budget

This week will be the first time the Opposition will be able to take the O'Farrell government ministers through their paces at Estimates hearings.  Six months into a Coalition government we'll find out which Ministers will sink or swim.
 
If you are a Labor party member you should have received your ballot papers for National President. There are 6 candidates. Rainbow Labor has surveyed the candidates on issues like marriage equality, anti-discrimination legislation and reaching out to GLBTI communities. You can check out their responses here. Voting closes Friday, 18 November.
 
In NSW the ballot for the new Policy forum is now open. There are 63 candidates vying for 16 positions. You can vote online or via postal vote.  This ballot is important as those elected will have a key role in shaping the state platform before the next state election. Rainbow Labor also surveyed these candidates. You need to cast your vote by 7 November.
 
This weekend I'll be joining a cross-party group of MPs, a selection of journos and parliament house staff in the Dragon Boat Regatta at Darling Harbour. The Paddling Pollies are raising funds for Dragons Abreast who raise money for breast cancer awareness and support breast cancer survivors. If you can sponsor our efforts, please do.
 
Last week I hosted a gathering of Balmain Labor Party members at Parliament House to celebrate 120 years of the Balmain Branch. Tanya Plibersek and Verity Firth were our special guests. This is the speech I made in the parliament celebrating this important milestone.
 
Speech of the week: Luke Foley lays out the case against Nick Greiner and his many conflicts as head of Infrastructure NSW.
 
Website of the week: The Power Index. If you are interested in who influences whom in NSW. This is well worth a read.

Regards
Penny
 
PS: This year is the 40th anniversary of the landmark Levine ruling that underpins access to safe abortions in NSW. Congratulations to WAAC for hosting a forum yesterday to draw attention to the importance of this milestone and to continue to work towards removal of abortion from the criminal code in NSW.

What's the NSW Labor Opposition been up to over the past fortnight?
 

• The Opposition introduced legislation to force the Government to put any proposal for electricity privatisation to the Parliament.
• Shadow Minister for Regional Infrastructure & Services, Mick Veitch exposed the Regional Relocation Grant scheme as a big flop.
• Shadow Treasurer, Michael Daley said that Barry O'Farrell's proposal to hike the GST from its current rate of 10 percent shows breathtaking disregard for families.
• Shadow Education Minister, Carmel Tebbutt said that the O'Farrell Government has failed to guarantee academics and students a stronger voice on university boards.
• Shadow Environment Minister, Luke Foley, said the Opposition would not support the O'Farrell Government's legislation to delay national park declarations at the Yathong and Wilbertroy State Forests.
• Shadow Minister for Families and Community Services, Barbara Perry, exposed the move to cut allowances for foster parents who adopt a child in their care.
• The Opposition supported legislation to make sure NSW families know eggs they are buying are accurately labelled as free range, barn, organic or caged eggs. 

 
Meanwhile, the Government continues its attacks on workers in this state:

• By closing the Cronulla Fisheries Centre and slashing 147 jobs,
• As well as their surprise attack on the wages and conditions of 10,000 TAFE teachers - by introducing new laws to remove them from the State Industrial Relations system.

 
And the Government keeps on breaking their own election promises, including:

• Deliberately misleading the public over its electricity dividend broken promise,
• Failing to protect Central Coast waterways – with the Government admitting it will reconsider a proposal to revive the Wallarah 2 coalmine plan, and
• Delaying the connection of 820 south west Sydney households to the sewerage network.

What's happening in my duty electorates?
 

The Opposition issued a call for papers in the upper house for all papers related to the Budget. I spent some more time over the past week digging through boxes of paper to uncover the Government's budget reports for capital projects and programs in each of my Duty Electorates.

Any member of the public may come to the Parliament to view these documents, I have provided these reports for each of my duty electorates:

• Balmain
• Bega
• South Coast
• Sydney (part 1) and (part 2)
• Willoughby

*** Penny in the Parliament
 

I led for the Opposition in the Universities Governing Bodies  Bill and TAFE Amendment (Staff Employment) Bill debates. I asked the Government a Question without Notice about the Hunter Express Way.

*** Take Action

Rainbow Labor invites you to "Stand Up for Marriage Equality"

Hosted by Julie McCrossin with special guest the Hon. Kristina Keneally MP.

With the ALP National Conference less than a month away, Rainbow Labor wants YOU to put your money where your mouth is and stand up for marriage equality!

In return we promise good company, live entertainment, and a great start to your Friday night.  

Cost: $40 / $10 concession (drinks & nibbles). PAY ON THE DOOR.
When: 6pm – 8pm, Friday 4 November Where: Level 7, CPSU Offices, 5/191-199 Thomas St, Haymarket
RSVP / info: cathyxbrown@gmail.com 
or 0415 525 344

Rainbow Labor is also looking for 5 volunteers to help out on the night. If you can help out on 4 November please contact cathyxbrown@gmail.com.    

 
Reclaim the Night Rally 2011 Friday 28th October 2011

Reclaim the Night is a global women’s protest against men’s sexual violence held on the last Friday in October each year. This year the march will begin at 6pm at Town Hall, route TBA. Speakers include Nina Funnell, Mish Glitter Pony and Karen Willis from the NSW Rape Crisis Centre.

More info and to RSVP, click on the Facebook Page. For info about Reclaim the Night, check out: http://www.isis.aust.com/rtn/

*** Committees

Inquries receiving submissions:

Inquiry into Inclusion of donor details on the register of births, closes 21 December.

This inquiry is a current Legislative Assembly inquiry conducted by the Law and Safety Committee.  

The Committee is conducting an inquiry into whether there should be provision for the inclusion of donor details on the register of births maintained by the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.


