Latest news with #Leary
The Age
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Age
'Don't make me cry': Teary Dad reflects on Leary's journey
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Sydney Morning Herald
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
'Don't make me cry': Teary Dad reflects on Leary's journey
'Don't make me cry': Teary Dad reflects on Leary's journey We're sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We're working to restore it. Please try again later.
Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
To infinity and beyond with a possum and sweet chilli sauce
One of the things MPs like most about the Budget debate — the freewheeling discussion of the Finance Minister's hard work — is that it enables them to speak about almost anything so long as it can (sometimes very loosely) be linked back to the Budget. Hence this week our southern MPs have been talking about possums, utes, outer space, Barker's sweet chilli sauce ... and every so often about something of vital importance. On Tuesday Taieri Labour MP Ingrid Leary fell into the latter camp with an impassioned speech about the state of the nation's mental health system. "The Budget would have been the perfect opportunity to [workforce gaps], including the 1594 full-time equivalents that the NCAT — which is the National Committee for Addiction Treatment—has identified as missing from the NGO frontline," Ms Leary said. "But no, they did not. Instead, they threw a paltry bit of money to help the transition at emergency departments for the withdrawal of police. That was far too little, far too late." It was Ms Leary's Labour Dunedin colleague Rachel Brooking who brought possums and utes to the debate soon after — which was fairly funny, albeit with a serious purpose. The Budget had been good for possums, Ms Brooking said, because of cuts to pest management initiatives. And it had been good for utes because of subsidies being afforded to companies. But most of all, Ms Brooking said scornfully, the Budget had been bad for women. "Anyone listening closely to the House when the Budget dropped will have heard me give an audible gasp when I read ... that $12 billion was looking to be saved from pay equity. "Yet the Prime Minister had the gall to say to us just the week before, 'No, no, no. This has nothing to do with pay equity'. It is astounding." And she did not mean that in a good way. Up soon after, Taieri Green list MP Scott Willis warmed up on the topic of people feeling the cold as winter bit hard — although he might have sparked debate on his own side by talking about getting nice and cosy in front of a fire rather than being warmed up by an electric fire powered by solar or wind energy. "What really would have helped people and helped landlords, even, would have been support for warm, dry, energy-efficient homes," Mr Willis said. "But this government, over the last two Budgets, has cut over $230m from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority ... crippling the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority. Why has this government decided that ordinary Kiwis should be left out in the cold?" The next day the South's government MPs got to give an alternative, all together more enthusiastic appraisal of the Budget. Rather than wreaking havoc on all and sundry, Southland National MP Joseph Mooney extolled it for "balancing the New Zealand taxpayers' funds in a very considered and careful way in a challenging domestic and geopolitical environment." Funding such as new daytime urgent care services in places like Invercargill, Gore, and Alexandra found favour with Mr Mooney, as did the potential expansion of the service to Balclutha, Lumsden, Roxburgh and all places in between in the future. It was Mr Mooney who donned his space suit, noting Southlander Sir Peter Beck had made New Zealand the third-largest launcher of satellites into infinity and beyond. "He had a wild dream and made it happen in a country that did not have a space sector. I think that's an opportunity for all of us to lift our sights high, aim for the stars, and we can make it happen," he said, leaving unspoken but fairly obvious the assertion that the government was helping such firms to focus on the target. Leaving Waitaki MP Miles Anderson — no doubt well aware that many residents in Geraldine would like their town to instead be in the Rangitata electorate — to praise the fine products of Barker's of Geraldine. "I spoke this morning to the team at Barker's of Geraldine — and those of you who have had the opportunity to try some of their goods, I highly recommend them." "Great little place. Sweet chilli sauce," Otaki MP Tim Costley chimed in, a sentiment echoed from across the House. "They supply jams, preserves, and pickles to supermarkets across the country," Mr Anderson added, in his best infomercial manner. There was actually a point to all this spruiking: Mr Anderson wanted to use his time to boast about Investment Boost, the Budget's central policy for business growth. Enabling firms to immediately write off some of the cost of new equipment was a boon for an expanding business like Barker's, he said ... and that was not all for the great electorate of Waitaki. "Other local businesses are also having an increase in asset investment," Mr Anderson said. "Te Pari Industries tell me that they have seen an increase in interest for their products, and that farmers are making decisions much more quickly with both sheep and dairy systems. Drummond & Etheridge in Oamaru, local farm machinery retailers, saw an immediate increase in sales and a significant increase in buyer inquiry." And with a shout out to Five Forks School — pupils from which had visited the House the previous day and been acknowledged from the chamber — that was it for the Budget debate for another year. Half time, change sides Act New Zealand Southland list MP Todd Stephenson is poised to become the most recognisable backbencher in the country following the grand rearrangement of the House this week. With the coalition swapping deputy prime ministers, New Zealand First's MPs have moved to where Act once sat, and vice versa. As Act's whip, Mr Stephenson is now sitting in the second row alongside National chief whip Stuart Smith. That means that during Question Time — the only bit of Parliament that most New Zealanders catch a glimpse of — that Mr Stephenson is sitting right behind Christopher Luxon and David Seymour when the cameras roll.
