Local Government News

Don Page
State Matters

Ballina Bypass

The recent fatal accident on the Pacific Highway at Tintenbar highlights the urgent need for the commencement of the Ballina bypass and associated dual carriageway upgrade between Ross Lane and Cumbalum.

The Tintenbar Hill and the 'at grade' intersection at Tintenbar Road would be eliminated if the Ballina bypass project went ahead. With Federal funds now committed for the Ballina bypass, the State Government has no excuse for further delays in construction of this project and the Ballina bypass could begin today.

Unfortunately the State Government has failed to commit to the project, with tragic consequences for travellers on the Pacific Highway. With school buses sharing this section of the road with B-doubles, it further highlights the need to complete the Ballina bypass project.

I have written to new Minister for Roads, Michael Costa, highlighting the importance of the Ballina bypass. With Federal money now committed to the project, Minister Costa could give immediate approval for construction to commence and the project could be completed by 2008.

I have already suggested to the previous Roads Minister that the committed Federal money could be used in the first half of the project and State money for the second. If the NSW Labor Government will not commit to this project, a State Coalition Government, if elected in 2 years, certainly will.

Speed Camera Audit

The State Opposition recently called on the Carr Government to conduct an immediate audit of speed cameras.

Reports of malfunctioning speed cameras in NSW highlight the need for an audit into camera reliability and location. Given the State Government's heavy reliance on speed cameras, NSW road-users and the Courts should be satisfied with the accuracy of operating cameras. Any fines issued by speed cameras suspected of being faulty should be waived.

The State Government raises more than $1 million a week from speed cameras and there is a view in the community that some cameras are being used more as revenue raisers than road safety devices.

Speed cameras installed in accident black spot areas do reduce accidents but many cameras are not located in these areas.

As a measure of good faith and a demonstration that this Government doesn't regard speed cameras merely as revenue raising mechanisms, fines issued from questionable cameras should be revoked.

I believe the State Government is over-reliant on speed cameras as a road safety device.

Seniors Cards

Applications for Seniors Cards are available from my office on an ongoing basis.

To be eligible for a Seniors Card, you must be 60 years of age or over, a permanent resident of NSW and working no more than 20 hours paid work per week.

Completed applications must be signed by a Justice of the Peace and should then be returned directly to the Seniors Card Office, Locked Bag 16, Kingsgrove, NSW, 2208.

Seniors Card holders are eligible for a wide range of discounts with local businesses participating in the scheme, as well as with State Government agencies such as Countrylink.

Please contact my office to have a Seniors Card application sent to you directly.

Wollongbar PS Crossing

I welcome the Ballina Shire Council's commitment to installing a children's crossing outside the Wollongbar Primary School prior to the commencement of term 1, 2005.

A number of Wollongbar residents and school parents have previously raised their concerns with me about the existing pedestrian situation outside the Wollongbar Primary School.

School entrances are busy and sometimes dangerous places during the peak drop-off and pick-up times of the day. The dedicated children's crossing will assist in ensuring the safety of students attending Wollongbar Primary School.

Office contacts

Address: PO Box 1018, Ballina, NSW, 2478
Phone: 6686 7522
Fax: 6686 7470
Email: Don.Page@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Thomas George
Canberra Connection

$6,000 for Lismore Showground

The Minister for Lands, The Hon Tony Kelly, has awarded this grant to the North Coast National Agricultural and Industrial Society, as the corporate trust manager of the Lismore Showground. The funding, provided through the Public Reserves Management Fund, will help pay for a business plan for the showground, as a multi-purpose community facility. The plan will examine the constraints of the existing facilities and suggest practical steps to achieve a sustainable financial future for the showground.

Land Tax 2005

On April 6 2004, the State Government announced significant changes to land tax in 2005, which included the removal of the land tax threshold, the introduction of a progressive tax scale, and the abolition of Premium Property Tax. Land tax is a tax levied on the owners of land in NSW as at midnight on December 31 of each year. You may be liable for land tax if you own or part own;

• vacant land, including vacant rural land,
• a holiday home
• investment properties
• company title units, or
• residential, commercial or industrial units.

In general your principal place of residence (your home) or land used for primary production (a farm) is exempt. For a land tax factsheet, informational booklet or other details, please contact my office or visit the website at www.osr.nsw.gov.au.

