National Constitutional Summit - December 2008

The achievement of formal recognition remains one of the most cherished goals of local government, so we can finally take a seat at the federalism table as an equal partner with the states and the Commonwealth. The recognition of local government in the Constitution has been central to debate at successive National General Assemblies of Local Government.

The push to achieve constitutional recognition of local government has been given new impetus with the election, last November, of a Labor Federal Government. The Australian Labor Party went into the election with a commitment to consult, during its first term, with local government on the process for achieving constitutional recognition. ALGA President Cr Paul Bell says that this time we have a chance to get it right. "We must all work together to ensure we get a successful result," he said. "I strongly believe we now have our best opportunity for a generation."

ALGA, in consultation with state and territory local government associations, is convening a National Constitutional Summit at the end of this year to bring together councils to discuss and reach agreement on a position to put to the Federal Government. Prior to that Summit, meetings will be held at state and territory level to consider the issues in detail.

Recognition in the Australian Constitution is one of the most important challenges facing local government today. Note the dates of the National Constitutional Summit in your diary now to ensure you don't miss out on this important event. Venue and registration details will be included in forthcoming.

Sykes calls on Minister to act on Mt Buffalo Chalet report

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, called on the Minister for Tourism to make public his comments on reports on the future of the Mt Buffalo Chalet.

Speaking in Parliament this week Dr Sykes highlighted the importance of Mt Buffalo Chalet to people in North East Victoria and in particular tourism based businesses in the Ovens Valley.

Dr Sykes also welcomed the Government’s intention to legislate to allow a long term lease for Mt Buffalo Chalet in line with leases in the Alpine resorts.

However Dr Sykes noted that the Minister for Tourism had failed to make public his response to reports prepared on the future of the Chalet with particular reference to infrastructure and energy costs.

Dr Sykes said, “Burbank Bros (the most recent lessees of the Chalet) former employees, local business and community representatives have all contributed in good faith to a Government enquiry into future options for the Chalet.

“We know that the reports have been with the Minister since prior to Christmas – his failure to respond publicly is unacceptable.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the Minister for Tourism to act now to ensure the long term future of the Mt Buffalo Chalet and in doing so to ensure the long term future of tourism businesses and the general communities in North East Victoria”.

Sykes: Firearms dealers and licence holders up in arms about proposed fee increases

Proposed State Government increases in firearms licence fees will result in many small country firearms dealers shutting up shop according to Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.

In raising the issue today in Parliament, Dr Sykes said, “Many firearms organisation and owners have written to me outraged that this Government intends increasing firearms dealer’s fees by over 600% to $7,000 per annum.

“If allowed to proceed this will result in many smaller dealers shutting up shop, thus making it harder for farmers and legitimate shooters to access ammunition and firearms.

Dr Sykes continued, “This fee increase is based on the premise of cost recovery/user pays however, as usual, the Government has failed to ensure that the current systems are operating at maximum efficiency.

“One very effective cost-cutting measure for Licensing Services Division would be to fast track firearms licence renewal as occurs with driver’s licences. This simplified renewal process would be consistent with the National Firearms Agreement.

“But rather than adopt this common sense approach the Government wants to tax legitimate firearms owners and dealers out of business.”

Coalition MP’s Andrew McIntosh, Shadow Minister for Police & Emergency Services and Bill Tilley, Member for Benambra also met with firearms representatives last week and the Liberal and Nationals are in 100% agreement that the fee increases are grossly unjust.

Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to reject the proposed fee increases and get on with the job of tackling illegal firearms users rather than continuing to penalise law abiding legal firearms users.

Wong flunks Lake Mokoan test

Sophie Mirabella, the Federal Member for Indi, has today condemned the response from the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water to the Victorian Government’sdecision to decommission Lake Mokoan.

“Last December, I wrote to Minister Wong seeking confirmation of the previous Coalition Government’s public commitments regarding Lake Mokoan, namely that no Commonwealth investment or support would occur unless ‘the Victorian Government has accurately determined the reliability of water supply in their proposal’,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“In response, Minister Wong has simply regurgitated the words of the Victorian Government to justify her refusal to stand up for local farmers and irrigators who will lose out under the decommissioning process.”

