Penny Sharpe MLC

Red Leather #75 - now available

2010-03-16T18:15:26-06:00

Happy International Women's Day. As this event grows every year in NSW there were many different events at local and state level. The parliament spent some time talking about IWD and women.

I was fortunate to host the Women in Local Government Awards at parliament house. Congratulations especially to Mayor Jenny Dowell from Lismore and Mayor Jean Hay from Manly whose long time contribution to local government was recognised.

The focus of much work at the moment is the Prime Minister's plan to reform health. NSW is participating in this process. Premier Keneally wrote to the PM to outline NSW's position. I have introduced a new section to the ebrief that will focus on a portfolio area each edition. This week it is health. Please take the opportunity to comment, there is a website specifically seeking your views.

Video of the week: Has to be Julie Bishop on Q&A and the death stare.

Website of the Week: Check out this new site Call To Greatness to mobilise young people to support youth charities. Also, in case you have not seen it, the Premier has a new website.

Regards
Penny

PS - I was disappointed to see that the religious right of the Liberal Party has forced a conscience vote on the establishment of a relationship register. Here is a copy of my media release.

PPS - Welcome to the new people receiving this newsletter. Red Leather is my fortnightly enews with info on what is happening in NSW - the focus is on government action that has not received alot of mainstream media attention. It also alerts you to inquiries seeking your input, interesting community campaigns and activities. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter you can unsubscribe at the bottom of this email. I always welcome your feedback - good, bad or indifferent.

Red Leather #74 - 24 February 2010

2010-03-11T16:29:37-07:00

On Sunday the NSW Government released the Metropolitan Transport Plan. There is an interactive online site called shapeyourstate that provides all the information about the plan, online discussion forums and information about how to make a submission.

For an overview of the plan check out the Transport Overview Statement. The whole plan will be overseen by the Sydney Metropolitan Development Authority.

Other key elements of the plan include:

The plan is fully funded and comes with a detailed funding statement.

The opportunity to have your say about the plan is now. To make a submission or join the online forums go to http://www.shapeyourstate.nsw.gov.au/

Video of the week: For something completely not about transport a very funny take on leadership.

Regards

Penny

PS The Premier’s Council for Women is currently running a survey about women and paid work. There is a short survey that they would like women in NSW to fill out. Please do the survey yourself and send it your friends.

Government in action

The NSW Government has this week announced that it will introduce legislation to create a Relationships Register making it easier for committed unmarried couples to access legal
entitlements and prove they are in committed or de facto relationships.
The NSW Register will be modelled on key aspects of registers already
in place in the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania.

The NSW Government has announced that twenty
surf lifesaving clubs across NSW will share in $2 million dollars worth
of funding to be used on major infrastructure projects. The Tathra
SLSC in my duty electorate of Bega has been allocated $96,000 to
replace outdated kitchen equipment and upgrade floors, walls and
benches to comply with food safety standards.

The
Attorney General John Hatzistergos has
urged neighbours feuding over issues such as fences or barking dogs to
settle their disputes through Community Justice Centres.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Health Carmel Tebbutt has released the latest quarterly performance report which shows that emergency departments are performing well despite a rise in presentations.

The NSW Government has announced that the rate peg for 2010/11 will be 2.6 per cent. The rate-peg sets the maximum income that NSW councils can collect from rate revenue.

Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan has announced natural disaster declarations
for the Bega and Eurobodalla local government areas, in Southern NSW.
Damage caused by heavy rainfall over the last week has been made worse
by torrential falls over both Shires in a short amount of time.

Minister for Police Michael Daley has welcomed the Australian Bureau of Statistics Crime Victimisation 2009 survey,
which demonstrates the significant impact the NSW Government’s policies
and the hard work of the NSW Police Force have had in driving down
crime rates. With the exception of motor vehicle theft, every crime category NSW was below the Australian average.

The NSW Governor Marie Bashir has signed off on the State Government’s new child restraint rules.
The changes, announced last year, are based on national safety
regulations and will come into operation in NSW on 1 March 2010.

