http://www.thepunch.com.au/author-bios/jenny-macklin/ Jenny Macklin is the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jenny has been the Member for Jagajaga since March 1996 and immediately joined the Shadow Ministry. After the 1998 election, Jenny was appointed Shadow Minister for Health and the Status of Women. She was elected Senior Vice-President of the ALP from 2000-2004. Jenny was elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2001 - 2006. She was the Shadow Minister for Employment, Education & Training from 2001 - 2004. After the 2004 election, Jenny became the Shadow Minister for Education, Training, Science and Research. In 2006 Jenny held the Shadow portfolio of Families and Community Services and Shadow Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/rugbys-hospital-pass-on-pokie-reforms/ Like a lot of parents I have spent my fair share of cold and wintry days on the side of a football field. I’m also a Victorian, so the shape of the football is a bit different, but the rite of passage – staffing the barbeque, cutting the oranges and sharing the thrills and spills – is a common experience for families across the country. Game to game, season to season, drinking tea out of a thermos and hearing the coach’s gospel recited over the dinner table, the parents and the kids form a bond. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Jenny Macklin) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/rugbys-hospital-pass-on-pokie-reforms/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/rugbys-hospital-pass-on-pokie-reforms/#item6219 Mon, 04 Jul 2011 19:40:02 +0000 Jenny Macklin | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/getting-down-to-the-business-of-parental-leave/ On 1 January 2011 Australia will get its first ever national government-funded Paid Parental Leave scheme. This is a historic reform which will benefit not just mums, dads and babies, but also businesses. In designing our Paid Parental Leave scheme, the Australian Government engaged business as part of the process. We wanted to ensure the scheme is not only fair to business, but helps employers retain valuable and skilled staff. Having a baby is for many people part of balancing everyday work and family life.  That’s why the Government had designed our Paid Parental Leave scheme to be delivered as a workplace entitlement, just like annual leave or sick leave. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Jenny Macklin) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/getting-down-to-the-business-of-parental-leave/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/getting-down-to-the-business-of-parental-leave/#item4687 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:55:46 +0000 Jenny Macklin | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/indigenous-recognition-in-the-constitution-is-about-respect/ A brief glance at Australia’s history shows that changing our constitution is never easy. Only eight of 44 referendums held since Federation have been successful. But I am optimistic that we can achieve nation-wide consensus on the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution. Constitutional recognition of Indigenous people will be a significant step towards building an Australia based on strong relationships and mutual respect. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Jenny Macklin) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/indigenous-recognition-in-the-constitution-is-about-respect/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/indigenous-recognition-in-the-constitution-is-about-respect/#item4522 Sun, 21 Nov 2010 19:50:44 +0000 Jenny Macklin | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/jenny-macklin-paid-parental-leave/ On Tuesday this week, 25,000 Australians delivered a clear message straight to the people who represent them in the nation’s Parliament. Signing a national petition, nurses, teachers, hospitality and construction workers, uni students, school kids, their mums and dads, their grandparents demanded that their elected representatives stand up and vote for the Rudd Government’s national paid parental leave scheme. After waiting decades, working families are set to be the big winners when the Government delivers Australia’s first paid parental leave scheme and Australia finally catches up with the rest of the developed world on this vital reform. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Jenny Macklin) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/jenny-macklin-paid-parental-leave/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/jenny-macklin-paid-parental-leave/#item3333 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:45:30 +0000 Jenny Macklin | Author bios | The Punch http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Tony-Abbott-is-driving-would-be-parents-crazy/ It’s little wonder the Australian people, not to mention his own Coalition colleagues, are utterly confused about Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s sham paid parental leave scheme funded by his great big new tax on business. As soon as his International Women’s Day thought bubble hit the airwaves, there was instant disbelief. After all, this was the man who, as Workplace Relations Minister, declared that a paid parental leave scheme would only happen over his government’s “dead body.” And who then proceeded to kill off the paid maternity leave proposal put forward by the then Sex Discrimination Commissioner. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Jenny Macklin) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Tony-Abbott-is-driving-would-be-parents-crazy/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Tony-Abbott-is-driving-would-be-parents-crazy/#item2627 Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:30:34 +0000 Jenny Macklin | Author bios | The Punch