Local Government News

Justine Elliot
National News

Interest rates

The interest rate rise will put more financial pressure on local families. On the North Coast, the median house price is approximately $333,000, which means the recent interest rate rise will cost an average of between $52 and $56 a month. The standard variable rate for home loans will rise a quarter of a percent, from 7.05 per cent to 7.30 per cent. This means families with a mortgage of $200,000 will face additional repayments of $32 every month. For a mortgage of $300,000 the extra monthly burden is $48 per month, and families with a $400,000 mortgage will be slugged an extra $64 each month. During the recent election campaign, John Howard and Peter Costello promised local families they would keep interest rates down. It's only four months after the election and already they're heading upward. Interest rates are going up because the Coalition spent $66 billion buying their way back into office last year. The Reserve Bank says Howard and Costello have done nothing to fix problems in skills and infrastructure that could keep rates low. All of these things put upward pressure on interest rates, which then puts pressure on local families to meet their monthly repayments. John Howard has tried to wash his hands of this interest rate rise, and Peter Costello claimed on Sunday that any interest rate under ten per cent was low. If Mr Costello thinks local families can afford interest rates of ten per cent then he is hopelessly out of touch with the financial pressure on local families. Interest rates that high would devastate local families. The Government is happy to take the credit when interest rates are low, but they try to escape responsibility when rates head up again. John Howard and Peter Costello are playing politics with family mortgages. They have broken their promise to local families and unfortunately local homeowners will pay the price.

Bulk-billing and health insurance

Local families were hit with a double whammy this month. On top of the interest rate rise, they could face an eight per cent increase in their private health insurance. This increase could make private health insurance simply unaffordable for working families. Recently released bulk-billing figures show that the North Coast is still well behind the rest of NSW when it comes to bulk-billing. The NSW average is 78 per cent, while our local bulk-billing rate is just 69 per cent. The Howard Government has failed to provide long-term solutions to the problem of bulk-billing doctors. Families on the North Coast deserve the best and most affordable medical care available. Around 25 per cent of people living in my electorate are over 65. Elderly people on fixed incomes should be able to access free medical care when they need it. Addressing the low bulk-billing rate on the North Coast should be a top priority of the Federal Government - and I'll be fighting to make sure that it's addressed.

Road Safety

Road safety is an important issue in our community, and one in which I'm particularly interested. Earlier this month, I addressed the Brunswick-Mullumbimby Lions Club forum on local road safety, along with local business people, the Brunswick Volunteer Rescue Association, local police and ambulance officers. Forums like these are important in raising awareness about road safety issues and safe driving practices. It is particularly important on the North Coast. Around 20 per cent of accidents on the Pacific Highway occur in the Ballina, Byron and Tweed Shire Council areas. The volume of traffic on the highway, particularly during holiday periods, means that everyone needs to take extra care. I'll be fighting to make sure that our local roads are safe for visitors and locals alike.

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

Family tax benefit helping Australians

I am happy to confirm that 1.6 million Australian families have already received the Australian Government's $600 per child family tax benefit.

This benefit is paid following the lodgement and assessment of the parents/parent's tax return. As a result of this payment, families have received an average top-up of $1320.

This $600 per child payment is helping real families by providing them with real money. Feedback the Government has received from families about this payment has been very positive indeed. I have personally had a number of calls to my office from people expressing their appreciation at the Government's introduction of this payment.

You may remember during last year's federal election campaign Labor announcing that if they won government they would scrap the $600 family tax payment and introduce another in its place. You may also remember the bizarre and confusing statement made by Mark Latham when he said that Labor's proposed payment would leave Australians worse off on an annual basis, but better off on a weekly basis. With the Coalition having been voted back in to government, of course, the $600 payment is safe.

Family-friendly Workplace Awards

Still on families, the Federal Government has officially launched the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Business Council of Australia National Work and Family Awards 2005.

The title of these Awards is a mouthful, but it's a terrific initiative designed to showcase Australia's best family-friendly companies and workplaces.

These awards provide an excellent opportunity to promote what many organisations are doing already to create a family-friendly work environment. As well, these awards showcase role-model companies leading the way in helping employees and their families with alternatives in childcare.

Categories include individual "gold" awards for the private and public sector; large, medium and small business awards; regional; rural; and the "Rising Star" award.

The 2005 awards will see a greater emphasis on the promotion of flexible working arrangements, which is a key component of the Coalition's aim to increase the availability of family-friendly workplaces.

Applications close on May 12. Winners will be announced at a special presentation in November. For more information and applications phone Wendy Ryan on 6121 6134 or email her at wendy.ryan@dewr.gov.au.

New website for cadets

Today at Parliament House, the updated CadetNet website was officially launched.

This website is part of the Coalition's $6 million Cadet Enhancement Programme to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Australian Defence Force cadets.

This will be achieved through better communication and access to computers, information and business management tools.

The CadetNet website has been designed and developed exclusively for the cadet community to provide cadets and cadet staff with access to easy, safe and secure email, internet bulletin boards, administration tools and the latest Australian Defence Force cadets news and developments.

The website can be accessed from unit based computers - that are also funded by the Cadet Enhancement Programme - as well as home and work computers.

The CadetNet website is www.cadetnet.gov.au.

Office contacts

Address: PO Box 1119, Lismore, NSW, 2480
Phone: 6621 9909
Fax: 6621 9959
Email: ian.causley.mp@aph.gov.au