“I asked Minister Wong a very simple question, namely, that the Rudd Government not support the decommissioning of Lake Mokoan without a guarantee of equivalent reliability of supply. I find it curious that she has chosen to not answer this question and instead simply jumped on the Victorian Government bandwagon hellbent on the path to full-blown decommissioning,” Mrs Mirabella said.

"Sadly, Minister Wong relies on the Spring Street defence when she informs me that ‘the retention of Lake Mokoan as a water storage is clearly not sustainable due to its significant water loss and ongoing water quality issues’,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Clearly, Minister Wong doesn’t care or simply can’t stand up to her Labor mates in Victoria,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The Justice for the Broken Valley group presented a cohesive and refined plan to save Lake Mokoan from decommissioning. Sadly, no-one in the Victorian Government gave the alternative proposal the attention it deserved.”

“Minister Wong has again dismissed the alternative proposal which is yet another slap in the face to local farmers and irrigators who had invested much time and energy into having their views heard,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“I have no confidence in the Brumby Government’s handling of this issue, nor of Minister Wong’s ability to handle this difficult portfolio. I shall again be writing to Minister Wong to respond to her claims and seek answers to the simple questions that I posed to her which were ignored in her response,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.

Sykes: Country action grant scheme for 2008

Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, encourages all sporting clubs and organisations throughout the Benalla Electorate to apply for funding through the 2008 Country Action Grant Scheme.

Dr Sykes said this Sport & Recreation Victoria round of funding is to be distributed in grants of up to $5,000 and aims to increase the capacity of sport and active recreation organisations in regional and rural Victoria.

Types of projects to be funded include:

• Initiatives to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of organisations eg. Preparation of a business plan, development of policy and procedure manuals or websites and incorporation of a new organisation.
• Initiatives to improve the skills of club members through providing training for coaches and officials, administrative staff and management committee members eg. Participation in coaching or umpiring accreditation courses, first aid, workshops for committee members in financial management or information technology.
• Initiatives to increase community participation by providing accessible sport and active recreation opportunities eg. Sessions of sport or active recreation for older adults, young mothers or people with a disability.

For projects planned to commence between 1 July 2008 – 31 December 2008 the applications close on 11 April 2008.

Applications can be lodged on-line, via email, fax or post with applications being received by Friday, 11 April 2008 will be considered for the second assessment phase.

Further details are available from the grant information line at The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) free call 1300 366 356 or via their web site on www.dvc.vic.gov.au/grants or by contacting Peta Clark at Bill Sykes’ office ph: 5762 2100

Local ALP supports Sorry rally

The ‘Wangaratta Says Sorry’ rally today saw over 500 people express their support for the National apology.

The Indi ALP fully backs the National apology and supports the community action across the electorate from those who wish their support for the apology to be recognized.

Out of respect for the organizers wish to keep the rally today apolitical, the Labor Party has withheld a public expression of support until after the event, but feels it is important that the support of branches across Indi for the apology be noted.

This expression of support has the approval of the organizers of the rally.

“ALP members from Benalla, Myrtleford and Wangaratta attended the rally in Wangaratta today,” the ALP spokesperson for Indi, Zuvele Leschen said.

“We were pleased to demonstrate our support for the National Apology and to be part of the grassroots campaign to have Indi residents support for the apology recognized.”

Sykes: Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Water and Agriculture

Nationals MP for Benalla, Bill Sykes, has welcomed the announcement today by Nationals Leader, Peter Ryan, of his appointment as a Parliamentary Secretary in the new State Liberal-National Coalition.

Dr Sykes said, “I’m looking forward to helping my Nationals colleague Peter Walsh tackle the Shadow portfolios of Water and Agriculture in my new position of Shadow Parliamentary Secretary.”

“My veterinary and farming background stand me in good stead to help deliver practical, commonsense, equitable policies for water and agriculture.

