On 8 November 2011, the Australian Parliament passed legislation that will put in place a system to cut carbon pollution and drive investment in the the clean energy sources of the future, like natural gas, wind and solar power.

Scientific evidence has confirmed that our planet is warming. As Territorians, we have access to some of the most beautiful nature parks in the world. From the spectacular ranges of West MacDonnel National Park to the lush wetlands in Kakadu, our environment is in danger of the impact of climate change. Small increases in temperature have a domino effect on our environment and our living conditions.

After years of debate and deliberation, most Australians agree that the time to act is now. Australians want to do the right thing by the environment. We are a confident, creative nation that's up to the challenges of tackling climate change.

The Gillard Government has a comprehensive plan for a clean energy future for our nation. Under our plan, Australia will cut 160 million tonnes a year of carbon pollution from out atmosphere by 2020. That is the equivalent of taking over 45 million cars off the road.

The carbon price is paid by Australia's biggest polluters, not households.

The legislation will secure Australia's path to a cleaner energy future by:

• Introducing a carbon price from 1 July 2012, to be paid by the 500 biggest carbon polluters.
• Driving $100 billion in renewable and clean energy investment and jobs to 2050.
• Providing $15 billion in household assistance, including tax cuts, pension rises and increases in support payments for nine out of ten Australians to assist with the expected average impacts of a carbon price.
• Providing $9.2 billion to support jobs in emissions intensive, trade exposed industries.
• Increasing the instant tax asset write-off to $6,500 for small businesses.

Carbon pricing is a reform we need to make to keep our economy competitive, to protect our environment and to do the right thing for our children and future generations.

The Clean Energy Future website has a household assistance calculator to help you work out what assistance you may be entitled to, and comprehensive information about our plan to tackle climate change. Visit www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au.

The Gillard Labor Government has announced it will help make equal pay a reality for workers in the social and community services (SACS) sector by putting a joing submission with the Australian Services Union to Fair Work Australia.

This submission, if accepted by FWA, will help close the pay gap between mena nd women and fund its share of wage increases for workers in the SACS sector.

To back up its commitment, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would provide more than $2 billion to fund its share of any wage increases awarded by FWA.

This will help deliver an historic pay rise to 150,000 of Australia's lowest paid workers (2000 of them Territorians) - of which 120,000 of them are women - working in difficult jobs often describes as "caring" jobs, including working with people with disabilities, counselling families in crisis, running homeless shelters and working with victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.

These workers are among the hardest working Australians. They are women who make a difference every day and deserve to be properly rewarded for their efforts.

In 2011, it is unacceptable that women earn on average one-fifth less than men full-time - or, in other words, where women work nearly seven weeks every year for free.

With FWA's approval, the increases would be phased-in over six years, starting December 1st 2012.

It is now up to state and territory governments to uphold their end of hte bargain and agree to fund their share of SACS programs.

For more information on the Government's committment, follow this link.

Casuarina is one of 19 areas that have been chosen as second-release sites for the fibre-to-the-premises (optic fibre) in the rollout of the National Broadband Network.

The rollout of the NBN is also set to begin in Darwin in November 2011, initially to 11,000 premises over the next 12 months.

The NBN is set to transform the way people live, work and receive health and education services across the Northern Territory, especially in regional and remote areas.

Once rolled out, families and small businesses can expect to receive faster and cheaper broadband as more competition enters the market.

The NT is also benefiting from the Government's $250 million Regional Backbone Blackspots Program (RBBP), which is delivering 6000 kilometres of fibre backbone access across regional Australia, benefitting around 400 000 people.

The rural areas in outer Darwin have been selected to be one of the first release sites for the fixed-wireless service. Communities such as Dundee Beach, Dundee Downs, Coomalie, Wagait, Lambells Lagoon and Marrakai will benefit from fixed wireless technology, which is designed to deliver wholesale access speeds of up to 12Mbps.

For more information on the National Broadband Network, visit www.nbnco.com.au.

The Gillard Labor Government is engaging in the national conversation with older Australians, their carers and families to help inform its response to the Productivity Commission Final Report, "Caring for Older Australians".

The recommendations in the Commission's report will be considered as part of the Government's broader ageing agenda.

You can read the Prime Minister's press release here and the Productivity Commission's final report can be found here