The NSW Government has helped Bondi stage an international skateboarding competition,
providing
the event with $5,000 in funding. The Bondi Bowl-a-rama took place at
the Bondi Beach Skatepark on Queen Elizabeth Drive on Saturday February
20.

NSW Minister for Finance Michael Daley has launched a state-of-the-art mobile screening service that will help with the early detection of work related respiratory disease.
The NSW Dust Diseases Board’s mobile respiratory service, a new ‘Lung
Bus’, increases the accessibility of screening and testing for workers,
particularly those in regional New South Wales.

New regulations recently gazetted will strengthen the Working With Children Check system and better protect children in workplaces when they come into effect next month.

Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Frank Sartor, has called for nominations for the NSW Premier’s Award for Outstanding Cancer Researcher of 2010. The award recipient receives a grant of $50,000 from the Cancer Institute NSW.

Minister for Primary Industries Steve Whan has announced the creation of a new NSW fruit, nicknamed ‘the Pleach’, following the accidental crossing of a plum and a peach by a retired farmer near Mudgee.

NSW country councils have been congratulated
by
Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly. The Local Development Performance
Monitoring Report shows that they’re leading the way when it comes to
processing development applications, with Temora, Urana, Berrigan, Hay
and Cootamundra the top five centres in the state.

Minister for State and Regional Development Ian Macdonald and Minister for the Arts Virginia Judge have announced $2.25 million in additional State Government funding for the Sydney Film Festival – Australia’s oldest continuous film festival.

Committees wanting to hear from you

Take Action

Comment on the NSW Cancer Plan
You can do it online: http://www.cancerplan.cancerinstitute.org.au/

Evatt Foundation Event
In conversation with Mick Dodson and Henry Reynolds about Reconciliation: the way ahead.
When | 7:00-8:30, Monday 8 March
Where | Sydney Trades Hall, Sussex St, Sydney

Rainbow Labor Mardi Gras Float
It's not too late to come in the Rainbow Labor Float for Mardi Gras this Saturday.
Contact Claire Stimpson: 0434 844 578 | rainbowlabor [at] gmail [dot] com for details

Public Screening of the Oscar Nominated Documentary 'Burma VJ'
Burma
Campaign Sydney and the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies are
hosting a screening of 'Burma VJ' followed by a Q&A session.

'Burma VJ' is a powerful film that tells the story of Burma's Saffron
Revolution and the journalists that risked their safety and freedom to
tell this story. This is the only screening in Sydney before the Oscars
on March 7th.

Date | 4th March 2010
Time | 6:00pm
Venue | Footbridge Theatre, the University of Sydney
Cost | $10.00

Tickets can be purchased online or by calling Burma Campaign Sydney on 02 9264
7694 or at the door. For more information please email zetty [at] aucampaignforburma [dot] org

Comment on the NSW Cancer Plan by 7 March 2010

2010-02-14T16:18:36-07:00

The NSW Government yesterday launched the NSW Cancer Plan 2011 - 2015.

Previous plans have resulted in major improvements in cancer prevention, including:

- adult smoking rates have dropped by 4 per cent to 18.4 per cent;

- youth smoking rates have reduced by almost half to 8.6 per cent; and

- cancer mortality rates fell by 12.9 per cent in males and 6.4 in females (last 10 years)

The NSW Cancer Plan 2011 - 2015 focuses on five areas:

- Prevention - such as tobacco control, UV radiation and lifestyle factors like obesity and diet;

- Early detection - smaller cancers detected early result in greater survival rates;

- Improved services and professional development - smarter models of
care, identification of better clinical practices and improving skills
of cancer professionals;

- Research - acceleration of better cancer control is driven by new cancer research discoveries; and

- Improved data and information - clinical progress from diagnosis to
treatment and subsequent survival depends on registries which collected
detailed and timely information.

Community members, non-government organisations, health
professionals, patients and carers are encouraged to comment at
www.cancerplan.cancerinstitute.org.au. Submissions close on Sunday 7 March 2010.

Red Leather #73 - first of 2010 now available

2010-02-11T18:43:46-07:00

Welcome to the first edition of Red Leather for 2010. The NSW political year begins with a new Premier and an opposition at war with itself over preselections while Barry O'Farrell ducks and runs overseas.

