Local Government News

Larry Anthony
National News

Anzac Day - remembering those who serve

Anzac Day is a very important day of commemoration for all Australians. It is our chance to pause and reflect on those servicemen and women who have served our country and those who have laid down their lives to defend the freedom we enjoy today.

Anzac Day is also an important opportunity for young Australians to gain a greater appreciation of the service of Australians in wars, conflicts and peace operations and the role it has played in shaping our nation.

I encourage people of all ages to take the time on Sunday to attend a local memorial service to express your appreciation and gratitude to those who have and continue to serve our country.

PM hears of local tourism needs

Local tourism operators from areas in the Richmond electorate such as Byron Bay, Brunswick Heads, the Tweed and Lennox Head had the opportunity to discuss important issues directly with the Prime Minister at a meeting I set up in Lennox Head last week.

A common theme to come out of the forum was the need for improved planning and infrastructure on the Far North Coast in order to attract more tourists to the area and also to properly manage increased visitor numbers. Central to the region's infrastructure needs were our roads, while the need for greater integration and planning to ensure local facilities and services are able to cope with growing tourism, whilst not losing our cultural and environmental assets was also canvassed.

The Prime Minister took a lot out of the forum and now certainly has a greater understanding of tourism in the region as well as the challenges that lie ahead.

Save our Train

The closure of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail line by the NSW Labor Government has been nothing short of a disgrace. Once the Countrylink XPT rail service is terminated the North Coast will no longer have access to a passenger train service and the track will no longer be maintained in operating order.

With local communities I am actively fighting this decision by the State Labor Government and I urge local residents to voice their anger at NSW Labor's decision to shut down local rail services and sign my petition that is circulating around local businesses.

Larry Anthony MP
Federal Member for Richmond
Minister for Children & Youth Affairs
PO Box 6996 Tweed Heads South 2486 ph: 07 5524 2466 fax: 07 5524 9366
www.larry.com.au Toll Free: 1800 812 125 larry.anthony.mp@aph.gov.au

Ian Causley
Canberra Connection

Lest we forget

On Sunday, we again have the opportunity to remember both the sacrifice of our Anzacs at Gallipoli and honour the memory of the more than 102,000 Australian men and women who have died in all conflicts to protect our freedom.

This Anzac Day, it is important that we also think of those Australians who continue to follow in the footsteps of the original Anzacs.

Members of the Australian Defence Force are presently deployed in operations overseas including the rebuilding of Iraq, providing assistance in the Solomon Islands and supporting peace keeping efforts in East Timor.

Please attend a memorial service in your area. It is an opportunity to let our service personnel - both past and present - know that they are honoured, remembered and treasured.

I also encourage students to take part in a competition to recognise the efforts of schools in honouring the Anzac spirit.

The Anzac Day Schools' Activities Awards are an Australian Government initiative to support schools in developing innovative ways to commemorate the Anzac tradition and learn about the importance of Australia's wartime heritage.

The awards are open to primary and secondary schools and are judged on the research undertaken, the understanding of Anzac Day and the involvement of local veterans and Australian Defence Force members.

I urge students to take this opportunity to discover the Anzac spirit through activities such as talking to local veterans, memorial services, dramatic performances and creative presentations such as a photo essay.

The Anzac Day Schools' Activities Awards entry forms can be accessed via the Department of Veterans' Affairs website at www.dva.gov.au. Entries close Friday, May 28.

New initiatives to fight identity theft

Bank customers now have improved access to information on protecting themselves from identity theft after the recent launch of a new brochure.

Identity theft occurs when personal identifying information is stolen from people (either living or dead) and used to gain a benefit by deception, commit terrorist acts, enable illegal immigration or conduct electronic swindling.

Victims of identity theft could often spend years trying to recover their identity, and the cost of identity fraud - already estimated at $1.1 billion per year within Australia - is rapidly increasing both here and overseas.

The identity theft information kit is available by calling my office on 1300 301 735, or online at www.crimeprevention.gov.au.

Carr Govt mini-budget a slap in the face for mature age workers

The NSW Labor Government's decision to scrap a $3.1 million program, which helped unemployed older workers, to help pay for its so-called budget deficit is reprehensible.

This scheme has helped a number of unemployed older people in Ballina, Grafton and Lismore. Mature age residents should have the opportunity to continue to participate in the workforce, or to re-enter the workforce. They contribute enormously to our society, and the need to create opportunities and choice for this group is something I take very seriously.

Continuing participation in the workforce, either in a full or part-time capacity, assists older Australians to maintain social networks and to live healthier and more comfortable lives.

The Coalition Government is committed to helping older Australians who want to stay in the workforce through the Prime Minister's Community-Business Partnership Taskforce, which is working to remove barriers to mature age workforce participation.

While the Coalition is supporting mature age workers through the Pension Bonus Scheme and the recent reforms to Superannuation, the NSW Labor Government is washing its hands of any responsibility to help its older workers.

Once again Labor has shown it can't be trusted to manage Australians' finances. Mature workers deserve better than this from their State Government.

For further information please contact my electorate office on 1300 301 735, or send me an email: ian.causley.mp@aph.gov.au.