MEDIA RELEASE The Federal Budget will be brought down in Canberra tonight, and there is much speculation in the media about what might or might not be in it. Page MP Janelle Saffin said the Budget will be well targeted to support those who need it most. “This Budget has to address the dual challenges of lower revenues due to natural disasters and a patchwork economy where some sectors are still weak, and the price pressures caused by the massive mining boom which is gearing up again. “The Budget will get us back in the black, get more Australians in jobs and spread the opportunities of the mining boom. “Already we have had a number of pre-budget announcements of benefit to our region including almost $1 million extra for the Our House patient accommodation near Lismore Base Hospital. Health is always my top priority and I have been lobbying the Health Minister Nicola Roxon for health funding for our region and will be keen to see the health announcements in the Budget. “In roads funding I can confirm that the Budget will include $62 million to start work on duplication a five-kilometre stretch of highway at Devils Pulpit State Forest (south of the Tabbimobile floodways) this financial year 2011-12. “There is also $554.1 million in the Budget for duplicating 17.3 kilometres of the Pacific Highway between Tintenbar and Ewingsdale. This starts on the border of my electorate and will be of great interest to local motorists who regularly commute north on the highway,” “The Budget will include $54.9 million to secure the Rural Financial Counselling Service over the next four years. I strongly lobbied Agriculture Minister Senator Joe Ludwig for this funding to continue, because of the invaluable service the Casino-based RFCS provides to farmers and rural communities in northern NSW. “I am delighted to see that former Prisoners of War living in Page will receive a long-awaited special supplement of $500 a fortnight in recognition of their service and sacrifice in POW camps during the Second World War and the Korean War.” Other Budget measures that will be of significant benefit to local people include the increase in the Family Tax Benefit Part A for families with teenagers. “This is something I had lobbied for since I was first elected, because many local families were disadvantaged by the system where FTB payments were drastically cut when their son or daughter turned 16, while the costs of caring for their teenage child had not reduced. “The changes in the Budget will mean an increase of up over $4000 for some families with 16 to 19 year olds attending school or vocational training. In Page there are about 5,900 families receiving FTB A who have children turning 16 in the next five years. “There will be changes to the Low Income Tax Offset , increasing the proportion of the offset that is delivered in week to week pay packets from 50 to 70 per cent, so low income earners are taxed less during the year. “This means a bit more money through the year to help with cost of living pressures, instead of waiting for it at end of financial year. “And Budget measures for small business will include an instant tax write-off for the first $5000 of any motor vehicle purchased from 2012-13. “The Government will continue to address skill shortages, with $281 million for additional tax free payments to encourage apprentices in critical trades to complete their qualifications. “The $1700 Trades Apprentice Income Bonus is expected to support an extra 200,000 trade apprentices over four years in skills shortage occupations. “This apprentice bonus scheme has been popular in the Page electorate and I am pleased to see this system of training bonuses continue to support our apprentices in completing their training. Janelle Saffin MP
The Federal Member for Page prepares the ground for tonight’s Australian Federal Government Budget Speech on ABC TV at 7.30pm
Budget Preview
Member for Page
Tuesday 10 May, 2011
Tuesday 10 May 2011
Federal Budget 2011 Preview
Calling all performers - it's Cabaret 360 auditions on 23 & 26 May 2011 at Uki
The Ukitopia Arts Collective whose aim is To nurture, support, and promote arts and culture in Uki and district is holding auditions this month for its very popular cabaret held at Uki Village on the NSW North Coast.
Click on invitation to enlarge
Coming events for the remainder of the year are:
June 4 Songwriters on the Songline
June 25 & 26 Cabaret 360
August 6 Songwriters on the Songline
October 8 Songwriters on the Songline
November 18-20 Ukitopia Festival
Q&A has a lot to answer for
Inspired by Malcolm Turnbull’s appearance on ABC TV’s Q&A, someone has begun a Turnbull for Prime Minister campaign on Facebook:
This is a page for all that want real change. For those that voted Labor, Greens or Independents because they would not or could not vote for Tony Abbott. It's for the Liberals who voted for Tony Abbott and now see him as the wrong person to lead the Liberal party. It's for those that voted for Julia Gillard or Labor but have now seen her performance and see her lack of leadership and know that's no good for our country. And its for those that find this government wanting. It's for those people that watched Malcolm Turnbull on Q&A recently and knew we had a leader of substance. Malcolm Turnbull for PM!
Monday 9 May 2011
Why did Cansdell get a gig as a parliamentary secretary?
Sean Nicolls gave an account of why backbenchers in the NSW government were awarded consolation prizes and given appointments as parliamentary secretaries.
However, no where in the piece did Clarence MP Steve Cansdell get a mention.
So, if it wasn't a consolation prize (because from my reading Cansdell doesn't fit any of the reasons Nicolls provided), what was it?
Lists, like polls, are often dismissed by politicians as of interest only to the media. In the case of opinion polls, our political leaders assure us they never read them. As for lists, they insist nothing should be read into them.
Latest word on Tony Abbott's off the cuff remarks
Last Friday a friend sent me this short email:
Attached is a very short video clip (30 seconds) of Tony Abbott at a country retreat. He takes a short break to speak to the nation about his views on a number of important matters. Many people say this is his best presentation to date. His comments here actually make more sense than anything else he's ever said. This is the only speech that he has made, so far, with which I agree.
