Local Government News

Don Page
State Matters

Regional business survey

A recent regional business survey undertaken by Australian Business Limited showed 44 percent of businesses on the NSW Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers have considered moving their business to Queensland.

The survey of more than 130 businesses on the Mid North Coast and the Northern Rivers also found the primary concern for these businesses about operating in NSW was high State taxes (42%), followed by the level of workers compensation premiums 27 percent, and difficulties in complying with NSW OH&S 18 percent. Thirteen per cent of businesses said they did not have concerns about doing business in NSW.

NSW Govt needs to address skills shortage

Undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges facing NSW businesses is that of the increasing skills shortage. Whilst the Federal Government has released a comprehensive plan for addressing the issue, the Carr Government continues to lag behind in dealing with skills shortages.

The Howard Government recently offered the states billions in funding to establish a new national training system - dependent on the states offering all TAFE teachers individual Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs).

The Carr Government has rejected the proposed overhaul of the training sector, putting around $5 billion of funding for state-run TAFE institutes in jeopardy. NSW alone stands to lose $1.6 billion or 42,500 new training places. These training places would assist in addressing the increasing job vacancy rate which in NSW rose 29 percent from last year's figures to approximately 42,800 job vacancies.

In fact, the Carr Government appears to have sold out the TAFE sector, axing almost 500 TAFE teachers and staff in the recent State Budget. The Budget also revealed that course fees at the State's TAFE colleges will jump by $7 million over the next year, rising from $61 million to $68 million.

So students will be forced into bigger classes and pay much higher fees and in some cases classes may be cancelled altogether due to teacher cuts.

Students enrolling in manufacturing and engineering fields have dropped significantly since 1999 and it seems cutting technical teachers at a time when we have a serious skills shortage is very short-sighted.

Federal Vocational and Technical Education Minister Gary Hardgrave has made it clear: if the states fail to agree to supporting a new national training system he'll approach private trainers to establish a new system.

Workers and employers across the nation have embraced AWAs with more than 600,000 now in existence, and the Carr Government must start moving with the times. Instead of bowing to union pressure and rejecting the proposal, the NSW Labor Government needs to support reforming the sector in an attempt to combat the dire skills shortage.

Regional skills shortage inquiry

Further to the skills shortage issue, the NSW Upper House is currently taking submissions for a Parliamentary Inquiry investigating the current skills shortage across rural and regional NSW.

The Parliamentary Inquiry will examine the skills shortage and its subsequent impact on rural and regional parts of the State. In particular, this Inquiry will look at current and future demand for labour in country NSW, as well as the economic and social impact of the shortage.

Other issues to be examined include the influence of the Commonwealth's regional migration program, local government strategies and programs to retain and attract skilled workers and the adequacy of current measures used to record and report on the shortage.

Submissions should be sent to Inquiry Chairperson The Hon. Tony Catanzariti, State Development Committee, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney, 2000 or emailed to statedevelopment@parliament.nsw.gov.au.

The closing date for submissions is August 8.

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

Flood assistance

I was pleased to accompany Bob Carr during his visit last week to examine the effects of flooding and inspect the levee bank. The following details are flooding assistance as per the Natural Disaster Declaration announced by the Premier.

Flooding Assistance

Under an agreement with the Commonwealth, NSW pays for the first $85.1 million of all natural disaster costs in each year. The following schemes are consistent with the Commonwealth/State Natural Disaster Relief arrangements:

