Local Government News

Don Page
State Matters

Alstonville bypass

Those in attendance at last Wednesday's Alstonville bypass rally resolved to campaign on the issue of the Alstonville bypass in the metropolitan media.

It is clear the State Government has reneged on the promise, made three days prior to the 2003 state election, to provide $24 million in state funding to complete the project by the end of 2006.

In my view, Premier Carr has lost credibility on this issue by again delaying the commencement of construction, especially as he confirmed the funding and construction timetable whilst answering a question I put to him in State Parliament in June 2003.

It needs to be remembered that the Bruxner Highway and associated Alstonville bypass is solely a State responsibility and it was only through the efforts of the local community and former Member for Richmond, Larry Anthony, that $12 million in Federal funding was made available to the Carr Government for the $36 million Alstonville bypass project.

Minister for Roads, Michael Costa, now claims the Alstonville bypass has stalled as a result of a reduction in Federal Government funding to NSW.

The truth is, the Carr Government;

• Already has a $12m contribution from the Federal Government when the bypass is a State responsibility.
• Has seen their revenue increase from $24 billion to $38 billion in the time it has been in power. (1995-2005)
• Will receive $2.5 billion over five years under the Auslink program.
• Is expected to receive $114 million more revenue in 2004/05 than it would have under the pre-GST tax system, with the windfalls rising above $600 million by 2007/08.

NSW Youth Parliament

Applications are now open for local students wishing to attend the 2005 NSW Youth Parliament.

The Youth Parliament is a highly prestigious forum for students in years 9-12 to attend and debate youth issues. The program brings students together from across the State who will work together to develop legislation to address issues they face as youth in the local community.

Selected students will travel to Sydney for a seven-day residential program, where they will deliver the legislation they have developed to the Parliament. The Youth Parliament training camp will take place from April 29 to May 1, 2005, whilst the residential camp will take place from July 3-8.

The training and residential camps will be held at Camp Yarramundi, with legislation presented at Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney.

Further information about the Youth Parliament is available from www.ypnsw.ymca.org.au or by contacting my office. Applications close on March 4.

Ballina population projections

The NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources recently released a report titled New South Wales Statistical Local Area Population Projections 2001-2031, which includes population projections for the Ballina Shire.

The report shows an increase in population in the Ballina Shire from approximately 38,160 residents in 2001 to 54,190 in 2031, with most of the growth occurring in age groups over 55.

The results of the report highlight the need for increased funding for health, aged services and transport infrastructure in the region. Unfortunately, the current NSW Government has decreased, rather than increased, services to the region, with the closure of the Casino to Murwillumbah rail service, its failure to fund road upgrades such as the Ballina and Alstonville bypasses and its neglect of local health services.

As this report shows, the Ballina Shire population is ageing as the population grows. It is vital the NSW Government supports this growing aged population with adequate infrastructure and services.

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

Driver age extensions

Roads Minister, Michael Costa, wants to lift the minimum driving age from 17 to 18 and will push for the proposal at a Roads and Traffic Authority summit planned for next month. The summit will explore raising the age young drivers are able to obtain their Ps, improving the quality of the training P-platers undertake, as well as more supervised training and more skills-based training for young drivers. Increasing the amount of time young drivers spend on their P-plates will also be discussed at the summit, along with implementing further driver education initiatives within schools. People aged between 16 and 20 represented only seven per cent of all drivers, but were involved in 17 per cent of deaths. The Law Institute of Victoria is pushing for a scheme to allow 17-year-olds to hold a licence but with more stringent restrictions, including a night-time curfew and a limit of one passenger. Both restrictions were also raised in a NSW discussion paper released late last year, on which the Government is accepting public submissions until Monday. Next month's summit would also review speed limits, traffic flows and new penalties for slower drivers who insist on staying in the right-hand lanes on freeways. However, I have certainly made it quite clear that from the Driver Forum held within the Lismore electroate that young drivers do not want any change to the age of obtaining a licence, as young people in regional and rural NSW need their licence for work, school and social reasons as we do not have the public transport infrastructure to provide them with other means of transport. Young people were very supportive of additional and advanced driver training courses.

Waste Watch Website

The tally for Carr Government waste, mismanagement and cost blowouts now exceeds $5 billion. So concerned is the Opposition that it has established a waste-watch website to allow members of the public to dob-in Government departments and Carr Government bureaucrats wasting taxpayers dollars. The website has a completely anonymous reporting system that enables people to cite examples and even download documents, without being traced. Members of the public can log on to www.carrwatch.com.au and report Carr Government waste.

Land valuation review

The NSW Ombudsman is conducting a review of how land is valued in NSW and the complaints system when people disagree with their land valuation. The Ombudsman is not looking at individual cases, only the system as a whole. For further information or to submit comments ring 1800 451 524 or write to Level 24, 580 George Street, Sydney, 2000.

Changes to Post School Programs

The Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2 is calling for submissions to its Inquiry into changes to post-school programs for young adults with a disability. Copies of the terms of reference are available from my office or at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/gpsc2.

Submissions close next Friday, March 4, and can be forwarded to The Director, General Purpose Standing Committee No. 2, Legislative Council, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, 2000.

Mental health review

NSW Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Gladys Berejiklian, has welcomed the Senate Inquiry into mental health. The NSW Opposition strongly supports this inquiry. For far too long the issue of mental health has not received the attention it deserves, especially in NSW. NSW spends only $96 dollars per annum per person in real terms on mental health, less than WA, VIC, SA and the ACT. NSW has only 81 full time equivalent direct care staff employed in specialised mental health services per 100,000 people. This is the worst ratio of all the mainland states. The Opposition will continue to consult with consumers, carers and health care professionals, expose the many failings of the Carr Government in relation to mental health and build policies from the ground up to take to the next election and then to implement in Government.

Dental health crisis

The Carr Government is putting the health of thousands of people at risk because they cannot access a dentist. The Minister's excuse is to again blame the Federal Government for the crisis in his own health system. The reality is dental health is a state responsibility - a fact recognised by every other state in Australia, which show a greater commitment on public dentistry than NSW. New South Wales spends less per capita on public dental care than any other state and less in dollar terms than Victoria and Queensland. According to the most recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report, NSW spent $78 million in 2001/02, compared to $95 million in Victoria and $111 million in Queensland. It is simply unacceptable that so many people in NSW are on a public waiting list for dental care. As the waiting list grows, shortages of public dentists are becoming more common in most areas of NSW, which the Carr Government has made little effort to fill. Oral health was significantly worse in rural or remote areas, where shortages of dentists were more acute.

Shadow Minister visits

Last week Mr Chris Hartcher MP, Shadow Minister for Industrial Relation and Commerce, visited the electorate. He was a guest speaker at the Casino Chamber of Commerce Workers Compensation information forum as well as meeting with local business people to discuss the draft Occupational Health and Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Fatalities) Bill 2004.

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