What's wrong with this WSJ offer?
Errr..........and has it also purloined another's brandname or does it have an agreement with this company?
Sunday 8 May 2011
Does former NSW Police Commissioner Peter Ryan know that his identity has been stolen?
Snapshot of the lower half of the in memoriam for a deceased NSW Police officer
On 4 May 2011 The Clarence Valley Review newspaper published an in memoriam in its classified section which was purportedly lodged by one Peter James Ryan using a post office address in Maclean on the NSW North Coast.
This is not the first time this fake Peter Ryan has been active.
On 4 April 2011 he sent a fax (copy here) to both the Local Court at Grafton and the NSW Chief Judge, as well as to various other individuals.
As his approach to the courts was reported in The Daily Examiner, one has to wonder why alarm bells did not ring at the Review when it received the in memoriam for publication.
I suspect that Dr. Ryan would not be amused by this turn of events as he appears to act as a security consultant and public speaker since his retirement.Saturday 7 May 2011
National Weed Research Grant Goes To Trenayr Institute
Joint media release on 4 May 2011 from Labor MPs Mike Kelly and Janelle Saffin announcing a grant to the NSW North Coast’s Primary Industries Institute at Trenayr, to study an invasive exotic weed group which includes the notorious Giant Parramatta Grass and Giant Rat’s Tail Grass (NSW DPI photograph on the left):
PAGE MP Janelle Saffin has welcomed $144,396 in Australian Government funding for the Grafton Primary Industries Institute to continue research into biological control of weedy sporobolus grasses that impact on agriculture and the environment.
The national weed research project, being led by Mr David Officer at Trenayr, is one of 33 new projects under a $6.1-million investment announced by Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Dr Mike Kelly.
Ms Saffin said Mr Officer’s important work would promote biological control of weedy sporobolus grasses using a naturally occurring fungus, Nigrospora oryzae.
“This research will also investigate whether the fungus will infect other weedy sporobolus grasses,” she said.
“The Grafton Primary Industries Institute has a reputation for undertaking cutting edge research. This project hopefully will bring innovative approaches to tackling some of Australia’s most invasive plant pests.”
Dr Kelly said that weeds have a major impact on the national economy, costing farmers more than $4 billion annually in lost production and control measures.
“The damage caused to Australia’s natural environment by weeds is also immense,” Dr Kelly said.
“The research investment is a key plank of the National Weeds and Productivity Research Program which is leading Australia’s search for weeds solutions.”
The newly funded projects began in March 2011 and run until May 2012.
This Program is being managed by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
A full list of the 33 research projects is available at http://www.rirdc.gov.au/programs.
The barbarians are not longer at the gate - they are inside the castle walls
"The NSW Government is committed to protecting the grey nurse shark population at Fish Rock and Green Island," she said.
"However, as promised prior to the election, we want to ensure the community have a proper chance to be consulted before any final decision is made.
"The NSW Government has also committed to a scientific review of the effectiveness of management arrangements in meeting domestic and international commitments to the conservation of marine biodiversity, and to ensuring the conservation needs of grey nurse shark are met well into the future.
"The outcomes from community consultation and scientific review will be used to guide the development of new management arrangements for Fish Rock and Green Island.
"Fishing and diving at Fish Rock and Green Island provide many social and economic benefits to the local community and it is important that the community have the chance to provide input into the future of the area.
Minister Hodgkinson said the revocation of the fishing closures means that the critical habitat rules that existed prior to Friday, January 28 will be reinstated.
"Recreational anglers are reminded that fishing with bait or wire trace while anchored or moored, or attaching weights of more than 500 grams to fishing lines is prohibited within 200 metres of Fish Rock and Green Island," she said.
"Today's announcements only affect recreational fishing, the commercial fishing closures at Fish Rock and Green Island to protect grey nurse sharks will continue unchanged.
For further information visit www.dpinsw.gov.au/fisheries
* Image from ABC Coffs Coast
Friday 6 May 2011
What a ridiculous beat up by the Murdoch media
The online blurb for a Malcolm Farr article published by News Limited on 4 May 2011:
Rudd breaks silence on his ousting: 'Character building'By Malcolm Farr RUDD speaks of his removal as PM in address in the US, in a sign he's not in a mood to forgive or forget.
And the basis for the claim that Rudd is not in a mood to forgive or forget?
This bland comment in his speech to the Brookings Institute in Washington DC on 3 May 2011:
This week — any week — it's great to be back at Brookings.
I spoke here last, just three years ago.
If a week is a long time in politics, three years is an eternity.
The three intervening years have been something of a rollercoaster ride:
- for the world economy;
- for global politics;
- and, for some of us personally
All of which, as they say in the classics, has been character building.
The stretch between what was actually said and the wording of the blurb is so long that one can only call that link a lying lure. Presumably a crude effort to drive readers to this article and create a perception in the minds of advertisers that they are getting value for their dollar. Is it any wonder that mainstream media’s reputation is in tatters?
An audio of his speech The Rise of Asia, International Cooperation and U.S. Foreign Policy can be found here.