Welcome to the Winter 2008 E-News

Dear constituent/supporter

The 2008 Federal Budget has let local families in my electorate down. It is a typical Labor Budget – it increases taxes and massively increases spending.  I have had a number of calls from constituents upset with the Rudd Budget particularly those people on aged pensions and concerns regarding inevitable flow-on changes to the health system.  Clearly the Rudd Government has let my constituents down when the Prime Minister claimed this Budget would ease the pressure on inflation and honour Labor’s election commitments to families.  The Government failed its first test. This Budget will do nothing to meet Labor’s promises to keep grocery prices, petrol prices and home interest rates down. Local residents in the electorate of Berowra should take no comfort from Labor’s decision to raise taxes on cars, alcohol, energy, computer software, fringe benefits, passenger movements, passports, visa applications and increase the costs of private health insurance. Labor was left a strong economy by the Coalition Government, which had a clear strategy to keep the economy growing. In contrast, Labor’s Budget is a political ‘grab-bag’, not an economic strategy.  Constituents deserve better than that!

In this issue:

• FEDERAL BUDGET – LETS LOCAL FAMILIES DOWN IT RAISES TAXES ON CARS, ALCOHOL, ENERGY, COMPUTER SOFTWARE, FRINGE BENEFITS, PASSPORTS, VISAS, AND PASSENGER MOVEMENTS AND INCREASES THE COST OF PRIVATE INSURANCE.
• THE RUDD GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO COME CLEAN ON FUNDING
• LOCAL SCHOOLS LOSE WATER FUNDING –  SCHOOLS EACH TO FIND ANOTHER $20,000
• GOVERNMENT CANNOT RULE OUT LONGER WAITING LISTS FOR CONSTITUENTS
• LACK OF CARE BY RUDD GOVERNMENT ON OLDER AUSTRALIANS
• WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RUDD GOVERNMENT’S GREEN CREDENTIALS - CLIMATE CHANGE FUNDING CUT BY $21.1M
• 2008 ROUND OF COMMUNITY HERITAGE GRANTS IS NOW OPEN! APPLICATIONS CLOSE 30 JUNE 2008
• ENVIRONMENT FUNDING SLASHED
• AUSTRALIAN ARTS SUFFERING UNDER MINISTER GARRETT
• TWO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS QUALIFY FOR THE ‘2008 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN AGENCY’S CITATION LIST’
• CONCERNS ABOUT SKILLED MIGRATION CUTS
• NO CONSULTATION OR COMPENSATION FOR SOLAR INDUSTRY

FEDERAL BUDGET – LETS LOCAL FAMILIES DOWN IT RAISES TAXES ON CARS, ALCOHOL, ENERGY, COMPUTER SOFTWARE, FRINGE BENEFITS, PASSPORTS, VISAS, PASSENGER MOVEMENTS AND INCREASES THE COST OF PRIVATE INSURANCE.

What should concern the electorate greatly is that unemployment will increase as a result of this Budget - with Treasury forecasts showing 134,000 fewer people in jobs. When it comes to the various Investment Funds on infrastructure, education and health, there is an appalling lack of detail with no clear explanation of what criteria will be used for the administration and expenditure of billions of dollars in taxpayers’ money. The bottom line is that Labor has not kept their election promises.  Labor promised not to touch private health insurance but they’re gutting it.  Labor promised to leave the baby bonus alone but they are slashing it.  Labor promised not to increase tax, but taxes have gone up. After promising so much before the election, Labor has let local families down.

THE RUDD GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO COME CLEAN ON FUNDING

There is much disquiet in the community that the Rudd Government seems to think the answer to the health problems in this country can be solved by setting up taskforces. The new taskforce on preventative health will not report until June 2009. My constituents need to know now what measures the Government will take to ensure current programs continue. When we were in government the Coalition Government allocated $147.7 million over 4 years to the Healthy and Active Australia program to tackle obesity. The National Tobacco Strategy, which runs from 2004 till 2009, includes $4.3 million over 3 years to stop women smoking during pregnancy, and we also put $25 million over 4 years into the a National Tobacco Campaign focussing on young people.  Constituents need to know what will happen to these and other Coalition programs. If the taskforce does not report until June 2009 that will mean two federal budgets will pass without the Rudd Government using the report to allocate funding. The Government needs to do more than simply set up yet another taskforce if it is serious about dealing with the health issues facing the country.