Transport remains a key focus of the government. The new transport plan is still under consideration by cabinet and is expected to be released before the end of February. In the meantime the government will implement the new streamlined new ticketing system called Myzone. It is a system of integrated ticketing between rail, bus and ferry and caps the weekly fares to $57 per week.

I have spent the last few weeks involved with the inquiry into the taxi industry. If you are interested the transcripts are available here. The committee is due to report in April. February in Sydney is dominated by Chinese New Year and the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

There are many activities and events you can get involved with, I have provided a list below.

Website of the week: the Myzone website gives you all the info you need about the new streamlined integrated ticketing system coming into effect on 18 April.

Video of the week: Here are two that are promoting Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras - one is a flash mob at Bondi Beach - the other is the promo video done for overseas visitors.

Regards

Penny

P.S. Check out the new SydneyGreenMap that provides a one stop shop for information about dozens of Sydney's recreational places, including parks, beaches, walking tracks, and reserves.

P.P.S In early January the Premier announced changes to the allocation of Parliamentary Secretary positions, get the full list here.

READ MORE >>>>>

MyZone: Better, Simpler and Easier ticketing for Trains, Buses and Ferries.

2010-01-31T18:01:32-07:00

The Premier and Minister for Transport and Roads today announced a new, streamlined fare structure for our public transport system.

The new fare structure, MyZone, will apply across the entire
CityRail, State Transit, Sydney Ferries and private bus networks in the greater
Sydney region, including the Blue Mountains,
Southern Highlands, Illawarra, Central Coast and the Hunter.

MyZone is based on how far you travel and
includes:

- MyTrain: Five train fare bands instead of the
current 20+;

- MyFerry: Two ferry fare bands instead of the
current five;

- MyBus: Three bus fare bands instead of the
current five, with standard tickets that can be used on both private buses and
State Transit Authority buses for the first time;
and

- MyMulti: Three new ‘all you can travel'
multi-modal passes that cover all three modes of public transport and allow
unlimited travel on buses and ferries, plus travel in three train
zones.

More than nine out of 10 journeys
(94 per cent) across the entire public transport network will be cheaper or the
same price than is currently in place under IPART.

The MyMulti ticket means the most commuters
will pay will be $57 per week, regardless of where or how often they travel on
the network.

MyZone
will use
existing ticketing equipment. The new fare structure is scheduled to commence
on 18 April 2010.

Key
Changes

- For the first time, a MyBus TravelTen can be used on both
private buses and State Transit buses - and there is no need for two different
tickets.

- For the first time, commuters will have the
convenience of purchasing monthly tickets on-line and have them conveniently
mailed to their home.

- Unlimited weekly travel on all buses, trains and
ferries capped at $57 using the MyZone
ticket called MyMulti3

- Blue Travelpass and 2-Zone bus passes no longer
exist. This will mean commuters will use the new MyMulti1, which will give them unlimited
bus and ferry travel, for an additional $6 a week.

- Significant discounts on monthly, quarterly and
yearly tickets will remain, but in some cases the level of discount will be
reduced. For example, a very small minority of monthly rail tickets will
increase by a maximum of $20. It will still be cheaper to purchase ahead of time
than it will be to buy weekly or daily tickets.

- There will be increases to some ferry tickets - this
is the first fare rise for ferries since 2007. Some TravelTen users will see an
increase to their weekly ticket however the affected commuters can use a
MyMulti1.This will give them
unlimited ferry travel for a week. For those who switch from a FerryTen to a
MyMulti, the increase is no more
than $7.50 a week.

What will not
change

- Off-peak return fares will continue to be discounted
by 30 per cent on CityRail services

- Timed ticket products used in Newcastle will remain, but
if travel is required outside the reach of the timed ticket products, then a
MyZone ticket will need to be
purchased.

- $2.50 Pensioner Excursion Ticket
(PET)

- $2.50 Family Funday Sunday ticket;
and

- The School Student Travel Scheme
(SSTS).

For the hundreds of thousands of
longer distance commuters, the yearly savings will be worth hundreds of
dollars.

