Penny Sharpe's blog

For the first time since 1906 the Liberal/National Party with the
support of the Christian Democrats and the Shooters and Fishers has shut
down debate on the Industrial Relations Bill that strips the rights of
public sector workers in NSW.

To shut down this bill they this week the Government have resorted to:

- cancelling parliamentary business for opposition and cross bench members during the week

- filibustering on a 56 word bill to do with libraries

Heart Disease is the number one killer of Australian women. Today is day 1 for me of the 10 week Healthy Heart Challenge. Part of the Go Red For Women Campaign run by the Heart Foundation.

Like many women, I have heart disease and diabetes in my family. This Challenge is an opportunity for me to try to do something about lowering the risk as well as drawing attention to the issue of heart disease for women in Australia.

Opposition Leader John Robertson said the proposed changes are worse than the Howard Government's WorkChoices laws.

"The Premier has outdone John Howard and Peter Costello with this unprecedented attack on the rights at work of nurses, teachers and police," he said.

"Barry's O'Farrell's bill is worse than WorkChoices.

For those not familiar with this site, Red Leather is the name of my almost fortnightly enewletter. The full version can be found here. But below is my intro. All comments and contributions are welcome.

As I write this it is now Day 50 of the Barry O'Farrell
Liberal/National Government. They have made much of their 100 day plan.
These are some of the things I would draw attention to:

Did you yell at the television when Jason Akermanis made his comments about gays in the AFL, or when Ron Wilson from Channel 10 suggested that Mardi Gras was disgusting? If you did, your chance to further demonstrate your frustration with public homophobia and transphobia is here with the 2011 GLORIA's.

Voting is now open.

Modelled on the Ernies for the most sexist comment of the year, the GLORIAs are an annual event that shines the light on outrageous, ignorant and ridiculous public comments made about members of the GLBTI community.