West Australian
28-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Nationals MLA for Albany Scott Leary delivers moving inaugural speech in State Parliament
Albany's new MLA Scott Leary delivered a moving inaugural address in State Parliament last week, drawing laughter and even a collective 'aw' from the sitting members. Mr Leary's 17-minute speech on May 20 began with an apology after his phone went off during the preceding speech: 'As a volunteer firefighter in the Kalgan Volunteer Fire Brigade you can have whatever setting you like on the phone, but the BART system will override it.' In the wide-ranging address, Mr Leary described his humble journey into politics, from leaving school after Year 10 to rising through the corporate ranks at Westpac and Albany City Motors. 'As a proposed used car salesman — although I was a director and a financial controller — I am grateful that the chamber has lawyers and real estate agents to keep me off the bottom of the ladder,' he said to chuckles from the sitting members. He also laid out his priorities as Albany's first Nationals MLA in 70 years: regional health care, roads and transport links, backing local business, opportunities for young people, protecting the environment and increasing housing stock. He detailed the 'extraordinary natural beauty and immense historical significance' of the electorate, touching on the ancient and continuing custodianship of the land by the Menang Noongar people, the city's forthcoming bicentenary, and its 'proud' role as the home of the Anzac. 'Albany has always been central to Western Australia's story,' he said. 'It is a story of discovery, of courage, of community. 'Together, with pride in our past and hope in our future, we will write its next and greatest chapters.' He also noted the region's economic weight, though unfortunately appeared to get his facts wrong, saying that 'Our region makes up approximately 20 per cent of the number of Western Australians who live outside the greater metro area, but we contribute up to 60 per cent of the State's GDP.' The Great Southern makes up 9 per cent of the State's regional population and contributes 1.3 per cent to its gross regional product, according to data published by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation in its 2024 WA Economic Profile. But it wasn't all business for the former financial director, who took the time to thank the family members, friends, colleagues and mentors who had helped him along the way, choking up as he spoke of his 'amazing' sons. 'Of all the things I have done in my life, the greatest achievement I am most proud of is the sons and the men they have become,' Mr Leary said, drawing a collective 'aw' from the audience. He went on to thank the people of Albany, Mt Barker and the Great Southern for placing their trust in him, which he said he carries 'with deep humility and a fierce determination to serve'. 'Today is one of the proudest days of my life,' he said. Nationals leader Shane Love and Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas were among the throng surrounding Mr Leary with Mr Zempilas caught on the mic telling the newly elected member 'beautiful speech, well done'.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘This is long enough': Nursing home residents seek raise in $50 personal needs stipend, 40 years in the making
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Nursing home residents collecting a monthly $50 personal needs allowance as part of their Medicaid check say they want an increase. It's been the same dollar amount since 1983. Many bills have been introduced to help get more money, but none have reached the necessary step of being signed by the Governor. 'Most seniors, they just accept, sometimes what they are given,' nursing home resident Deborah Leary said. 'But the minute you bring it up to anyone… 'Oh, it would be wonderful to get that changed.' Deborah Leary is a resident at Monroe County Hospital. She is also spearheading efforts to increase the $50 monthly stipend for nursing home residents. 'The first thing was to research the number of nursing homes,' Leary told News 8 Tuesday. 'So I did that. Just under 600… got their addresses and phone numbers. Then I went and connected with Senators and Assemblyman that belonged to each nursing home.' Attorney representing Danforth/Hudson Ridge residents weighs in on concerns From there, Leary created a petition and called all 600 nursing homes in New York, reaching around 400. PetitionDownload 'By calling the nursing homes, having them put out an activity of people signing the petitions, it's the volume to go into the state and assemblymen to say 'This is long enough.' We do need something more than $50,' Leary said. Leary said although essentials are mainly taken care of inside a nursing home, such as medical and daily necessities, the increase would help them feel more independent and secure. 'You want to get a haircut? That's about half your paycheck, right there,' she said. 'Even if you're in your nursing home, we do like to do a little other things, and it's impossible with $50.' The current bill was most recently referred to the Health Committee of the State Senate in February. State Senators Pam Helming and Jeremy Cooney co-sponsored a previous version of the bill, which also stopped at the Health Committee. Senator Cooney told News 8 in a statement 'it is past time to raise the allowance to reflect the realities of current costs of living and make life more manageable for our older adults. […] I'll continue to advocate for an increase on behalf of New Yorkers in need. Leary said she won't stop advocating, too. She told News 8, however, her first and biggest obstacle is getting the voices of larger nursing homes in the state to sign her petition. She also wants to see local representatives in the nursing home. 'So it's still in up front and center in their minds, because they'll be out on recess, so that when they go back, it's there, and hopefully they'll take care of it,' Leary said if those first two stages fail, she plans to write a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul and email it to all the nursing homes so they can sign it. She also asks anyone who is passionate about seeing the allowance increase to email their local representatives. For more information on how to do so, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