NLIS

For the "phase in" year to June 30 2005, calves born from July 1 2004 will have to be identified with an NLIS device before they leave their property of birth. An exception to NLIS tagging will exist for "bobby calves" and calves sold with their dam, where a transaction tag will still be needed. From July 1 2005 all cattle, irrespective of age, will have to be identified with an NLIS device before it leaves any property. Saleyards will also be required to notify the NLIS database of all cattle being sold.

Friendship Games

Sydney will this year hold the Youth Friendship Games from July 12-17. Sports to be represented include; baseball, soccer, swimming, ten pin bowling, wrestling, volleyball and tennis. Nominations are now being called for individuals to register their interest in being considered to represent a NSW Aboriginal Team at the games. Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.dsr.nsw.gov.au or by contacting my office.

Churchill Trust

The Churchill Trust is now calling for applications for the 2005 round. Each year the Churchill Trust awards about 100 Fellowships at an average cost of about $20,000 each. The closing date for applications with references is Monday, February 28, 2005. Full details of the fellowships and forms can be obtained from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust by contacting their National Office on freecall 1800 777 231 or at www.churchilltrust.com.au.

Property Agents Discussion Paper

A discussion paper concerning the regulation of commercial property agents under the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act 2002 has been released for public comment. The paper examines the rationale for the regulation of agents working in the commercial property sector and outlines some issues about the impact of the Property, Stock and Business Agents Act on large commercial property owners. Copies of the paper can be obtained from my office or www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au. Comments on the Paper should be received no later than April 1 2005 and may be sent to Regulation of Commercial Agents, Policy & Strategy Division, Office of Fair Trading, PO Box 972, Parramatta, NSW, 2124, or Policy@oft.commerce.nsw.gov.au.

Finance and Mortgage Broking Following approval by the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs, on November 30 2004, the NSW Minister for Fair Trading released a discussion paper detailing options for a national regulatory scheme for finance and mortgage brokers. The paper discusses entry requirements to the industry as well as consumer protection and redress mechanisms. The Ministerial Council invites comments or submissions on the issues raised and the proposals to address those issues. All submissions will be published on the Ministerial Council on Consumer Affairs website, www.consumer.gov.au (subject to claims for confidentiality). Please note that submissions, including confidential submissions, may be subject to Freedom of Information and other laws and this should be taken into consideration when making submissions. Copies of the paper can be obtained from my office or www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au. Comments on the Paper should be received no later than February 15 2005 and may be sent to the National Finance Broking Regulation 2004, Policy & Strategy Division, Office of Fair Trading, PO Box 972, Parramatta, NSW, 2124, or broking@oft.commerce.nsw.gov.au.

Office contacts

Address: PO Box 52, Lismore, NSW, 2480
Phone: 6621 3624
Fax: 6622 1403
Email: lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au or www.thomasgeorge.com.au

Steve Cansdell
National News

New Property Taxes to go in two years time

Thousands of Northern Rivers small business people and mum and dad investors who are getting their first bills from Bob Carr's new and increased property taxes will be relieved of the burden when Labor is bundled out of office at the state election in 2007.

The Coalition will bring back the threshold on land tax so only the big end of town pays it, and we will abolish the unfair exit stamp duty.

Under Labor, Bob Carr taxes you when you buy property, if you don't live in it or farm it he taxes you while you own it, and then he taxes you again when you sell it.

These taxes are not only unfair; they are also a revenue failure with investors fleeing across the state borders to avoid paying them.

Bob Carr himself has just bought an investment property in New Zealand to avoid his own taxes.

There will be a second wave of local Carr tax losers as small domestic property investors are forced to pass on tax hikes by putting up rents on residents who could least afford it.

Many Northern Rivers small property investors are older residents who have used their life savings to invest in rental properties to fund their retirement. With no other source of income, they will have little choice than to pass on some of the extra burden to their tenants.

Free tickets for Sydney concert

I am offering seniors in the Clarence electorate 10 double passes for each of two Premier's Seniors Week Gala Concerts to be held in the morning and evening of March 14 2005 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

I will be providing the tickets on a first come, first served basis and I need to advise the names of ticket holders to the organisers in Sydney by next Friday, February 4.

If you are interested, call my office on 6643 1244 as soon as possible. If you live in the Ballina or Lismore electorates you should contact your local MP Don Page or Thomas George.

Office contacts

Address: Suite 2, 105-107 Pound Street, Grafton, NSW, 2460
Phone: 6643 1244
Fax: 6642 7574
Email: clarence@parliament.nsw.gov.au