Local Government News

Don Page
State Matters

Support for TAFE

The State government's proposed budget fee hike for TAFE students will raise $28 million in revenue for the State Treasury, but hurts a sector of the community that can least afford it.

TAFE students have made sacrifices and committed themselves to improving their own future, and in turn the future of the State through education, yet they are rewarded by the Carr Government with fee hikes. This is the same Carr Government that had a windfall gain of over $860 million in stamp duty this year above the Government's budget.

Not only is this government placing financial pressure on students, it is also proposing a restructure of staff, so that TAFE will be centralised and existing local administration moved to Tamworth. This restructure will have consequences for specialist courses that require local management understanding.

This is an issue that I raised in my Budget-in-reply speech and will continue to raise in the parliament.

Wills Register

In New South Wales, residents can register the location of their Will, as well as the name of the Executor with the NSW Wills Register.

Applications for registration of a Will can be made over the Internet at www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/WillOrder.cgi or by contacting the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages, GPO Box 30, Sydney NSW 2001, (telephone 1300 655 236).

The registration is private and can only be accessed by yourself, or an authorised representative. After death, the information given will be available for search, so next of kin, an Executor or other relevant authorities can locate the Will. The register does not keep a copy of the Will.

Alcohol Summit

Whilst the Summit raised the level of awareness about alcohol abuse in the community, it must be followed up with strong action. The challenge before the community, and ultimately the Government, is to identify effective policies and to support them with the additional resources they require.

The Government does have an important role to play in regulation and resourcing, but alcohol abuse is a community, industry, family and ultimately, individual's problem.

I am looking forward to recommendations from the Summit receiving strong support from not only the State Government, but also the community and organisations at the coal-face of the problem.

I was pleased to be able to ensure one of the recommendations from the Summit was a review of the successful Drink Safe Program that had previously operated in the Northern Rivers area, but was cut due to funding shortages.

I can be contacted by writing to PO Box 1018, Ballina 2478 or by telephoning my Electorate Office on 6686 7522 or faxing 6686 7470. For those on-line my e-mail address is Don.Page@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Thomas George
Canberra Connection

Alcohol Summit

The National Party, as a result of the Summit, put the State Government on notice that additional funds were needed if resolutions from the NSW Alcohol Abuse Summit were to have any effect. We also strongly rejected a Summit resolution supporting Government-sanctioned underage drinking venues, along the same lines of Labor's heroin injecting room. Unfortunately, the resolution narrowly passed late into the night when 75 per cent of the delegates were absent. One message was clear from this week's debate - the tentacles of alcohol abuse cut across every geographic and social divide in NSW. Alcohol wreaks havoc with individuals, families, communities and our social and economic fabric. The excellent local community-based initiatives in country and coastal areas needed to be built upon with wholehearted Government support and increased funding. It is vital that young people understand that drinking to excess is not "cool" - it is a problem to themselves, their families and their communities. The graphic details of alcohol abuse were clearly too little understood in mainstream society - the health, social and legal consequences, the domestic violence and misery, the loss of employment and the impact on children.

Locally Gazetted Holidays

Following a number of enquiries made to my office, I wish to advise that both the Lismore Cup Race Day (½ day Thursday, September 25) and Lismore Show Day (full day Thursday, October 16) have been gazetted under the Banks and Bank Holidays Act 1912. Verification or further information can be obtained from the Department of Industrial Relations website; www.dir.nsw.gov.au/holidays or by contacting 131 628.

Celebrity Prison

I have been chosen as one of 20 people in the Lismore region to be involved in this year's highlight event "Celebrity Prison". Red Cross has held this event in other areas as a major FUNdraising event. This unique event is to be staged at Lismore Shopping Square on September 27 2003 at 11 am. The Australian Red Cross coordinates 12 essential local community services throughout Northern NSW. My participation and support, I hope, will highlight to the community the importance of Red Cross for the whole community and I call on your assistance to contribute in whatever way possible.

I welcome and invite your feedback in relation to any of the above matters, please do not hesitate to contact my office regarding any matters on (ph) 6621 3624, (f) 6622 1403, by writing to PO Box 52 Lismore, e-mail; thomas.george@parliament.nsw.gov.au or www.thomasgeorge.com.au