Local Government News

Don Page
State Matters

Agriculture and Fisheries restructure

The closure of the Ballina Fisheries office and downgrading of the Wollongbar Agricultural Institute as part of the Carr Government's departmental restructure will have a negative impact on local producers.

The plan to close the Ballina office of NSW Fisheries as part of the integration of the Forestry, Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining departments into a super Department of Primary Industries will leave one of the State's most important recreational and commercial fishing regions without specialised support.

I have been approached by all who have an interest in fishing in the region including, commercial fishers, recreational fishers, conservationists, tourism operators and the co-operative and all are equally concerned about the impact this closure will have on the area.

The Government says the two compliance officers will be relocated to another shopfront at Ballina. The location of the research and conservation officers remains uncertain at this stage.

Valuable land at the Wollongbar Agricultural Institute is also earmarked for sale as part of the restructure. This is community land that will be lost forever. It seems the Carr Government is hocking valuable community assets and cutting jobs to pay for its financial incompetence, whilst also leaving our community without the back-up of specialised local services and knowledge.

The beef research station at Grafton is also targeted for closure.

After record stamp duty revenues pouring into state coffers over the past eight years ($8.6 billion above budget) it is incredible that the Carr Government has taken away our train, closed local BEC offices and is selling off the Fisheries office in Ballina and valuable land at Wollongbar.

National Tree Day

On Sunday, July 25, communities around Australia will again take part in National Tree Day. Participants are encouraged to plant trees and shrubs that are native to their local area.

Many local organisations and schools have already registered for National Tree Day, but more are welcome. For those interested registering their project, or in joining one of the registered groups more information is available from the Planet Ark website at www.planetark.com or by calling 1300 885 000.

Clean Beach Challenge

We all like our favourite beaches to be clean and the 2004 Keep Australia Beautiful- Clean Beach Challenge recognises initiative, pride and awareness in keeping our coastal zones clean.

The Clean Beach Challenge provides recognition for people who care for the beach environment. The competition is open to all NSW local governments, community groups, dune care groups, coast care groups, beach care groups, and individuals.

The Clean Beach Challenge is the Keep Australia Beautiful fun beach program, which has been initiated to provide a community focus and link to the preservation and management of beaches in NSW.

Further information about the Clean Beach Challenge is available from the Keep Australia Beautiful website at www.kabnsw.gov.au

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

Vendor tax flaw

Treasury emails obtained by the NSW Opposition reveal the Government's controversial vendor tax was developed on the run with little idea of how it would be implemented. The emails between Treasury officials show Treasury staff were concerned about a number of flaws in the legislation. The emails also confirm that on the eve of the bill introducing the tax, Treasury staff discussed huge flaws in drafting the legislation including:

• The date from which the tax applied being uncertain, and a proposed date of 1 June included in the Budget being removed by the Treasurer himself;
• The bill inadvertently allowing people who buy off the plan to on-sell their entitlement free of Vendor Duty; and
• Failure to import age limitations from recipients of the Commonwealth First Home Owners Grant Scheme (FHOGS) into the First Home Plus scheme as they were supposed to.

Water win

The National Water Initiative (NWI) was a major victory for country communities throughout the State. The deal represented a balance between healthy regional economies and a healthy environment. Primary producers have been granted secure and perpetual water access entitlements, which will have similar status to freehold land when used to access finance, but entire regional economies that reap the rewards. Greater security for farmers will provide an economic boost and increased cash flow in regional towns.

Stronger regional economies mean more jobs and greater opportunities for our young people. Through the NWI The Nationals have delivered a commonsense solution to the water access problem, which incorporates the particular needs of farmers, the environment and entire country communities. Over the next 12 months State Governments would be developing detailed implementation plans indicating how the NWI will be rolled out. The Nationals in NSW will be closely watching the NSW Labor Government to ensure water users and their communities get the fairest and best deal. Mr Stoner congratulated Federal Leader of The Nationals, John Anderson, on his initiative and leadership in relation to the NWI.

National Tree Day

Last July 247,000 volunteers planted over 2.25 million tress at 3,340 sits around Australia. This year the aim is to plant another 2 million trees. On National Tree Day, Landcare, Bushcare and Coastcare groups, councils, schools and community groups all plant tress and shrubs that are native to their local area. There are three different days on which you can participate; 1) National Tree Day on Sunday, July 25; 2) Schools Tree Day on Friday, July 23; and 3) any day that is suitable for your local climate conditions!

Mature Workers

The Nationals launched a petition recently calling on Labor to reinstate funding for the Mature Workers Program (MWP). A copy of the petition is available from my office upon request.

The MWP has been vital in giving mature-aged people who wish to re-enter the work force and those who have lost their jobs due to business closures or forced redundancies an opportunity to return to the work force with new skills. Labor's scrapping of funding for the Program is a slap in the face for thousands of mature aged jobseekers throughout country and coastal NSW. The program had been highly successful in helping people over 40 by ensuring they were properly equipped with the right skills and training to get a job.

Over 12,000 people a year were able to obtain employment or accredited vocational training through MWP projects and overall, the projects delivered long term results for 60 per cent of jobseekers. The axing of the program is a bitter blow for coastal and country communities, which will be forced to pay the price of Labor's financial mismanagement in the years ahead through higher unemployment rates. After almost a decade in power, Labor has lost its way when it comes to the responsible expenditure of taxpayers' money.

The Labor Government cries poor when forced to justify scrapping this highly successful $3.1 million program. Yet it does not blink an eye at spending $3.2 million dollars of taxpayers' money annually monitoring media headlines on Bob Carr and his Labor Ministers.

Local holidays

Following representations from Lismore City Council, Thursday, September 23, 2004 and Thursday, October 21, 2004, have both been declared as a public half-holiday within the Lismore City Council area for the occasion of Lismore Cup Race Meeting and Lismore Show Day, respectively.

Employers and works are encouraged to check the Department of Industrial Relations on 131 628 if this day is applicable to them.

Electorate Functions

Goonellabah Senior Citizens Christmas in July - It was my pleasure to be present at this special gathering and I took the opportunity to inspect works undertaken following funding of $4,000 to the Club to carry out painting and urgent repair works of the building being undertaken by work for the dole trainees through Tursa.

2004 Innovator of the Year Awards - I congratulate all nominees of these awards, all participants are recognised 'innovators' and our business community real winners. Innovation is crucial for business growth, industry development and regional wealth creation in this day and age. The standard of applicants in all Award categories is testimony that the Northern Rivers are innovative leaders of the business future.

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