What would it take to attract 9000 people to the Whitlam Leisure Centre in Western Sydney on a Friday? A Pearl Jam concert? A 20/20 cricket match? An appearance by the great man himself? Last December I found the answer...

A recent report by the American Psychological Association has highlighted the reality that the increasing exposure of young girls to content which objectifies women and girls is having a serious effect on their physical and mental health, including an increase in low self esteem, body dissatisfaction, anxiety about appearance and depression.

It’s a big thing to say you’ll have nothing to do with a particular protest, particularly when it’s against actions taken under a previous government. But that’s exactly what I did with a protest involving farmers in Canberra yesterday.

This week, the Treasurer Wayne Swan released the 2010 Intergenerational Report. The Report confirms what we’ve known for sometime: Australia’s population is ageing and the percentage of our population aged over 65 years is projected to grow dramatically over the next 40 years.

This week-end marks the first anniversary of the February 7th bushfires which damaged 78 communities across Victoria and devastated towns like Marysville, Kinglake and Strathewen. Rebuilding has started and many good things have happened, but there is still a long way to go, and much to do.

Great oratory and speeches have the ability to move us in ways that the written word never can. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations was a great example from today. Labor speeches are also a special breed. They’re a part of our folklore and remind us of quest to always represent working people. Good Labor speeches warm the hearts and stroke the fires of the Party faithful like nothing else, inspiring us in election campaigns and beyond.

Answers to the January Labor History Quiz.

Last week, for the first time ever, parents and the broader community were able to access rich, comprehensive information about every one of Australia’s 10,000 schools; primary and secondary, government and non-government. On My School parents are able to find out about their child's school including the number of students at the school, the number of teachers at the school and how the school is performing in national literacy and numeracy testing. The website will show parents how their school is performing against the national average as well as compared to similar schools across the country.

Health is everybody's business so when the Rudd Labor Government committed to reforming our health system we knew we would need to consult widely to get it right.

Next time you drive past a primary school you’ll surely see how the Rudd Government’s $42 billion Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan is supporting jobs and small business and is building the long-term infrastructure for the country’s future.