Example Adult
Weekly Fare

From	To	Mode	Current	New	Ticket
Camden	Town Hall	Bus + Train	$83.40	$57.00	MyMulti 3
Pittwater	Circular Quay	Bus + Ferry	$60.00	$41.00	MyMulti 1
Castle Hill	City	Bus	$50.40	$34.40	MyBus 3
Wyong	Newcastle	Train	$56.00	$56.00	MyTrain 5
Penrith	Circular Quay	Train	$54.00	$47.00	MyTrain 4
Wollongong	Central	Train	$60.00	$56.00	MyTrain 5
Maitland	Newcastle	Train	$43.00	$37.00	MyTrain 3
Rydalmere	Circular Quay	Ferry	$48.10	$41.00	MyMulti 1
Manly	Circular Quay	Ferry	$48.10	$41.00	MyMulti 1

Commuters can continue to use
existing ticketing products until MyZone starts on 18 April 2010. MyZone tickets will be on-sale at outlets
displaying MyZone signage from 3
April and from ticket offices and ticket vending machines from 18 April
2010.

Existing TravelTen products will be
able to be used up until 30^th June 2010, and commuters who have
bought quarterly and yearly tickets can choose to keep their ticket or exchange
it for a new MyZone product.

Final Red Leather for 2009 - now available

2009-12-16T22:51:44-07:00

The end of 2009 proved itself to be yet another example of why just when you think you understand what is happening in politics, it changes before your very eyes.

In NSW we have a new Premier. I would like to record my thanks to Nathan Rees for his hard work and dedication to people in NSW. In his time as Premier, Nathan made an incredible contribution. Nathan Rees;

drove an agenda of openness and transparency that has translated into the best FOI laws in Australia
banned developer donations and pushed to reform political donation laws
prioritised climate change and protecting the environment
guaranteed education and training opportunities to all young people
committed the Government to improving transport across Sydney
found $2 million in government to help the Wayside Chapel rebuild its condemned buildings
cut $600,000 from his media unit to fund homeless services in western Sydney and the inner city
started the process of opening up government data, taking on the hesitance of public agencies and
tirelessly travelled across NSW to talk directly to NSW citizens through an expanded community cabinet and feedback process

As a backbencher I appreciated Nathan's accessibility, his willingness to listen and his energy. Nathan's focus and hard work, in the face of a hostile media, fed often from ill disciplined individuals within the government was exemplary.

The new cabinet has been sworn in. Details can be found here.

Federally saw Tony "People Skills" Abbott accidentally become the federal opposition leader. Some of the strangest outcomes include the re-emergence of Bronwyn Bishop as a frontbencher, a return to the policies of workchoices and the idea that climate change is a left wing conspiracy. If you want to look at the data on climate change check out this contribution from blogger Possum Comitatus on Pollytics.

There has been a change in my office with Cathy Brown taking a position in the office of Verity Firth. I would like to thank Cathy especially for her work on NSW Publicsphere and the support she has given to the myriad of community organisations and individuals who have sought the assistance of my office. I personally thank her for her good humour, mastering of the paper flow within the office and her sense of the absurd on Level 11 in parliament house.

I would like to wish you all a very happy and safe holiday season. Thanks for being part of the Red Leather community. Your feedback is always welcome and encouraged. Red Leather will be back in February.

Regards
Penny

PS Video of the year: In Social Media goes to the Socialnomics Social Media Revolution video. Political video to the Australia Youth Climate Change Coalition for their message to Tony Abbott.

Website of the year: So many to choose from. But I pick the Fed's Gov 2.0 Taskforce. A huge step forward in Australia this year in relation to Gov 2.0. These guys have helped to lead the way. You can still comment on their draft report.

Why the Internet filter is not the solution we wish it was

2009-12-15T20:00:48-07:00

Yesterday's announcement by Senator Stephen Conroy that the federal government will introduce "mandatory ISP-level filtering of Refused Classification (RC) -rated content" is a backward step that if adopted will be a triumph of fear and false promise over what works and good sense.

I add my voice to the many that understand that the Federal Government's proposals to filter the Internet are:

a waste of time
a waste of money
a false promise to parents that will not stop kids being exposed to undesirable content online
a move towards censorship that a democratic and free nation like Australia should reject

The proposed Internet filter creates a diversion from tackling broader issues of how the online environment (which also includes mobile phones and games) is rapidly changing social norms, expectations and behaviour.