• Individuals - The Department of Community Services provides assistance to people in distress financial circumstances due to damage to houses and properties. Following an application an evaluation is undertaken and assessed. Enquiries can be made to the Lismore DoCS office on 6621 8099 or 1800 018 444.
• Primary Producers - Loans up to $130,000 are available (subject to certain eligibility criteria) at a concessional interest rate of 3 percent, for those in urgent need. These loans may be used to meet carry-on requirements and the replacement of livestock and plant. Application forms are available from my office, at www.raa.nsw.gov.au or on 1800 678 593.
• Road and rail freight subsidies of up to 50% on the carriage of livestock and fodder are available. The maximum subsidy available is $15,000 per annum. The Department of Primary Industries handles enquiries and can be contacted on 1800 814 647.
• Small business - Loans of a up to $130,000 are available at a concessional interest rate of 3 percent to small businesses affected by disasters and which meet certain eligibility criteria. This finance is available to those unable to obtain assistance through normal channels. Application forms are available from my office or www.raa.nsw.gov.au or 1800 678 593.
• Trustees of Parks & Reserves - Provided the facilities concerned constitute "public assets", grants may be available to those parties (eg Trustees) responsible for managing Crown Land or Parks and Reserves who do not have the financial capacity to meet restoration costs from their own resources. The Department of Lands administers this scheme. Contact John Burton on 8236 7082.
• Sporting Clubs - A special scheme is available to assist sporting clubs in meeting the costs of restoration of essential club facilities that have been damaged or destroyed. The assistance is made available to those clubs which do no have the financial capacity to meet restoration costs from their own resources, but which have the capacity to repay any loan that may be granted.

Under these arrangements the maximum assistance available is $12,000 including a grant of up to $2000 and the balance by way of repayable advance with interest at the rate of 3 percent. Treasury administers this scheme and as there is no formal application form, a letter outlining the extent of damage sustained, photographs and quotes in relation to necessary restoration works need to be submitted through my office.

• Churches and voluntary non-profit organisations - Loan assistance is available to churches and voluntary non-profit organisations for the restoration of essential facilities that have been damaged or destroyed. As with other schemes, assistance is only available to those organisations which do not have the financial capacity to meet restorations costs from their own resources, and are unable to obtain assistance through normal channels. Treasury administers this scheme with advances subject to a maximum of $25,000 at 3 percent interest.

Youth Parliament

Lismore MP Thomas George recently attended Youth Parliament with locals Caitlin Jensen and Ingrid Martin.

If the debate of Youth Parliament is indicative of the outlook for the next generation, then there is no doubt that the potential and future for our youth is positive. Our local representatives, Caitlin Jensen and Ingrid Martin, provided tremendous counsel for the youth in this State.

I congratulate Caitlin and Ingrid for participating with integrity and representing the Lismore electorate in Youth Parliament. I was most honoured to be speaker on the day these local students were in attendance.

2005 Justice Awards

Nominations are currently open for the annual Justice Awards presented by the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW. These awards are a great opportunity to recognise the efforts of individuals and organisations working to increase access to justice in NSW, particularly for socially and economically disadvantaged people. Either individual or a group of individuals may be eligible for one or more of the following awards. Nominees can be recognised for a single outstanding activity or, for achievement over a period of time;

The Justice Medal - sponsored by the Foundation and presented to an individual for outstanding achievement in improving access to justice.

The Aboriginal Justice Award - sponsored by the NSW Attorney General's Department and presented to an Aboriginal individual/group of individuals demonstrating outstanding commitment to improving access to justice for Aboriginal people in NSW.

The Law and Justice Volunteer Award - sponsored by the NSW Bar Association for outstanding commitment in a voluntary capacity to improving access to justice.

The Pro Bono Partnership Award - sponsored by the National Pro Bono Resource Centre and presented to private law firms, community organisations and/or community legal centres, which have developed a relationship resulting in improved access to justice for disadvantaged people.

Nomination forms are available from my office, or www.lawfoundation.netau/justice_awards. Entries close August 5.

Valuer General

A second newsletter regarding land valuations has been released with the purpose of providing landowners and members of the public with information about the valuation system.

The majority of local councils have elected to issue the first newsletter with the first round of rate notices for 2005. The newsletter is available on the Department of Land's website at www.lands.nsw.gov.au or from my office. Should anyone wish a copy to be forwarded to them, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Plan of Management

A proposed amendment to the Big Scrub Nature Reserves Plan of Management has been prepared and is now on public exhibition. Public comment is being sought and should be in writing to: The Planner, Big Scrub Nature Reserves, PO Box 856, Alstonville, NSW, 2477. The closing date is October 10 and information is available at www.nationalparks.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