Last Friday I visited the South Pacific tyre factory in my electorate and had discussions with management as well as representatives from the Australian Tyre Manufacturers Association about the issues facing Australia's tyre industry.

I am one of the millions of Australians who have not yet managed to read the 1,100 pages of the document known as the proposed free trade agreement.

My grievance this afternoon is about the recent round of Community Settlement Services Scheme funding for 2004-05 and, in particular, the shock defunding of two organisations, the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women's Coalition and the Victorian Arabic Social Services.

Today I rise to speak in support of the private members motion of the Member for Throsby, which calls on this house to support the current system of annual wage increases to Minimum Award rates by the Australian Industrial Relations System.

This motion acknowledges the alarming growth in the ranks of working poor and the detrimental effects this can have on households due to the majority of working poor being totally reliant on minimum award wages.