Country Labor dialogue

C onn e ct i ng C o u ntr y C o m m u n i t i e s – a p r i l 2 0 1 0

Premier continues support

for Country NSW
Premier Kristina Keneally continued her support for country
NSW last month with visits to Kiama and Port Macquarie.
Premier Keneally travelled to
Kiama to announce $59,000
in funding to help Southern
Highlands and South Coast
dairy farmers improve their
waste management. She also
met with local MP, Matt Brown.
The funding will allow for important
upgrades to waste management
systems to ensure waste does not
escape into nearby creeks and
rivers – protecting the flow into the
Sydney Catchment area.
Premier Keneally also visited near Kiama.
Premier Keneally with Matt Brown MP and a local dairy farmer
Port Macquarie to open 5km of
dual carriageway on the Pacific
Highway. This meant faster and
safer travel during the Easter
holidays.
This 5km stretch is part of a
$555 million, 33km upgrade
expected to be completed by
July 2010.
During her visit to Port Macquarie
the Premier also made time to
meet local branch members.

Premier Keneally meets Port Macquarie branch members.

Boost for
public
libraries
Minister for the Arts,
Virginia Judge announced
funding for 44 new library
projects are part of the NSW
Government’s $3.3 million
Library Development Grants.
Virginia Judge said the Keneally
Government was spending
$25.5 million on supporting
and developing public libraries
across the State in 2009-10.
“Libraries are the lifeblood
of our communities, bringing
collections alive through
exhibitions, public events,
community learning, outreach
programs and online.
“At the heart of the Keneally
Government’s plan to deliver
first-class services in the arts
and cultural sector is our
network of 368 public libraries
and 27 mobile libraries,”
Virginia said.
The Keneally Government is
working to:
Help public libraries to
improve their buildings and
collections;
Provide specialist services
to children, young adults,
seniors, indigenous and
multicultural groups;
Maintain opening hours;
Improve technical
infrastructure; and
Undertake library research
and promotional activities.
“I am determined to ensure all
NSW communities have access
to state-of-the-art library
facilities, regardless of their
location,” Virginia Judge said.
Raymond Terrace Police
Station Construction begins
Minister for Police Michael Daley “They’re already doing a great job
and Member for Maitland Frank with the most recent Bureau of Crime
Terenzini inspected construction Statistics and Research Quarterly
work at the new Raymond Terrace Report showing that crime has fallen or
Police Station site, as the concrete remained stable in all 17 major crime
was poured for the station’s categories across the Port Stephens
foundations. Local Area Command,” Frank Terenzini
said.
Michael Daley said the new $13 million
NSW Government funded police station “This new station will provide Police with
would provide local police with the best the equipment, resources and support
facilities and resources available. they need to continue the excellent
work they do in keeping our community
“The state-of-the-art station will house
safe,” Frank said.
almost 120 officers and support staff
from the Port Stephens Local Area
Command,” he said.
State-wide, the NSW Government’s
investment in the construction and
redevelopment of police stations is
supporting up to 3,000 jobs in the
construction industry.
Member for Maitland Frank Terenzini
welcomed the new world-class facilities
and resources for local Police.
“This new police station for Maitland
is an exciting project for our area and
Minister Daley and Frank
will help our local police continue their Terenzini in turn
the first sod on the new
Raymond Terrace
excellent work in driving down crime. Police Station.
Supporting community halls
Minister for Rural Affairs Steve NSW Government will spend
Whan has announced that 67 $4.5 million over 5 years to ensure
country halls will share more that these communities have a hall
than $1.5 million in funding for that they can use with pride.
renovations and upgrades. Some examples of halls receiving
upgrades include the Loomberah
The funding is part of the NSW
Government’s Country Hall Renewal Hall Committee, which is receiving
Package – 43 halls received $38,340 for a new kitchen and
funding in 2009. other renovations enabling it to hold
functions and family gatherings. The
“The Country Hall Renewal Package is Hinton School of Arts is receiving
about helping small communities $28,677 to repaint the building,
in NSW spruce up their facilities so as well as reinforcing a critical wall.
that everyone in these towns can get
the most use out of their local halls,” “These grants will make a big
Minister Whan said. difference to small communities,”
Steve Whan said.
New outback campaign to boost
regional tourism
Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay travelled to Lightning Ridge to meet with tourism
operators and officially launch a new $296,000 Outback NSW tourism campaign.
Minister Jodi McKay with local tourism operator Gale Collins
in Lightning Ridge.
“Industry events like this week’s
CountryLink Outback Tourism
Symposium play an important
role in bringing tourism
operators together with business
networks and local government,
to discuss new ideas about
how best to promote regional
tourism,” Jodi McKay said.
More rest stops for regional NSW
Truck drivers will soon have
more safe places to pull over
and take a break or catch up on
their sleep.
This follows the approval of funding
to build 4 new rest stops and upgrade
10 others along the State’s busiest
highways.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport
Minister Anthony Albanese
announced details of the NSW
projects under the second and final
round of the $70 million Heavy Vehicle
Safety and Productivity Program.
Outback NSW offers tourists a truly
unique Australian experience, with
friendly outback towns and pubs,
opal mines and iconic Australian
wildlife all in a spectacular
landscape.
Jodi McKay said the new
campaign was being supported
with $112,000 from the NSW
“The Rudd Labor Government
will invest $9.7 million to build
and upgrade rest stops along
the Hume, Mitchell, New
England, Newell, Princes and
Golden highways, with the
NSW Government matching our
funding,” said Minister Albanese.
“By working together the
governments of Australia are providing
truck drivers with more opportunities
to get the rest they need, making our
roads safer for all users.”
Government’s Regional Partnership
Funding Program.
Country Labor Duty MLC for
Barwon, Christine Robertson said
the success of last year’s Darling
River Run campaign made a
significant contribution to growth in
tourism numbers in the region.
“The NSW State Government
contributed $63,000 in funding
to support efforts to promote
the Darling River Run, and to
encourage more people to visit and
stay longer in Outback NSW.
“The new Outback NSW campaign
will build on this by offering some
great deals for visitors.
Outback NSW received more than
614,000 visitors in 2009 who spent
1.6 million nights in the region
and injected more than $227
million into the local economy,”
Jodi McKay said.
NSW Minister Assisting the Minister
for Transport and Roads David
Borger said the new and upgraded
rest stops, funding has also been
allocated to strengthen the Hunter
River Bridge at Denman on the
Golden Highway.
This investment will allow bigger,
heavier trucks to use the bridge,
thereby reducing travel times
between Branxton and Dunedoo
in the State’s west.
Orana Branch formed One in 3 NSW
households
Country Organiser Courtney Roche recently
travelled to Wongarbon for the formation meeting eligible for
of the Orana Branch. energy rebate
from 1 July
this year
The NSW Government is
providing direct help for
families to help them pay
their energy bills.

