Local Government News

Steve Cansdell
National News

Fighting for locals

The State Labor Government is not just in trouble from country residents. Even Sydneysiders have turned against the Carr administration as the hospital and train systems collapse in the state capital.

Because Bob Carr introduced four-year fixed terms, there will be no general election for the NSW Parliament until March 2007. In the meantime Don Page, Thomas George and I are fighting for every scrap we can get out of Labor for our electorates, while also developing a strong plan for Government after March 2007.

Sports funding

I am encouraging all North Coast sporting groups to contact their local state MP if they want to apply for State Government funding to build new infrastructure or improve existing facilities. You need to be quick because applications close at the end of this month.

Local input into hospital system

The Nationals have been fighting to amend the Labor Government's laws to abolish the Northern Rivers Area Health Service. Labor wants new "Health Advisory Councils" instead. As their name indicates, these Councils have no power, they merely send recommendations to Sydney where bureaucrats and pollies who know nothing about our local health needs will make the decisions.

The Nationals are very much against this bureaucratisation of the health services. We want to bring back local hospital boards so local health professionals and local communities have the principal say over how local hospitals are run.

I spoke in Parliament last week about one victim of Labor's bureaucratisation of our hospital system. A local man was diagnosed with an urgent arterial blockage condition back in August, which required hyperbaric treatment in Brisbane. He had to wait until last week to get treatment. This was not because the facilities weren't there, but because the NSW and Queensland Labor governments couldn't agree on funding transfers from one state bureaucracy to the other.

Ian Causley
Canberra Connection

Pre-budget submissions

The Australian Government is inviting submissions from individuals, business and community groups on their views regarding priorities for the 2005-06 Budget.

The Government places considerable importance on receiving community views in developing its budget strategies and policies. Therefore I encourage those interested in making a submission to do so as soon as possible to ensure its consideration in the budget context.

The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2005, and it is recommended they include a short executive summary of no more than two pages. Submission longer than five pages should be accompanied by an electronic version, either on disk or CD, or emailed in Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat format.

Submissions should be forwarded to Budget Policy Division, Department of Treasury, Langton Crescent, Parkes, ACT, 2600 or emailed to prebudgetsubs@treasury.gov.au.

Family Law reforms

Last week the Attorney-General and the Minister for Family and Community Services released a discussion paper seeking input from the community into the implementation of wide-ranging reforms to the family law system. The proposed reforms would mean significant changes for separating families particularly with the establishment of a new network of 65 community based Family Relationships Centres. These centres would help parents resolve disputes and reach agreement on parenting arrangements after separation as well as provide couples with access to relationship education and help to families experiencing relationship difficulties. Through these reforms, the Government is committed to improving outcomes for families by ensuring at all times the focus is on the best interests of the children. Changes to the law will promote the objective of both parents having a meaningful role in their children's lives.

As many Australian families are affected directly or indirectly by conflict, separation and divorce, it is important that changes are implemented carefully through close community consultation. The discussion paper reflects the Government's genuine desire to seek further community input to these important reforms.

The discussion paper is available at www.ag.gov.au and www.pm.gov.au or by contacting my office on 1300 301 735 or 6621 9909. Submissions should be received by January 14, 2005.

Envirofund grants

Round 6 of the Australian Government Envirofund grants are now open. The Australian Government Envirofund is the local action component of the Government's $3 billion Natural Heritage Trust. It helps communities undertake local projects aimed at conserving biodiversity and promoting sustainable resource use. The last funding round provided more than $200,000 to various landowners, landcare groups and community organisations in the Page electorate and I once again encourage people to make applications for these grants to ensure the ongoing protection and sustainability of our environment.

Community groups and individuals can apply for grants of up to $30,000 (GST inclusive) to carry out on-ground and other actions to target local problems. Grants of up to $50,000 (GST inclusive) will be considered where the magnitude, complexity or public benefit of the project is such that additional funding would be beneficial.

Applications for Round 6 close at 5pm on Friday, February 18, 2005 and are available at www.nht.gov.au or by contacting my office on 1300 301 735 or 6621 9909.

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