There are urgent issues that need to be addressed: protecting children from inappropriate material, protecting privacy, cyberstalking and bullying, how to protect citizens from identity theft to name just a few.

The solution to these issues is not a mandatory filter. The solutions include the far more difficult, time consuming and gradual process of:

education for all citizens, especially parents and kids,
greater policing and investigation
greater resourcing to support families and communities, and
continuous law reform in the areas of privacy and communications.

With the roll out of the national broadband network and laptop computers, Australia has a once in a generation opportunity to roll out mandatory education on how to use IT -grasping the opportunity to enthuse and skill our citizens, at the same time having the one to one conversations about cybersafety and privacy that will have the greatest impact.

As a

parent of young children who is engaged daily on issues of internet use
MP who takes an active interest in child protection laws, policies & practice, and,
legislator who is sometimes asked to consider proposals driven by a desire for short term silver bullets rather than cautious consideration of the evidence and the need to give due consideration to democratic rights and freedoms,

I urge the federal government to consider other options rather than this proposal.

New Ministry Announced

2009-12-07T21:09:59-07:00

The Premier has announced the new ministry in NSW.

NEW SOUTH WALES CABINET LIST OF MINISTERS 8 December 2009
- The Honourable Kristina Kerscher Keneally MP
Premier, and Minister for Redfern Waterloo
- The Honourable Carmel Mary Tebbutt MP
Deputy Premier, and Minister for Health
- The Honourable John Hatzistergos MLC
Attorney General, Minister for Citizenship, Minister for Regulatory Reform, and Vice President of the Executive Council
- The Honourable Eric Michael Roozendaal MLC
Treasurer, and Special Minister of State
- The Honourable David Andrew Campbell MP
Minister for Transport and Roads
- The Honourable Verity Helen Firth MP
Minister for Education and Training
- The Honourable Anthony Bernard Kelly MLC
Minister for Planning, Minister for Infrastructure, and Minister for Lands
- The Honourable Frank Ernest Sartor MP
Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer)
- The Honourable Linda Jean Burney MP
Minister for the State Plan, and Minister for Community Services
- The Honourable Michael John Daley MP
Minister for Police, and Minister for Finance
- The Honourable John Cameron Robertson MLC
Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Energy, and Minister for Public Sector Reform
- The Honourable Ian Michael Macdonald MLC
Minister for State and Regional Development, Minister for Mineral and Forest Resources, and Minister for the Central Coast
- The Honourable Paul Gerard Lynch MP
Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability Services, and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs
- The Honourable Steven James Robert Whan MP
Minister for Primary Industries, Minister for Emergency Services, and Minister for Rural Affairs
- The Honourable Jodi Leyanne McKay MP
Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Hunter, Minister for Science and Medical Research, and Minister for Women
- The Honourable David Lawrence Borger MP
Minister for Housing, Minister for Western Sydney, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport and Roads
- The Honourable Barbara Mazzel Perry MP
Minister for Local Government, Minister Assisting the Minister for Planning, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health)
- The Honourable Phillip John Costa MP
Minister for Water, and Minister for Corrective Services
- The Honourable Kevin Patrick Greene MP
Minister for Gaming and Racing, and Minister for Sport and Recreation
- The Honourable Dianne Virginia Judge MP
Minister for Fair Trading, and Minister for the Arts
- The Honourable Graham James West MP
Minister for Juvenile Justice
- The Honourable Paul Edward McLeay MP
Minister for Ports and Waterways, and Minister for the Illawarra
- The Honourable Peter Thomas Primrose MLC
Minister for Small Business, Minister for Volunteering, Minister for Youth, and Minister Assisting the Premier on Veterans’ Affairs

Red Leather #71 - now available

2009-11-22T19:36:41-07:00

As we swelter in Sydney I am hoping that our federal parliament will pass the ETS legislation this week. The case for action is so very clear and the need is urgent.

The past fortnight in state news has been dominated by the Premier's changes made at the Labor conference, including the ability to pick his own Ministry, the banning of developer donations and the commitment to build the south west rail link.

