Jenny Macklin to take questions in Aireys Inlet

RETIRING federal Labor frontbencher Jenny Macklin will be one of the guest speakers at the next Big Issues Q&A event, to be held in Aireys Inlet next week.

Ms Macklin, who has spent her holidays in Aireys Inlet for many years, is the Shadow Minister for Social Services and has played a pivotal role in most welfare reforms in Australia over the past two decades, particularly the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The representative for the Melbourne seat of Jagajaga announced last week that she would not contest the next federal election and would serve the remainder of her term on the backbench.

“As the longest serving Labor woman in the House of Representatives, ever, ‘It’s Time’, as Gough so famously said, for me to move on,” Ms Macklin said.

“It is time for me to spend more time at home, especially with our new grand-daughter.

“It’s also time for the next generation. Although I still want to contribute to policy debates, it’s time for me to step back.”

Along with the NDIS, she listed introduction of a national paid parental leave scheme, the largest increase to the pension in its history, the Apology to the Stolen Generations, the development of the Closing the Gap framework and the creation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse as among her proudest achievements.

Former CPSU industrial officer Mike Atkinson will introduce Ms Macklin and talk about his experiences with the NDIS.

Next week’s Big Issues Q&A will be the seventh in the series organised by the Surf Coast branch of the ALP.

Previous speakers include Dr Stephen Duckett, Barry Jones, Rod Tucker, Professor Ross Garnaut and Patricia and Don Edgar.

The event will be held in the back room of the Aireys Pub on Friday, July 20 from 5.30pm.

Entry is by gold coin donation.

For more information, phone Megan Stoyles on 0408 147 829 or email [email protected].