A campaign to ensure every Australian child automatically receives a birth certificate will be pushed by a delegation from Armidale that has traveled to Canberra to meet with Ministers and Shadow Ministers at the invitation of the Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor. The delegation includes University of New England students and a Community Mutual Group representative, and is supported by other Armidale businesses and community groups as well as Monash University. Mr Windsor was pleased to organise meetings for the delegation to kick-start their campaign. “Many Australians don’t have a birth certificate, which prevents them from doing everyday things such as enrolling in school, opening a bank account or getting a license,” he said. “Lack of birth certificates is particularly prevalent in indigenous communities, compounding disadvantage and stopping people participating in the community. “The delegation from Armidale is campaigning for every Australian child to automatically receive a birth certificate for free, and they’re hoping to achieve it by June,” Mr Windsor said. Mr Windsor organised for the delegation to meet with Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Health Minister Tanya Plibersek, and requested meetings with Shadow Attorney-General George Brandis and Shadow Health Minister Peter Dutton. “I’m pleased that local people have been able to directly make their case to both the Attorney-General and the Health Minister,” Mr Windsor said. “Some great ideas come out of the New England, and I’m always happy to do what I can to help them come to fruition. “The inspiration for this campaign came through the delegation’s work at Armidale’s Minimbah School, where they discovered that lack of birth certificates is so widespread. “This campaign is yet another example of local people influencing national policy,” Mr Windsor concluded.
A campaign to ensure every Australian child automatically receives a birth certificate will be pushed by a delegation from Armidale that has traveled to Canberra to meet with Ministers and Shadow Ministers at the invitation of the Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor.
The delegation includes University of New England students and a Community Mutual Group representative, and is supported by other Armidale businesses and community groups as well as Monash University.
Mr Windsor was pleased to organise meetings for the delegation to kick-start their campaign.
“Many Australians don’t have a birth certificate, which prevents them from doing everyday things such as enrolling in school, opening a bank account or getting a license,” he said.
“Lack of birth certificates is particularly prevalent in indigenous communities, compounding disadvantage and stopping people participating in the community.
“The delegation from Armidale is campaigning for every Australian child to automatically receive a birth certificate for free, and they’re hoping to achieve it by June,” Mr Windsor said.
Mr Windsor organised for the delegation to meet with Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus and Health Minister Tanya Plibersek, and requested meetings with Shadow Attorney-General George Brandis and Shadow Health Minister Peter Dutton.
“I’m pleased that local people have been able to directly make their case to both the Attorney-General and the Health Minister,” Mr Windsor said.
“Some great ideas come out of the New England, and I’m always happy to do what I can to help them come to fruition.
“The inspiration for this campaign came through the delegation’s work at Armidale’s Minimbah School, where they discovered that lack of birth certificates is so widespread.
“This campaign is yet another example of local people influencing national policy,” Mr Windsor concluded.