“In my opinion the key challenges include:-

Water – water is a finite resource; responsible management decisions will cause pain; the challenge is to spread that pain equitably.
This is not the case at the moment – excessive pain is being inflicted on some groups for the benefit of others because Mr Brumby either doesn’t understand or doesn’t care about the impact of his Government’s decisions on country people.

Agriculture – efficient/wise use of water and facilitation of uptake of best practice farm management strategies with emphasis on sustainable land use are long term challenges.
Linked with this is the importance of short/medium term support measures to help people ‘rebound’ from the impact of a decade of tough years.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “The uniting of two independent parties will help hold the Brumby Government accountable and at the same time provide a creditable alternative Government for people to elect in 2010. Victorian State Politics is about to get very interesting.”

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Organ Donation a Gift for Life: Sykes

This week is Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week and Bill Sykes, Member for Benalla is calling on residents of the Benalla Electorate to register as a consenting organ and tissue donor.

Dr Sykes said, “Registering as an organ and tissue donor couldn’t be easier and it’s a simple act with the greatest potential to save or transform the lives of so many others.

“As a committee member of the Benalla Trust Foundation I had the enormous privilege of being closely involved with the Dods family as their baby boy, William, underwent the life saving process of a liver transplant in November 2000. I will always remember the amazing difference that one generous organ donor made to the life of that little boy.”

William and his Mother Shelley Green met with Dr Sykes this week, keen to spread the word to ensure that everyone at least strongly considers the opportunity to save lives through organ donation.

“Recent figures remind us that Australia urgently needs to increase the organ and tissue donation rate (only 198 people donated in 2007) in order to save or transform the lives of the 1,875 people on transplant waiting lists.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “The decision to donate organs is a very personal one and I do fully understand that it is, for various reasons, not an option for some. However, for those people considering organ donation I urge you to talk about your wishes with your family, partner or friends now. The more family members who know of your decision, the easier they will find it to ensure your decision is respected and fulfilled.

More information about the Australian Organ Donor Register is available by calling 1800 777 203. Organ and tissue donation registration forms are available through Medicare offices or from www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.”

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Go for your life: Sykes

The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes is throwing his support behind the Active Families Challenge as part of the “Go For Your Life” program.

“This program is a family focused program aiming to improve the level of physical activity, health and well being of families,” Dr Sykes said.

“The program is encouraging families with children to participate in an inclusive and achievable physical activity which is fun, easy, accessible and worthwhile.”

Dr Sykes said that to complete the Challenge, families will be encouraged to participate in 30 minutes of physical activity for at least 30 days between 9 March and 20 April, 2008.

“Participating in an active lifestyle is the best way to enhance our health and well being, and in light of the current obesity problems facing our communities, it is a wonderful way for the whole family to be involved,” Dr Sykes said.

“I encourage all families in the Benalla Electorate to take up the Active Families Challenge. Get out the bikes, put on the walking shoes, take the dog for a walk. There are a variety of ways to exercise and we can all find 30 minutes a day. Let’s get active,” Dr Sykes concluded.

PS – I’m leading by example

1. my wife Sally and I are in training for walking the Kokoda Track in July 2008;
2. along with some of my Nationals colleagues, I recently completed the 400km Red Cross Murray River Marathon
3. and of course, last Saturday I won the 50 metre ‘sprint’ for over 50 year olds at the Tolmie Sports – albeit that I tore my hamstring two metres from the finish

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Japanese agricultural free trade agreement in jeopardy

“Local agricultural exporters will be hit hard as a result of the Rudd Labor Government’s decision to slash over $1 million from the negotiating budget on the Australia-Japan Free Trade Agreement (FTA),” Sophie Mirabella, the Federal Member for Indi, said today.

“Agiculture will be a victim of Labor’s cherry picking approach to reducing government spending with Australia’s agricultural exports being sidelined by this Labor funding cut,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“With the Rudd Government slashing $1.1 million from its budget for negotiations on an Australia-Japan FTA, the potential to increase exports to Japan is likely to be adversely affected.”

