Local Government News

Larry Anthony
National News

Maintain the rage to save our train

Large 'Save our Train' protests across the Northern Rivers over the past two weeks have really driven the message home to NSW Labor that local communities will not be treated as second class citizens. With momentum strong in our protest it is important that we now continue to maintain the rage. I urge all people to continue to write letters to local Labor Party Members of Parliament and Candidates to pressure them into making their colleagues save our train.

Families to benefit from budget

Families stand to be the big winners in next week's Federal Budget. The Australian Government are committed to providing real assistance to families and the budget will reflect this with broad ranging benefits.

In a big win for working families on the Alstonville/Wollongbar plateau, outside school hours care places will be increased, which will go a long way to assist in balancing work and family life.

The budget will also significantly boost roads projects and as a result of pressure from local National Party Federal Members the Pacific Highway will receive special attention. The boost for local road networks will be a strong platform to continue putting pressure on the State Labor Government to act on building the Alstonville bypass.

Supporting volunteers

On Tuesday I had great pleasure in announcing funding of over $8,500 for four Northern Rivers community volunteer organisations as part of the Australian Government's Volunteer Small Equipment Grants at a very enjoyable morning tea held at the Wollongbar Hall.

These financial grants will provide important assistance to local volunteer groups in making the work they achieved in the community easier, safer and more enjoyable.

Local organisations to receive the volunteer grants were Wollongbar Progress Association ($2,609), Alstonville District Citizens and Ratepayers Association ($2,062), Skennars Head Coast Care ($968) and the Brain Injury Support Service ($2,900).

I thank these volunteer organisations for their wonderful contribution to local communities.

Each year there are around 4.4 million adults undertaking some 430 million hours of unpaid work. This is a significant economic and social contribution to our society. It is important that we support these volunteers in the work they achieve to make their job a little easier in our local communities.

The selfless spirit with which volunteers approach their unpaid work says something special about our Australian spirit.

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

Adult learners

I encourage all people with an interest in adult learning to share their views at a public consultation to be held on Monday, May 10, at the Lismore Workers Club.

The consultation provides a valuable opportunity for the people of the Northern Rivers to put their thoughts on the table and play an active role in shaping the future of adult learning.

This consultation is one of a series to be held across Australia and will lead to a greater understanding of the issues faced by adult learners and enhancement of existing adult education services.

As the population of Australia ages, looking at ways to engage mature age Australians in ongoing learning is vital.

Australians need to be able to return to learning at any time in their lives to keep pace with a rapidly changing world. I hope all adult learners and educators and people thinking of undertaking some form of learning will attend.

To register for a consultation, obtain a copy of the discussion paper You can too: Adult Learning in Australia, or submit feedback without attending a consultation visit: www.dest.gov.au/ucan2, or phone my electorate office on 1300 301 735.

More money to light up boys' education

Lismore Public School will receive up to $100,000 over two years to act as a "lighthouse" in the community under Stage Two of the Coalition Government's ground-breaking Boys' Education Lighthouse Schools (BELS) initiative.

Go to www.dest.gov.au/schools/boyseducation/MC_FINAL_REPORT.pdf for more information on BELS.

Aboriginal leadership group

Looking for an opportunity to talk to the Australian Government about issues affecting Aboriginal youth living on the Northern Rivers?

Then apply to become a part of the National Indigenous Youth Leadership Group, which provides a forum for young Aboriginal men and women to discuss with the Government their experiences and perspectives about issues important to them.

You will also have the opportunity to advise the Government on the most effective ways to empower Aboriginal young people in your communities.

Nominations close Friday, May 14. For more information please call my electorate office on 1300 301 735.

$444m for sugar industry

Last week's announcement of a $444.4 million helping hand for our sugar industry was great news. It resulted from the Coalition Government's firm policy of listening to people in trouble and then working out a solution.

Unfortunately, Australian sugar just cannot compete on the grossly corrupted global market. The package of measures announced by Prime Minister John Howard and Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson provides a comprehensive range of responses to help the industry reform and assist cane farmers and their families in need.

Key elements of the package include: Sustainability Grant - up to $146 million in one-off grants divided between growers and mills in two instalments; Income Support and Planning Help - up to $21 million in fortnightly income support payments, up to $2500 for growers and harvesters and up to $100,000 for small and cooperative mills for business planning; Regional and Community Projects - up to $75 million over three years for projects to pursue options for alternative uses for cane; Re-establishment Grants - one-off grants for growers for three years on a sliding scale; Grower Restructuring Grants - up to $39 million at $75 a hectare under cane, capped at $15,000, for growers who stay in the industry and restructure by, for example, improving farm management practice, enhancing productivity and reducing production cost, forming alternative business structures and diversifying; Intergenerational Transfer - up to $23 million for a three-year waiver on age pension gifting rules to encourage farm transfer within families; and Crisis Counselling and Retraining - up to $5 million for family counselling and $7 million for growers, mill workers and harvesters who leave the industry.

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