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grandmoon · ‎04-11-2014

'parental competence'

Social Services Minister Kevin Andrews is looking at ways to boost "parental competence" and make sure Australians adapt smoothly to key "life points" – from going to school to having children and retiring.

In an address to a national conference on families and relationships on Tuesday, Mr Andrews will talk of the importance of early intervention and prevention to avoid family breakups which he says increases the risks of child neglect and self-harm, and alcohol abuse and unwanted sex among young people.

The Social Services Minister has tasked his department with developing a framework to "embed" early intervention and prevention into social services' policies and programs

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/childready-abbott-government-examines-how-to-b...

boris1gary · ‎05-11-2014

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/nov/05/kevin-andrews-slammed-by-nt-politician-for-com...

Kevin Andrews slammed by NT politician for comments on de factos

Federal families minister called a ‘pooncy, pasty faced person from some bleep ant place’ for claiming married couples stay together longer than unmarried couples

The Speaker of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly has objected to comments by the federal families minister, Kevin Andrews, that de facto couples should get married, labelling him a “pooncy, pasty faced person from some **bleep** ant place that no one cares about”.

Kezia Purick, the Country Liberal party (CLP) member for Goyder, posted her comments on Facebook on Tuesday night.

“Righto, Kevin Andrews, politician from down south and who was instrumental in overturning Territory laws for rights for the terminally ill, now is saying married couples stay together better and longer than de facto couples,” Purick began.

“Listen here you pooncy, pasty faced person from some bleep ant place that no one cares about, half my electorate are probably in de facto relationships and they are happy, normal living people who do their very best for their families and their communities. They work hard, try their best and believe that you judge people by their deeds not some piece of paper. I have the same support for people who are married or want to get married in the eyes of a church or the law, that is their choice and I respect it.”

grandmoon · ‎05-11-2014

THE Speaker of the Northern Territory parliament has labelled Kevin Andrews a "pooncy, pasty-faced person from some **bleep**-ant place" over a speech the Abbott government minister made championing traditional marriage.

COUNTRY-LIBERAL MLA Kezia Purick has delivered a tirade against the social services minister's advocacy of intact families.

She took offence at suggestions married couples were happier and healthier than de-facto couples.

"Listen here you pooncy, pasty-faced person from some **bleep**-ant place that no one cares about," Ms Purick wrote on Facebook.

"Half my electorate are probably in de-facto relationships and they are happy, normal living people who do their very best for their families and their communities.

Ms Purick also delivered a tongue-in-cheek warning to the federal minister about pushing "fundamentalist religious values".

"Go away Kevin Andrews and if you ever come to the rural area and try to tell us how to live, three words for you: green rubber ring."

It was a reference to a device farmers use to castrate livestock.

Mr Andrews used a families conference in Adelaide on Tuesday to announce the government was developing an early-intervention program focused on key "life points" to help people prepare for school, work and relationships, through to child-bearing and ageing.

He pointed to research to argue the links between harm to children and family break-ups.

"The family, built on stable marriage, is central in our society and it is the first and most important building block in a child's life," Mr Andrews said.

Comment is being sought from Mr Andrews.