpinned by, among others, two principles pertinent to the issue which is the subject of this question:
- impartiality - non-discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions; and
- while accepting that as a national society it is an auxiliary of Australian governments' humanitarian services and subject to the Australian law, it is an independent organisation and must always maintain its autonomy.
Accordingly, it is the primary responsibility of the Australian Red Cross Society to uphold these principles.
I am also aware of comments by the ARCBS in the Canberra Times of 11 September to the effect that the prospective blood donors in question would be contacting the ARCBS to “work through the issues and identify which members of the group would be eligible to donate”. I welcome this undertaking.