	Mailing List	Issue 1121 - Published 26/05/2005

Local Government News

Justine Elliot
National News

The Budget

The Howard Government has once again forgotten ordinary working families.

The 80 per cent of taxpayers who received no tax cuts last year or this year will only get a measly $6 a week over the next three. Labor will double tax cuts for the eight out of 10 Australian taxpayers who only received $6 a week from Costello's budget. Labor's fairer tax reform is both balanced and fair. Labor's fairer tax package would:

Deliver up to a $9 weekly tax cut for those earning up to $25,000 - double the Government;
Deliver a minimum $12 tax cut for those earning from $25,000 to $70,000 - double the Government;
Preserve the Government's tax cut for people earning from $70,000 to $105,000; and
Deliver $40 to people who earn $105,000 and above - two-thirds of the Government's proposal.
Labor's fairer tax plan will not put pressure on interest rates, unlike the Howard Government's plan. A Beazley Labor Government will deliver to local people where the Howard Government has once again failed by:
Solving the skills shortage in Richmond;
Implementing a plan for rebuilding Australia's infrastructure through Infrastructure Australia; and
Providing some real incentives and rewarding hard work through fairer tax reform.

Labor will take a stand of principle for ordinary local people. Local pensioners and veterans were ignored by the Howard Government's budget. Labor will make sure they get their fair share.

Stop whaling now

I am calling on the local community to join my fight to force the Federal Government to stop whaling in Australian waters. I will distribute a petition demanding that:

Whaling activity is stopped from occurring in Australian Territorial Waters by the Commonwealth Government;
Immediate steps are taken to prosecute boats detected slaughtering whales within Australian Territorial Waters;
The Foreign Minister applies diplomatic pressure on Japan to stop it from expanding its whale killing activity;
The Howard Government take immediate action to ensure Australia's opposition to the proposed expansion of whale killing is clearly conveyed to all International Whaling Commission members; and
The Howard Government reaffirm its commitment to the establishment of a South Pacific Whale Sanctuary.

As a community, we must do everything we can to protect these precious and defenceless animals. I'm asking for the community's support to let John Howard know that whaling is unacceptable in Australian waters. Petitions are available now from my office.

Office contacts

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

Good news for working women

In addition to the good news that all Australian workers will be receiving tax cuts as announced in the Federal Budget two weeks ago, the Australian Bureau of Statistics has just announced that Average Weekly Earnings (AWEs) for women are growing faster than male earnings.

As well, the gap between male and female earnings is closing under the Coalition Government. The data shows that over the past year, female full-time adult ordinary time earnings grew more strongly at 4.9 per cent over the year, compared to growth for men, which trailed behind at 4.7 per cent.

Since the Coalition came to office in 1996, women's earnings have increased by 22.3 per cent compared with 19.7 per cent for male earnings.

Bowel cancer screening

Considering that approximately 90 Australians die every week from bowel cancer, I was delighted that the Federal Budget incorporated an initiative to step-up the fight against this insidious disease.

As part of the 2005-06 Budget's Strengthening Cancer Care initiative, the Federal Government has allocated $43.4 million over three years for the phasing in of a national bowel cancer screening programme.

All Australians turning 55 or 65 - nearly a million people in total - will be invited to participate in screening for bowel cancer from mid 2006. People participating in the programme will be invited to complete a simple test in the privacy of their own home and mail it in for analysis.

If the do-it-yourself home test returns a positive result it does not necessarily mean that a cancer has been detected. However, the participant is referred to their GP for further tests just to be sure.

It needs to be remembered that bowel cancer can be treated successfully if detected in its early stages. Unfortunately, not enough people have regular check-ups and, as a result, fewer than 40 per cent of bowel cancers are detected early. Lets see if together we can change this.

Telecommunications protection

Two weeks ago in my Canberra Connection column I spoke about new safeguards for telecommunications users thanks to a new code of practice by the Australian Communications Authority (ACC).

Now I am pleased to be able to discuss a report just released by the Australian Government, which confirms that arrangements put in place by the Coalition Government for low-income telecommunications customers are working.

The second annual report of the Low-Income Measures Assessment Committee (LIMAC) has reported on the effectiveness of Telstra's low-income package, Access for Everyone, and its marketing by Telstra.

Access for Everyone provides discounts to pensioners, works with welfare agencies and offers bill relief to people who are really struggling.

LIMAC is an independent committee set up to advise Telstra on services to low-income customers and plays an important role in ensuring that low-income consumers are able to enjoy services that meet their needs while still being affordable.

The Coalition Government changed Telstra's licence conditions in 2002, making it a requirement to have available a package of products for low-income consumers. The Government also insisted Telstra set up LIMAC to oversee Telstra's activities in this area and report annually to Government.