LOCAL SCHOOLS LOSE WATER FUNDING – SCHOOLS EACH TO FIND ANOTHER $20,000

Local parents, teachers and students will now have to hold fundraisers to find up to $20,000 for water and energy efficiency projects. The Government has nailed the lid on the coffin of the Coalition’s successful Green Vouchers for Schools program, which allowed schools to apply for grants of up to $50,000 to install solar hot water systems and rainwater tanks. The popular program has been replaced by a program that effectively cuts funding for solar hot water systems and rainwater tanks in our local schools by $20,000.  Funds for school water saving / solar hot water programs have now been capped at $30,000 whereas this was previously $50,000. So for example, a local school banking on $50,000 for a rainwater tank or solar hot water system will have to fundraise an additional $20,000. This is an unfair cost impost on those parents, teachers and students who want to do the right thing by the environment and the loss of the Green Vouchers for Schools program sets a bad lesson for our local youngsters as they strive to improve water and energy efficiency at school.

GOVERNMENT CANNOT RULE OUT LONGER WAITING LISTS FOR CONSTITUENTS

Again the Federal Government has confirmed it cannot guarantee that local constituents will have to wait longer for public hospital treatment as a result of its changes to the Medicare surcharge levy policy. What we are seeing here is a reversion to the past by Labor where the decisions they are making with respect to health are more about ideology than addressing the real health issues in Australia. This decision has nothing to do with good policy and will affect my constituents. In the late nineties there was a significant fall in the number of Australians who had private health insurance and at that point in time the Howard government was legitimately concerned about the issues surrounding the sustainability of the health system.  The government of the day brought in the 30 per cent rebate and then lifetime cover and the rates of private health insurance rose from 30 per cent up to 44-45 per cent where they remain today. However, the Rudd Government’s decision risks a return to the downward spiral we saw in private health insurance during the early 1990s, when Labor was in power and had this philosophical opposition to providing private health insurance. This decision is going to have serious consequences for the public health system and to my electorate and Labor has acknowledged that today with the refusal to guarantee that no staff will wait longer for public hospital treatment as a result of the changes to the Medicare surcharge levy.

LACK OF CARE BY RUDD GOVERNMENT ON OLDER AUSTRALIANS

I have real concerns for older constituents with the lack of care by the Federal government. Actions speak louder than words and the Rudd Government’s actions had fully reinforced suspicions that as far as this Government is concerned older Australians don’t count. The first sign that something was amiss with the Rudd Government’s priorities was when it would not commit to the pensioners’ and carers’ bonus earlier in the year which caused a great deal of anxiety in the community. This sense of insecurity was compounded when aged care was not an agenda item at the 2020 Summit and only one per cent of delegates to the summit were aged 75 plus.   This rejection of older Australians is glaring given that they are a significant group of people who make up over 13% of the Australian population and over the next forty years this is projected to rise to 25%. Then two days before the Budget was handed down, the Government back-flipped on a cut to aged care funding because of prolonged pressure brought by Aged Care Associations, providers, families. Forty per cent of providers are operating in the red and a cut to funding would have sent many providers to the wall. 

The situation is so serious that places have been under-subscribed in parts of Australia and decisions are being made at the board level not to apply for further beds because of the increasing non viability of the sector with a number of providers closing down beds. For the Government to consider a cut to aged care funding in this environment should send a shiver down everyone’s spine, because we’re all ageing; we all have family members and friends who may enter an aged care facility at some time in their lives.   Also the indexation has only been continued for one year.  How can aged care providers plan for their future needs when they have no idea what funding they will receive in future?

 Approximately six million singles and seniors have got news for the Rudd Government which is that Australia does not comprise only of “working families.  It is about time the Prime Minister got over his obsession with “working families” and famous faces and governed for all Australians, paying particular attention to the frail and vulnerable.

 The ageing of our population is one of the largest social issues that Australia is facing.  The issue is not cutting through at this stage but it will as spending pressures in such areas such as health, age pensions and aged care are projected to rise due to our ageing population.  The fall in GDP will equate to a fall in everyone’s living standards.  The Government is missing the point along with many members of the fourth estate. The Rudd Government’s abandonment of older Australians is jeopardising their health and wellbeing along with their sense of being important contributors to society.

Under the Howard Government, older Australians were always a priority.  Under the Alternative Government older Australians will always be a priority.  Under the Rudd Government, older Australians aren’t even on the radar.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RUDD GOVERNMENT’S GREEN CREDENTIALS - CLIMATE CHANGE FUNDING CUT BY $21.1M?