“Labor’s decision to cut funds aimed at helping Australia and Japan secure a free trade deal is lacking in foresight.”

“Japan is our largest trading partner and the former Coalition Government recognised the significant potential for Australian farmers through an Australia-Japan FTA,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Japan has a very protected agricultural market, and even small reductions in their tariff barriers would benefit local farmers.”

“Labor is obviously happy to hobble Australia’s current and potential exporters to Japan by cutting this important funding – funding the Coalition recognised as important for maximising Australian exports.”

“The benefits from a FTA with Japan underscore the importance of the Australia-Japan relationship, and the need for Labor to look after the interests of North-East Victoria.”

“Labor needs to help the relationship between Australia and Japan reach its full potential so a bilateral trade agreement can be reached, increasing our economic partnership.”

“It is absolutely important Labor recognises the importance of continuing to strengthen our business ties with Japan before sacrificing funding that could be the difference between securing an effective FTA with Japan.”

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Rural apprentices left to fend for themselves

“The North-East will lose out despite Labor’s continued rhetoric about investing in trade training places, because two important training incentive programmes are heading for the chopping block as a result of the Rudd razor gang,” Sophie Mirabella, the Federal Member for Indi, said today.

The two programmes to be gutted include the Apprenticeship Incentives for Agriculture and Horticulture programme and the extension of the Living Away from Home Allowance to Australian School-based Apprentices, both announced last year by the Coalition Government.

“While the Labor Government talk about their plans to increase trade training places, are at the same time they are taking away the support needed for people to complete their training,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The Labor Government should be judged by their actions, not their words, and their actions are cutting support for training in rural communities.”

“While Julia Gillard claims to produce plans to increase training places, Lindsay Tanner is cutting support for apprentices to complete their training.”

“It seems that Labor doesn’t understand the importance of supporting rural apprentices throughout their training.”

The Apprenticeship Incentives for Agriculture and Horticulture programme, released in August last year, was a $47.7 million assistance scheme designed to encourage workers back into the agriculture and horticulture industries.

The incentives included $800 grants for tool kits and up to $1000 to help with training fees.

“Last year, approximately 50,000 people left the agricultural and horticultural industry as the drought crippled rural areas. However, when the drought eases, it is important that the industry is not left with a skills shortage.”

“It seems that from these developments, Labor does not care about the agriculture and horticulture industries. It also seems that supporting secondary school students that move away from home to undertake an apprenticeship is not important to Labor either.”

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Wangaratta 2030 - Our Vision Our Future

Wangaratta 2030 - Our Vision Our Future is the process for reviewing the Rural City of Wangaratta 2030 Community Vision.

The development of Wangaratta 2030 - Our Vision Our Future is based upon the understanding that if we, as a community, think about and define where we want to go, chances are we will get there.

We recognise that good places to live don’t just happen. They are built by vision, ideas and a shared commitment to work towards building a better place and future.

Wangaratta 2030 - Our Vision Our Future will be one of the largest community engagement projects undertaken in the Rural City of Wangaratta.

Across our whole municipality, from Springhurst to Tolmie, Glenrowan to Murmungee, the input of all residents is needed to ensure the final vision document truly reflects the aspirations of our community as a whole.

Wangaratta 2030 - Our Vision Our Future was launched at the Wangaratta Government Centre on Wednesday, 6 February 2008. Over the following weeks a number of public forums, targeted focus workshops, public polling sessions and a community survey will be undertaken.

We encourage all community members to participate in one or more of the engagement processes and contribute their thoughts on how the rural city should be in the year 2030 and what the major challenges, opportunities and priorities will be over the coming two decades to enable the community vision to become a reality.

We wish to emphasise that this is a Community Vision. It is not a Council Plan. Its success as a long term blue print for the future will depend on input from all parts of the community.

For more information please click on the Wangaratta 2030 link.

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First meetings of 3 COAG working grou

ALGA (Australian Local Governemnet Association) has participated in recent COAG climate change, housing and infrastructure working group meetings. These working groups were part of the seven established at the COAG meeting on 20 December 2007.

Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese chaired the inaugural meeting of the COAG Infrastructure Working Group on January 23 just days after Federal Cabinet approved the establishment of Infrastructure Australia, a new body set up to coordinate infrastructure planning and investment across the nation.

The working group agreed upon a timetable for reforming the way infrastructure is planned, financed and delivered - one that will be taken forward by the soon-to-be established Infrastructure Australia. There will be one further meeting of the working group prior to the next COAG meeting on March 28.

Mr Albanese said Infrastructure Australia's immediate task would be to undertake a National Infrastructure Audit to determine the capacity and condition of nationally significant infrastructure, including the areas of water, energy, transport and communications.

Infrastructure Australia's functions include:

* The standardisation of tender processes and contract documentation between Commonwealth and state jurisdictions for the use of PPPs and other relevant procurement options;
* Standardising project approval techniques; and
* Streamlining planning and approval process by harmonising guidelines, legislation and regulation across jurisdictions.

Legislation establishing Infrastructure Australia will be introduced during the first session of the new Parliament.

The first meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Housing Working Group was held in Sydney on January 31. The meeting was chaired by the Federal Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek. The Housing Working Group has been set ambitious goals to progress the Government's housing agenda including reducing infrastructure costs and planning delays through a $500m Housing Affordability Fund, building 50,000 new affordable rental properties and 600 homes for the homeless. Two further meetings of the Housing Working Group will be held before the Group reports to the next COAG meeting at the end of March.

The first meeting of the COAG Climate Change Working Group was held January 25. This meeting was chaired by Minister for Climate Change and Water, Penny Wong. The working group has been set up to develop detailed proposal for COAG to ensure an effective national response to climate change, encompassing:

* a single national Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) incorporating State schemes;
* a nationally-consistent set of climate change measures to support the ETS; and
* a national cooperative approach to long-term adaptation to climate change.

In addition, the working group is tasked with the responsibility of providing COAG with proposals to ensure sustainable water use across Australia. It is expected that there will at least one more meeting of the Climate Change and Water Working Group will be held before the Group reports to the next COAG meeting at the end of March.

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Clean-up volunteers battle red tape

The good intent of volunteers trying to clean up road sides as part of next month’s Clean Up Australia Day is under threat from bureaucratic controls according to The Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said, “As a result of concerns raised with me by a resident of the Strathbogie Shire, my colleague Paul Weller, National Party Spokesperson for Roads, took up the issue with the Roads Minister, Tim Pallas in Parliament this week.

Mr Weller told Parliament, “Every year communities and individuals band together and work to clean up, fix up and conserve our environment on Clean Up Australia Day. Over the past 16 years Australians nationwide have spent more than 8 million hours picking up litter along the sides of our roads and have collected more than 200,000 tonnes of rubbish, yet despite the good work and goodwill of these volunteers in Victoria, their efforts to gain permission from VicRoads to clean the verges of the authority’s roads are hampered by reels of red tape”.

Dr Sykes said, “Groups must obtain approval from local councils, Victoria Police and relevant local authorities. A traffic management plan must be submitted to VicRoads to comply with the work-site safety traffic management code of practice.

“Following that emergency service organisations and public transport authorities need to be informed and organisers are then expected to provide road signage and protective clothing for volunteers.

“This complicated process needs reforming before organisers decide to cancel local road clean up events.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the Government to implement road clean up event policies which simplify processes while still protecting the safety of volunteers and the general public”.

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Brumby admits there is too little water for pipeline

“John Brumby’s joint statement on water contingency planning in the Southern Murray-Darling basin admits that there is insufficient water for Labor’s pipeline to Melbourne,” Sophie Mirabella, the Federal Member for Indi, said today.