Orana Branch. From 1 July 2010, more than

Country Organiser Courtney Roche with members of the new
1 million households will
be eligible for the NSW
Government’s energy rebate
The meeting was well attended and now members are starting scheme.
preparations for the Federal election campaign.
For families and pensioners
in financial need, the NSW

Country Labor
Government will provide up to
$480 a year in energy vouchers.

tells Nationals to pick Rebates are also available for

people with certain medical

up their game conditions and for those on life

The NSW Legislative Assembly
passed a motion calling on the
Nationals to pick up their game.
The motion followed a string of bad
performances from the Nationals. A
Morgan Poll has shown them being
almost wiped out completely.
Minister for Rural Affairs Steve
Whan said voters are protesting
against the Nationals for turning
their back on regional economies
and communities.
The Nationals are a shadow of
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their former selves failing to offer
alternatives or achieve anything.
This is the same party that held
their 2008 conference in Kirribilli
rather than in a rural community.
The motion called on the Nationals
to put politics aside and start acting
in the interest of regional NSW.
“If they don’t pick up their game,
they will continue to reinforce the
stereotypes that they are ‘Pitt Street
farmers’,” Steve Whan said.
support or dialysis.
New legislation will be
introduced requiring retailers to
publish their prices in a standard
format, and these will then be
published on an easy-to-use
price comparison website to
help families get the best deal.
The NSW Government has set
aside $800 million over 5 years
to help families and businesses
cope with rising energy costs.
Families should contact their
retailers and ask about payment
options, check if you are
eligible for one or more of the
rebates available and if you’re
not being treated fairly,
contact the Energy and
Water Ombudsman.