Justine Elliot Member for Richmond
Canberra Connection

Fighting to protect family rights

John Howard's attack on workers' rights is yet another demonstration that he is out of touch and hell-bent on exploiting his control of the Senate.

On one side of the fence you have the Howard Government and big business spending up to $100 million of taxpayers' money to convince us that our economy desperately needs extreme industrial relation reform.

On the other side is everyone else - Labor, minor parties, churches, community groups, welfare organisations, the unions, and even economists - who are all concerned that these changes are unfair, unnecessary, will push down wages and threaten our Australian way of life.

John Howard calls his changes WorkChoices. But there is no choice.

In Howard's world, Australians will only get penalty rates and conditions if their boss says so. They will no longer be protected by unfair dismissal laws or minimum wages set by an independent umpire.

When bargaining with a potential employer over conditions, honestly, where is the choice for a teenager in an area of high youth unemployment? Where is the choice for a retrenched 50-year-old desperate to get back into the workforce? Howard has become so out of touch. He thinks this is a level playing field.

When asked to guarantee us that no worker will be worse off under his changes John Howard says that we should just trust his record. His record is that his government has opposed every minimum wage increase since 1996. If the Howard Government had its way, Australian workers would now be $50 per week worse off.

I believe in a fair and balanced industrial relations system that supports a healthy economy and protects workplace rights such as:

• A safety net of minimum wages and conditions;
• An independent umpire to ensure fair wages and fair dismissals; and
• The right of employees to bargain collectively for decent wages and conditions.

I believe that the way to compete with low wage economies like China and India is not by slashing Australian wages, but by addressing our skills shortage crisis and supporting Australian workers to get qualifications.

There is only one way to give Australians real choice - take Labor's high skills road, not John Howard's low wage road.

It is now more important than ever for us to work together and send a clear message to Canberra that we will fight for the issues that are important to us.

Office contacts:

Phone: 1300 720 675

Fax: (07) 5523 4379

Address: PO Box 6996, South Tweed Heads, NSW, 2486

Ian Causley Member for Page
Canberra Connection

School grants

Last year the Prime Minister announced an exciting education initiative that would see $1 billion put aside for the funding of small-scale school infrastructure projects.

This funding initiative, titled 'Investing in Our Schools: A billion dollar investment in our school infrastructure', would see $700 million paid to government schools and $300 million to non-government. The funds would be paid directly to schools over a four-year period.

This initiative is a change from the usual system where federal funds pass through state governments to be administered by them as they see fit.

Earlier this year the Australian Government invited schools to apply for round one of this funding. Thirty-eight schools in the Page electorate have just been advised of their success in applying for these grants.

These schools will use their grants for smaller capital projects such as playground equipment, library resources, shade structures and air-conditioning, musical equipment and computers.

I had the pleasure of notifying each of the 38 schools earlier this week. They all agree that the money from this program is helping them to fund items that they probably would not otherwise have been able to purchase.

Voluntary group grants

Applications are now open for eligible environment and heritage organisations to apply for Grants to Voluntary Environment and Heritage Organisations (GVEHO).

The GVEHO program supports the role that voluntary organisations play in protecting our land, animals and historic places. Thousands of Australians dedicate themselves to caring for our environment and heritage, often in their own time and with limited resources.

GVEHO provides practical funding for administrative costs rather than specific projects. Therefore, funds could be used on salaries, office rental, utilities, office equipment, or staff and volunteer training.

The program supports activities such as habitat recovery for native plants and animals, water quality improvement, and tackling introduced pests and other threats to biodiversity. It also supports other groups working to conserve our historic heritage so we can continue to experience this nation's proud history.

Over the last five years the Australian Government has provided nearly $6 million to environment and heritage organisations under this program. I encourage all eligible groups to apply for the funding, and wish them the best of luck.

Applications close at 5pm on December 2. Guidelines and application forms are available at www.deh.gov.au/programs/gveho or phone 6274 2422.

Migrant support

The Australian Government has announced a new grants program to provide services to help migrants settle in Australia.

The Settlement Grants Program (SGP) aims to deliver services that assist migrants and communities to become self-reliant and participate equitably in Australian society as soon as possible after arrival.

To be eligible for funding, an organisation must be a not-for-profit, incorporated, community organisation; a local government organisation; currently funded to deliver services under the Adult Migrant English Program; or, in rural and regional areas, a government service delivery organisation.

Grants will be available for one, two or three years, with services commencing on July 1 2006. Applications close on November 25 2005.

For more information on the SGP and how to apply for funding visit www.immi.gov.au/grants/sgp.htm or phone 1800 453 004.

Office contacts

Phone: 6621 9909

Fax: 6621 9959

Address: PO Box 1119, Lismore, 2480

Email: ian.causley.mp@aph.gov.au