The joint statement from Premier Brumby, the Premiers of NSW and South Australia and the Prime Minister, says in part:
“Dry conditions continue to prevail in the Murray System. The two year period to the end of November 2007 is the lowest Murray System two year inflow period on record. While critical human needs are being met in 2007-08, the water supply situation in the southern Basin system is extremely difficult and there is a relatively small amount of water available for other uses, impacting on communities, production and the environment. Therefore contingency planning needs to continue.”

“The last two years have seen record low inflows, and merely days ago the Labor Party released a report estimating there would be a further 13 per cent reduction in average end-of-system flows from the Ovens system into the Murray River by 2030.”

“It is plainly silly to respond to record low inflows by trying to increase outflows by flushing water down to Melbourne,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“In a drier future, the correct response is to do what we can to increase the water in our region, not flush it down to Melbourne.”

“The Labor Party says that future inflows to the Murray will fall – but also wants to increase outflows. That simply will not work.”

“This is yet another major Labor Party report that highlights the very low water supplies in our area. The Labor Party must now listen to themselves, and reverse their plot to flush our water down to Melbourne.”

The Bureau of Meteorology recently restated that ‘the deficiencies discussed above have occurred against a backdrop of multi-year rainfall deficits and record high temperatures that have severely stressed water supplies in the east and southwest of the country.’

“These severely stressed water supplies – which Labor’s own report says will be stressed more in the future – cannot sustain piping water to Melbourne. It is not surprising to realise that if inflows drop, outflows must also drop,” Mrs Mirabella said.

A copy of the statement is available at http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/tr20080205.pdf

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Emergency volunteer support fund now open

“Local organisations throughout the North-East are now able to apply for Australian Government funding through the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund in 2008/09,” Sophie Mirabella, the Federal Member for Indi, said today.

“Volunteer support funding is intended to assist organisations to develop recruitment, retention and training initiatives,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The Coalition Government recognised that emergency volunteers give so freely of their time to protect the lives and property of others, and it is pleasing to see the Labor Party endorse our policy.”

Eligible volunteer emergency management organisations throughout the North-East are encouraged to apply. Applications for funding through the initiative will close on 7 March 2008.

“Since the introduction of the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund by the Coalition, 595 projects have been funded to a total value of $15.3 million.”

“I am particularly pleased to see the level of response by volunteer groups.”

“There are up to 500,000 people in emergency response and recovery activities across the nation who can utilise the fund to prepare their pool of willing people for a whole range of possible emergencies.”

Details of the program, including guidelines and application forms can be found on the EMA website at www.ema.gov.au/communityengagement.

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Take the heat out of exercise

“A guide for school teachers, children, parents and all sports people on how to play sport and exercise safely in hot weather will be distributed to all North-East schools this month,” Sophie Mirabella, the Federal Member for Indi, said today.

“The North-East obviously has a lot of hot weather, and our children need to be able to enjoy playing without suffering from it,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“That doesn’t mean we have to give up our sport or our exercise, but to play and exercise safely in hot weather we have to understand the dangers of heat stress and how to react.”

The previous Howard Government provided funding to Sports Medicine Australia to update the brochure to reflect the latest research on heat injuries as part of the National Smartplay program. Copies will be sent to physical education teachers in every school, as well as to sporting organisations, sports stores, pharmacies and health professionals.

Mrs Mirabella said the brochure was relevant to everyone involved with sport and exercise, though children as well as people who were older, overweight or unwell, were also at risk.

“Heat illness can be very serious. While most people recover quickly from heat illness, if the condition remains untreated it can lead to heat stroke and even death,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Beat the Heat suggests that you stop or slow down if you feel unwell while exercising, especially in hot weather.

“Children sweat less and get less evaporative cooling than adults, and should always be allowed to exercise at their preferred level. They should never be urged to exercise harder or forced to play strenuous sport in hot conditions.”

“Most of the advice in the updated Beat the Heat fact sheet involves simple rules of common sense and following this advice should enable Australians of all ages to enjoy the exercise they want and need,” she said.

The Beat the Heat factsheet draws on research recently published in a special edition of the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, devoted exclusively to exercise in hot weather.

It is available at www.sma.org.au or by contacting Sports Medicine Australia.

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