Local Government News

Don Page
State Matters

Alstonville Bypass

I am pleased that planning work is continuing on the Alstonville Bypass with acquisitions due to be completed by July 1, 2004. Construction is then expected to commence in October with completion within two years.

The Alstonville Bypass will divert the approximately 15,000 vehicles a day that travel through Alstonville and that are currently causing serious conflict with pedestrian traffic, which includes many school students and elderly residents.

I will keep you updated with progress on the project as it happens.

Cardiac Services

I recently raised the issue of the absence of Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiac services in the Northern Rivers in Parliament.

As it currently stands, Northern Rivers residents are dependent on Queensland hospitals as a result of inadequate cardiac services in the area. Northern Rivers public patients requiring cardiac treatments are mostly transported to Queensland-based public hospitals.

It seems quite wrong that the Northern Rivers should be relying on the hospitals of another state for acute cardiac care.

In his pre-election Rural Health Plan, the former state Health Minister identified the Lismore Base Hospital as a possible location for the development of Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiac services. Recently serious questions have been raised about the Carr Government's commitment to upgrading cardiac services, and other health services at the Lismore Base Hospital.

Interestingly, the Northern Rivers Area Health Service Health Profile shows Northern Rivers males are more likely to die from cardiovascular diseases than other males in the rest of NSW. This alone should indicate to the Minister the urgent need for better cardiac services in the area.

Fines and Demerits

The NSW Coalition recently put forward a submission to the RTA in response to the Review of Fines and Demerit Points report, demonstrating that the RTA's proposed fine and demerit system is more about revenue raising than road safety.

The overall effect of the RTA's proposed system is to raise fines across the board for the NSW Government coffers.

The submission by the Opposition illustrates that the report;

• Fails to sufficiently differentiate between significant and minor road safety concerns;

Driving without a license carries the same financial penalty as displaying a false parking ticket. (Level 7, $375). A speeding offence of over 15km per hour for a Class A vehicle carries the same penalty as a noisy or smoky vehicle, or the unnecessary use of a car horn. (Level 5, $225).

• Proof that the proposed system appears to be more focused on revenue raising than road safety. The fine for stopping near a level crossing has risen from $68 to $225.

The fine for stopping in a bus zone has risen from $93 to $225.

The fine for driving with a body part outside a window/door has risen from $74 to $225.

The submission also expresses concern that the proposed system discriminates against rural and regional drivers who drive on unsealed roads. There is no mechanism in the proposed system of penalties to differentiate between those who intentionally break the law and those who, through circumstances out of their immediate control, have their number plate obscured.

We have recommended that where the owner or driver of the vehicle can show that they have recently been travelling on a muddy or dusty road, no financial penalty or demerit points should be imposed.

The aim behind these proposed changes should be to increase the safety on our roads through a rationalisation of the demerit and fine system by getting tough on dangerous offences, whilst lessening the focus on offences that are not safety issues. The proposed changes to the system do not reflect this aim.

I can be contacted by writing to PO Box 1018, Ballina 2478 or by telephoning my Electorate Office on 6686 7522 or faxing 6686 7470. For those on-line my e-mail address is Don.Page@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Thomas George
Canberra Connection

Sporting Funds

Seven Lismore Electorate sporting organisations will certainly benefit from assistance announced recently under the 2003/2004 Capital Assistance Program. The following projects to benefit from this year's funding are:

• $4,645 for the extension of courts and upgrading of fencing and lighting at Cawongla District Tennis and Recreation Centre
• $8,500 for the upgrade of three tennis courts at Lismore Tennis Courts
• $3,000 for the upgrading completion of the junior playing field and improvements to the surface of existing fields at Nimbin Headers Sport Fields
• $3,000 for the upgrading of lighting on court five at Weston Park
• $2,920 for the provision of eleven retractable shade units at Spinks Park
• $20,000 for the construction of an amenities block, canteen and storeroom at Crawford Square Park
• $3,000 for the construction of a cattle grid and concrete footpaths for easier access for disabled members at Casino Rifle Range.

Leasing Crown Land

The Department of Lands has adopted specific rules to guide the commercial leasing of Crown land in NSW. These rules imply significant changes in the way the Department now deals with commercial leasing of Crown lands.

Previous practices created an expectation over time that leases over Crown lands are automatically re granted to existing holders on expiry of a term. Despite the fact conditions of these leases generally did not contain such a provision this expectation gained wide acceptance. However as a result of the National Competition Policy reform package, all levels of government are now committed to open and competitive approaches to dealings by their agencies. The rules provide a framework for public competition; ensuring commercial leasing is a fair, open, impartial and transparent process.

For a copy of the rules or further information, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Dairy Roundtable

The over-arching cry from delegates at the NSW Nationals' Dairy Roundtable on February 19 was the need for a positive and united approach to the dairy industry's future. The Roundtable brought together more than 35 key industry players to discuss the difficult situation currently facing the NSW and Australian dairy industry, and what can be done to address these problems. The Roundtable unanimously agreed on the following resolution:

This Roundtable is committed to cooperation across the supply chain, and the growth of a domestically and internationally competitive, innovative and sustainable dairy industry.

We agree that the industry must work together to:

• increase cooperation and communication across the supply chain,
• expand beyond traditional markets,
• increase transparency in pricing,
• pursue collective bargaining processes,
• tackle issues of innovation and value adding,
• reduce freight and input costs,
• respond to changing consumer demands,
• commitment to animal health and biosecurity as absolute priorities.

The Nationals are committed to taking this resolution forward with action and cooperation. For a copy of the Roundtable minutes, please contact my office.

Ag stations sold

It was revealed recently that the Carr Government has decided to sell off a further 3 Department of Agriculture Research Stations. These are: the highly respected sheep research unit, Shannon Vale field station on the eastern side of Glenn Innes, part of Pearces Creek field station near Wollongbar and the Murwillumbah cattle tick station. Once the State looses research facilities like these, there's no way we will get it back.

Losing track of legal firearms

It has been revealed the Carr Government's register of legal gun owners and firearms is in disarray with no record of some supposedly "registered" weapons. Bob Carr can't even get paperwork done for legal gun owners, its no wonder criminals run rings around the government.

I share the anger of legal gun owners who have found out that their weapons aren't registered, as they thought, all because the Carr Government's registry is incompetent.

Civil Liability Protection for Stock and Station Agents

A Bill was introduced to NSW Parliament this week that would protect Stock and station agents from liability when required to disclose information under the Stock Diseases and the Exotic Diseases of Animals Act.

This proposed amendment to the above Acts has come about because of concerns raised by stock and station agents about their exposure to liability arising from the disclosure of information in accordance with the requirements of both Acts. It will protect agents required to provide information from any personal action, liability, claim or demand. This bill is well and truly overdue.

In order to comply with the legislation, stock and station agents must, when requested to do so, disclose to an inspector what could sometimes be considered confidential information. This could be done by answering a question or by giving a notice, other document or record in accordance with the Act. Stock and station agents are often called upon to do that.

The Nationals will be review the Bill and discuss it with the affected parties before voting in the Upper House this March.

I welcome and invite your feedback in relation to any of the above matters, please do not hesitate to contact my office regarding any matters on (ph) 6621 3624, (f) 6622 1403, by writing to PO Box 52 Lismore, e-mail; thomas.george@parliament.nsw.gov.au or www.thomasgeorge.com.au