Local Government News

Justine Elliot
National News

A big thank you must go to all the families who donated thousands of goods to my office during my appeal for tsunami victims. Not only have families across the North Coast donated thousands of dollars to aid agencies, but almost 80 packing boxes filled with goods donated by local families are now on their way to help families affected by this terrible disaster. Medical supplies including Panadol, bandages and antiseptics have now been sent to the Australian Medical Association for distribution. The clothes, towels, bedding and toiletries donated are now on their way to affected areas of Sri Lanka to help with the aid effort.

In times of terrible tragedy, it is always moving to see the generosity and genuine care of local families. I had the honour of attending services across Richmond on the National Day of Mourning. In a moving tribute, I joined over a hundred visitors and locals at a multi-faith service in Byron Bay. Following the service we went to the beach to place flowers in the ocean in remembrance of those who lost their lives.

After speaking to Byron's mayor Jan Barham I was also pleased to hear of Byron Shire's plans to provide on-going support to a coastal village in Sri Lanka. This is a great opportunity for local families to make a long-term contribution to re-building a community similar to our own. I urge the community to get behind this very important project.

The Bush Administration in the United States announced that the search for Iraqi weapons of mass destruction has concluded without finding any WMD. It is a sober reminder of the false premise on which John Howard took Australia to war in Iraq.

The Federal Government gave Australians a single reason for going to war in Iraq: the elimination of Iraqi WMD stockpiles because they represented an unacceptable threat to security. It is disappointing that nearly two years after the Howard Government took Australia to war in Iraq we are now authoritatively told that the reason for going to war was simply not true.

Phone: 1300 720 675
Fax: (07) 5523 4379
Email: Justine.Elliot.mp@aph.gov.au
Mail: PO Box 6996, South Tweed Heads, 2486.

Ian Causley
Canberra Connection

Emergencies funding boost

The Northern Rivers has an extra $188,746 to use to prepare for emergencies and to fund ways to avoid them.

The money was approved under the Coalition Government's Natural Disaster Mitigation Program. Areas to receive funding are:

•  $20,413 for an emergency risk management plan for the Lismore area;
•  $100,000 for flood mitigation measures for the Casino and mid-Richmond areas;
•  $31,333 for a Richmond River floodplain study;
• $7000 for an emergency risk management plan for the Richmond Valley area; and
•  $30,000 to rehabilitate Grafton's Ardent Street drain outlet.

Applications for the next round of funding will close on Friday, February 25. For more information about the program visit www.dotars.gov.au/naturaldisasters.

Dob in black spot

I urge all residents to nominate unsafe roads and intersections so they can be considered for funding under the National Black Spot roads program.

We need as much community involvement as possible to identify trouble spots so money is targeted at the most dangerous sections of Northern Rivers roads.

The Black Spot program funds roadworks at dangerous locations, where increasing road safety is a priority. The program reduces the risk of accidents by funding measures such as traffic lights, road realignments and roundabouts.

Funding is available for sites with a history of at least three casualty crashes over five years.

The Coalition Government has committed an extra $90 million for the National Black Spot road program. Of this, $45 million will be spent on rural and regional roads.

This is an additional commitment to Roads to Recovery and is part of the Coalition's extra $650 million for road improvements announced in the election campaign.

This funding is also on top of the $11.8 billion Auslink policy, which was announced by deputy prime minister and minister for transport John Anderson in June.

More information is available from my electorate office on 1300 301 735, or at www.dotars.gov.au/transprog/road/blackspot/about.aspx.

Festival funding

The Government's Festivals Australia program provides assistance to regional and community celebrations.

Festivals Australia grants are available to local government, cultural organisations, regional arts councils or other not-for-profit organisations responsible for managing a festival.

Funding is for specific projects which will add to the cultural program at the festival or enhance the local communities' cultural image.

There are two funding rounds with closing dates of February 15 and July 15 each year. For more information go to www.dcita.gov.au.

Medical scholarships

The Australian Government offers a range of scholarships to encourage students in graduate or undergraduate medical courses to undertake a medical career in regional, rural or remoteAustralia.

The RAMUS Scheme provides medical students, who have a rural background, with $10,000 a year to help with the cost of accommodation, living and travel expenses during their medical course.

The scheme is open to Australian citizens, or permanent residents of Australia, who have lived in a rural or remote region for five consecutive, or eight cumulative, years.

Applications close on Monday, January 24, and applicants must be entering, or presently enrolled, as a full-time student in an accredited medical course. For more information contact the National Rural Health Alliance on 1800 460 440.

Information on other rural health scholarships, including the John Flynn Scholarship Scheme and the Medical Rural Bonded Scholarship Scheme, can be found at www.ruralhealth.gov.au.

Celebrate our National Day

Australia Day - January 26 - is a day of celebration. It can be a day filled with pride for people who take part in citizenship ceremonies or are awarded Australia Day honours. Or it can be a day for relaxing with family and friends, enjoying a picnic, a BBQ and joining in the Australia Day fun across the Northern Rivers.

No matter what you might do, Australia Day is a day to reflect on our national journey, acknowledge our past, rejoice in the present and look confidently to our future.

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