After months of talking up his green credentials, Mr Rudd has released a Budget that reduces total spending on climate change by $21.1m over his first two years in office.   The Budget Papers show a combined cut to climate programs of $400.6m in 2007/08 and 2008/09.  However, new climate expenditure for those two years is only $379.5m. In short, despite all the talk and promises, Mr Rudd has deceived Australians: total climate spending in his first two years in office will decrease by $21.1m. The much-vaunted Renewable Energy Fund does not commence until mid 2009.  Despite what we were led to believe there is nothing in the 2008-09 Budget under the Renewable Energy Fund.   Indeed, in the four-year Budget period, there is less than half of the $500m that the Government promised for renewable technology. This is a shortfall of $273m over what we were led to believe would occur.  The express rejection of a Clean Energy Target will destroy incentive for early adoption of clean coal and gas technology.  Nothing could be more certain to delay the cleaning up of the 92% of our energy that currently comes from coal and gas.  Even the CFMEU has called for a Clean Energy Target to help clean up our power stations.

The Budget papers make no provision whatsoever for the revenues from the Emissions Trading Scheme due to commence in 2010 – well within the period of the forward estimates.  This is simply hiding the coming taxes on petrol and power from pensioners and families. Despite Mr Rudd talking about the need for action to help tackle climate change in China and India, the Government has abandoned the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, cutting $50 million from the program.  If the 2007/08 – 2008/09 figures are added, total domestic and international climate change cuts reach $42 million. Finally, the Green Car Innovation Fund does not start in 2008, or 2009, or even 2010:  it only starts in 2011.

2008 ROUND OF COMMUNITY HERITAGE GRANTS IS NOW OPEN! APPLICATIONS CLOSE 30 JUNE 2008

Community Heritage Grants (CHG) Program for 2008 is now open and I urge constituents to check eligibility for these grants.   The Community Heritage Grants Program aims to preserve and provide access to locally held, nationally significant cultural heritage collections across Australia. The program provides grant funding of up to $15 000 for preservation projects and preservation and collection management training through community based workshops.  Allocation of grants is based on the recommendations of the assessors and availability of funds. No applicant can be guaranteed funding nor can any applicant be guaranteed funding to the full amount requested. Funding may vary from year to year and it is not possible to fund all worthwhile projects. Community organisations such as historical societies, museums, public libraries, archives, Indigenous and migrant community groups which collect and provide public access to their cultural heritage collections are eligible to apply.

The Community Heritage Grants Program aims to preserve and provide access to nationally significant, Australian cultural heritage material held by community groups across the country.  Last year, 85 grants were awarded for preservation and access projects involving community held, cultural heritage collections of national significance. Projects funded related to the preservation of materials such as artefacts, films and sound recordings, books, letters, diaries, manuscripts, photographs, archival records, pictures, maps, electronic files and oral history recordings.  Projects that were funded by the 2007 CHG Program must be completed by 13 November 2008.  For further information please contact: The Coordinator Community Heritage Grants, National Library of Australia, Parkes Place, CANBERRA ACT 2600, and Phone: 02 6262 1147
Email: chg@nla.gov.au.

ENVIRONMENT FUNDING SLASHED

The decision by the Rudd Labor Government to slash environmental funding in this year’s budget did not reflect their huff and puff and pre-election commitments towards the environment. The environment has been the biggest loser in this budget, with the Rudd Labor Government more committed to transferring taxpayers dollars to their mates in the debt-ridden Labor State Governments than to saving the environment.  Additionally the Rudd Labor Government’s budget cuts the great Landcare programme by 20 per cent and there is no commitment to any future funding.  The Rudd Labor Government has not funded Environmental Stewardship, the Howard Government’s $50 million programme that helped land owners to repair the environment and protect biodiversity. The Rudd Labor Government has also slashed funding to the catchment management bodies which are to deliver their Caring for our Country programmes.  This 40 per cent cut has already seen staff sacked across Australia.

The Federal Labor Government has cut the Community Water Grants programme, the Green Vouchers in Schools scheme and further restricted household access to photovoltaic rebates.  This will make it even harder for our community to deal with climate change. Weed invasion is the biggest threat to our biodiversity, choking our native flora which affects the northern part of my electorate in the Dural area.  The Rudd Labor Government has chosen to fund weed research but there is nothing in the budget to actually kill weeds. The Labor Party promised Australians a serious commitment to the environment, at least as serious as the commitment made by the Howard Government.

