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Members
of
Parliament
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Inside Brad Hazzard's office.
By Gaberiel, Mandeep and Rhys.
The members of the Legislative Assembly work locally for the people in
the area. As the constituents' representative in Parliament, a Member
of Parliament (M.P.) receives and deals with many requests for
assistance. These might concern housing, transport, local councils,
environmental issues, youth and communities, the police, land tax,
water and sewerage rates.
An M.P. attends to the concerns and problems of local organisations and
businesses. These include meetings relating to the communities,
schools, businesses, charities, social or sporting clubs. Time is
also spent in talking with fellow parliamentarians, journalists, the
business sector. People with special interests make appointments to
see the member.
The Government is formed at a general election by winning the majority
of seats in the Legislative Assembly.
The N.S.W Parliament usually meets for two sessions in each year.
Members spend a lot of time in considering bills, which become acts of
Parliament if passed by both houses. Members have a responsibility and
loyalty to their party.
A member of Parliament can be either a government minister responsible
for a portfolio e.g.. Transport, a Shadow Minister if in the opposition
party, or a backbencher.
Meet
our local Member - Brad Hazzard
* Brad Hazzard is our local
member in New South Wales Parliament.
* Year 6 asked Mr Hazzard the
following questions and received these answers.
* Thanks Brad for your time.
Q. What
were you doing before you were a Politician?
A. Originally
I was a science teacher. Later a solicitor in
Manly.
Q. How
old were you when you started in Parliament?
A.
39
Q.
Why did you become a Member of Parliament?
A.
To (a) Be better
able to help my local
community.
(b)
Have an input to changes.
Q.
What is the best part about being a politician?
A.
Working with the local community and visiting local schools
like Brookvale.
Q.
What is the worst part about being a Politician?
A.
Being out almost every night at functions, meeting,
parliament, etc.
Q.
What sort of things do you do as a Member of Parliament?
A.
(a)
Locally, I intervene to help my local people in
disputes with government departments.
(b) Try to get better government
services and facilities
e.g. better hospitals, more police, better transport, improved school
facilities.
(c) More broadly I work on policy issues
in my portfolio
e.g. visit electricity and water companies and try and work out how to
better
provide electricity and water.
Q. Do
you have a family?
Do they like you being a politician?
A.
Yes, I have two sons and a wife. They are
not too keen on politics as it makes
family life very hard.
Q.
What is the best thing about Australia
to you?
A.
The Freedom for everybody to achieve their best.
Q.
If you could make one change to Australia,
what would that be?
A.
I’d like all young people to get the opportunity to do great
things.