Other Inquiries receiving submissions:

• Inquiry into Opportunities to consolidate tribunals in NSW, closes 25 October.
• Inquiry into Kooragang Island Orica chemical leak, closes 4 November.

*** Quote

It wasn't picked up by Hansard, but new Liberal Upper House member Scot Macdonald was overheard during Question Time calling the Greens' Jeremy Buckingham:

"Alan Jones' lap dog"

following a question about a forum organised by the Mullaley Gas Pipeline Accord and the Caroona Coal Action Group which was hosted by Alan Jones.

The first O'Farrell budget was delivered this week with much fanfare and general backslapping from the conservative side of politics. This edition of Red Leather aims to give you the view from the Labor Opposition.

On Tuesday our initial reaction was outlined in this media release. The biggest losers in this budget are:

• 70,000 pensioners will see their public housing rents increase by almost $10 per week –one third of their pension increase;


• Foster carers will have their allowances cut by more than $212 a fortnight when their child turns 16;


• New carers who adopt children and young people in out of home care will have their allowances reduced;


• There will be a $12 increase in electricity bills, on top of Barry O'Farrell's decision to increase electricity prices by 18 per cent on July 1;


• Water prices likely to increase as a result of privatisation of Sydney Desalination Plant;


• Parents will be forced to pay new fees for State-run pre-schools;


• First homebuyers will miss out on stamp duty concessions worth tens of thousands of dollars for young families; and


• Further budget cuts have been identified in key agencies including Family and Community Services and Education.

Today, John Robertson gave the address in reply.  

Kristina Keneally also wrote an interesting piece for ABC Unleashedwhich is also well worth a read.

The biggest cuts in the budget will be in the detail. The government believes that it can find $8billion in savings over the next four years. Time will reveal these cuts and the NSW community will suffer the consequences.

Regards
Penny

PS –I am pleased to report that the upgrade to my website, database and email service is nearly complete. This e-brief comes out fortnightly. If you are receiving for the first time and no longer wish to you can unsubscribe from this list. Feedback is always welcome.

GOVERNMENT BUDGET DOCUMENTS

For all the budget papers, check the Treasury website: http://www.budget.nsw.gov.au/.

For each portfolio the media releases can be found here: http://www.budget.nsw.gov.au/media

Remember that it is often what is not in the budget rather than what is that tells the real story.

The Opposition's response:

• O'Farrell uses first budget to hurt most vulnerable


• Barry O’Farrell fails the Central Coast- Roads funding to be cut by more than $40 million


• Hundreds of millions missing from NSW hospital capital works– and no start date for major hospital upgrades


• New Education Minister deserves an F for fail- More than $260 million in cuts  to Education


• Heartless budget coincides with Child Protection Week


• Up to 95,000 first home buyers to be hit with stamp duty tax– they'll pay an extra $10,000 - $20,000 under O'Farrell


• Barry O’Farrell fails the Illawarra- Transport funding to be cut by $50 million –and the Illawarra Advantage fund feared axed


• $53 million cut to DPI – budget does nothing to quell fears on jobs and services cuts


• Premier turns his back on Western Sydney: Commuter car parks axed – Roads funding slashed – Cancer Care Centre and Hospital Beds Cut


• Premier turns back on the Hunter: Hospitals axed – Infrastructure Funding Slashed – Cancer Care Centre and Hospital Beds Cut


•  The O'Farrell Government confirmed it has no vision for nature conservation in NSW
   

FOCUS ON TRANSPORT

For Transport this budget contains:

• more broken promises than kept ones,  including the slashing of commuter carparks, transport interchanges and failure to deliver new express services and accessible stations.


• far too much talk and far too little action on issues like light rail where the Lilyfield to Dulwich Hill timeframe has been extended and the much planned and supported Greenway has been "deferred" indefinitely. Lots of money spent on feasibility studies for the CBD, Eastern Suburbs, Sydney Uni and the North Coast.


• a complete failure to deal with the issue of congestion on the CityRail network – an issue that will impact on travel time, safety and the ability to deliver additional services in the future


• very little for regions like the Hunter, Central Coast and the Illawarra and even less for rural NSW

WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET FOR MY DUTY ELECTORATES?

• In Balmain, the Government canned the Greenway, but provided funding for the design and construction of the Barangaroo headland park, an upgrade of the Balmain Western Corner storage (Sydney Ferries), the Passenger cruise terminal at White Bay and the White Bay Power Station Heritage Conservation.


• The Narooma News gave a good outline of what's in the State Budget for Bega, but Andrew Constance continues to take credit for Labor initiatives including funding for planning for Bega Hospital and Prices Highway upgrades.  Plus Bega missed out on$7 million of the $17 million of promised funding for the Bega Bypass.


• On the South Coastthere are fears for the future of the Berry office of the Department of Primary Industry, and for some positions at the Nowra head office of the Department of Local Government, $80 million will go towards the Princes Highway but there was nothing for public transport.


• Sydney will get $51 million for the Wynyard Walk to Barangaroo with no plan to get people there by public transport and Willoughby residents will benefit from money going towards an upgrade at Neutral Bay PS.  

QUOTE

Despite the fact he is clearly no fan of the worker, Hon Peter Phelps MLC joined today's protest against Barry O'Farrell's assault on public services.

Phelpsy, as he likes to call himself, offered up the following thoughts on the rally on his facebook page:

"At the union protest, maybe 8000 at best. Mostly bearded weirdos, union hacks and women with grudges. HSU speaker – wonder what she thinks of Thomson."

...and commenting on his own status update...

"Why can't unionists speak proper Englisn [sic] and feel the need to swear."