AUSTRALIAN ARTS SUFFERING UNDER MINISTER GARRETT

The Rudd Labor Government’s first budget included a litany of broken promises for the Arts. Minister Peter Garrett became responsible for Arts promising to increase spending after the ‘terrible’ years of the Howard Government.  In fact, the Coalition had boosted Arts funding to record level of $650 million. The Budget papers show that the Rudd Labor Government has not delivered as promised on:

• a strategic vision for the Australian Film Industry.  The new Screen Australia authority will receive a one-off $103 million grant to establish their new administration and Board, but will see a loss of 28 jobs in the process;
• no money for the Australia Council for the Arts’ theatre and dance action plans;
• no money for the Australian Academy of the Humanities;
• the ArtStart programme has vanished, with no mention, no funding for what was a key Labor commitment prior to the election;
• the new Young and Emerging Artists Fund is to be squeezed out of existing funding; and
• Regional Arts Fund has been cut by $4 million.
• CrocFest funding is gone;
• Australia on the World Stage funding cancelled; and
• Chamber Music Australia funding cut;

An extra 2 per cent efficiency dividend will drive agencies and institutions to cut touring and new acquisitions, particularly for the National Library, Museums and Galleries

I support the Shadow Minister for the Arts, Dr Sharman Stone and the Opposition concerns about the job losses and cut backs. For example, The Australia Council for the Arts will lose 28 staff, as well as having their grants programme cut by $20 million over the next four years. The Rudd Labor Government has clearly either underestimated or deliberately under-funded the establishment of the new Resale Royalties’ Scheme for visual art.  The $1.5 over three years will barely cover the cost of establishing the administration; much less provide any funding for education and information about the new scheme for artists, buyers and sellers.  Nor is there funding to help indigenous artists, in particular, to draw up wills so future royalties can be properly allocated according to the artists’ wishes.

TWO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS QUALIFY FOR THE ‘2008 EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN AGENCY’S CITATION LIST’

Two local organisations out of a total of ninety-nine nationally have been included in the EOWA Employer of Choice for Women’ citation list.  The two organisations are: Loreto Normanhurst Association Incorporated and McDonald’s Australia Pty Ltd. The average pay gap in 2008 EOWA Employer of Choice for Women organisations is 10%, 7% lower than the national average.  Each of these organisations has shown that gender pay equity has been analysed and that the gap is less than the industry average and they are working to address any gap identified.  It is also important that these organisations have shown that recruitment and promotion processes based on merit and are transparent.  They have provided training to all staff about preventing sex-based harassment in the workplace. I am also informed that EOWA Employers of Choice for Women organisations have also shown that their recruitment and promotion processes are merit based and transparent.  Again I warmly congratulate these two organisations inclusion in the “2008 EOWA Employer of Choice for Women.”

CONCERNS ABOUT SKILLED MIGRATION CUTS

The Opposition has asked the Department of Immigration and Citizenship to provide the details of cuts totalling $23.8 million
that will be made to immigration personnel overseas.  Ten per cent of Australian staff working in our overseas posts will have their jobs cut. The cuts are being made at key immigration posts including; Athens (2), Bangkok (3), Beijing (1), Beirut (1), Dubai (1), London or Berlin (1), Kuala Lumpur (2), Manila (1), Shanghai (1), Suva (1) and Taipei (1). Many of these posts are in sensitive locations with high levels of visa applications across a variety of areas including skilled migration, tourism to Australia, spouse and other visas.  It is essential to ensure that all persons travelling to Australia have their visa thoroughly and efficiently assessed.  The Opposition is concerned that these significant cuts are being made to key posts. Our overseas posts perform critical work and it is essential that they are properly resourced and the staff are well supported.

NO CONSULTATION OR COMPENSATION FOR SOLAR INDUSTRY

The Rudd government has conceded there had been absolutely no consultation with the solar industry before the introduction of its damaging means test.  Solar panel companies around Australia are facing ruin after the Government imposed a $100,000 means test on the Coalition’s $8,000 solar home rebate program.  The Government admitted that the plans had been deliberately kept a secret from the solar industry before the test was suddenly brought to take immediate effect on Budget night. In a further slap in the face for the solar industry, the Minister also ruled out any compensation to companies which are now losing millions of dollars in cancelled orders.