Other action you may have missed:

The Premier and PM officially opened the 67 turbine Capital Wind Farm near Bungendore. The wind farm boosts wind energy generation in NSW by 700 percent and will provide power to the Sydney Desalination Plant.
A $280 million contract to upgrade broadband for education to revolutionise the delivery of digital education to all public schools and TAFE institutes. The massive program builds on the NSW Government's $158 million Connected Classrooms program and supports the Commonwealth Government's $2.1 billion Digital Education Revolution.
The NSW Government will generate 2,200 jobs for Aboriginal people over the next four years and provide extra funding for Indigenous primary school children struggling with literacy and numeracy.
The NSW Government will return 20,000 hectares of land to the Yuin people on the state's south coast - the single largest Aboriginal land hand back in the State's history.

I also spoke at the Pearcey Foundation's awards at Parliament House.

Video of the week: This is a flash mob on Bondi beach that was done by New Mardi Gras.
Website of the week: Here is where you can get information about fires and emergencies over the summer.

Regards
Penny

>> READ MORE >>>

Free Rail Travel to National Apology

2009-11-10T18:39:23-07:00

The NSW Government has announced it will be offering free return rail travel to Canberra or Sydney to people attending the National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants.

The official invitation issued by the Prime Minister and the Federal Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs will need to be shown on booking CountryLink tickets or used in lieu of a ticket on the CityRail network.

This invitation entitles those attending to up to 2 rail tickets.

To register your interest in attending the Apology and obtain an invitation that can be used for your free train travel, please call the (Federal) Department of Families, Housing and Community Services on 1800 634 147. If you have already registered for the event your invitation should arrive shortly.

You can also call this same number if you have any queries.To book your CountryLink ticket please call 13 22 32 or visit a CountryLink accredited agent. Further details on how and where to book CountryLink tickets are available on the website, www.countrylink.info.

For CityRail timetable information please call 131 500 or visit the website, www.131500.com.au.

Please note that forward and return journeys must be undertaken between Saturday 14 November and Wednesday 18 November 2009. This offer is subject to the availability of seats.

Gross Feed-In Tariff for solar panels

2009-11-09T20:35:35-07:00

The NSW Government has announced a ‘gross' feed-in tariff for NSW households with solar panels.

Solar powered households in NSW will receive among the most generous payments in the nation, with a typical household receiving around $1,500 a year. The seven year scheme will commence on 1 January 2010.

The scheme will act as an incentive for households to take up solar energy, further underpinning jobs in the clean energy industry.

For more information check out this fact sheet.

Red Leather #70 - now available

2009-11-08T21:52:30-07:00

Not sure how we find ourselves in mid November. Every year whizzes by and before I know it I am getting ready for very late night parliamentary sittings as the government seeks to get the rest of our legislation through before the end of the year.

In recent weeks the government has:

been pleased about the progress the NSW economy is making. The number of all property and land sales in NSW has increased 29.4 per cent in the September 2009 quarter compared to the same time last year and residential building approvals have increased 17 per cent above national average.
Announced new safety regulations to target the high rate of injuries from children traveling in cars.
Approved a $150 million, 26 turbine wind farm 12 kilometres west of Glen Innes. The new wind farm had the potential to generate power for more than 25,000 NSW homes
Barangaroo will be a world leading ecological development, with the NSW Government announcing the project will enter the Clinton Climate Initiative's Climate Positive Development Program.
Noted that A national survey by Screen Australia shows that NSW is leading Australia's film and television production. The value of production in NSW for the past financial year was $434 million - or 63% of the national total.

This weekend will be the State Conference of the NSW Labor Party. The rubber will hit the road when conference delegates have to decide what reforms to embrace coming out of the Building a Modern Labor Party consultation and the adoption of a revised platform.

This year the State conference will also feature a fringe program open to the public. I am hosting a Labor 2.0 event on Saturday at lunchtime . Click here for the whole program.

Website of the week: The Crisis of Credit Visulazed. Explained in terms anyone can understand (it's 11 mins though) . Thanks to Matt daSilva for the suggestion.

Video of the week: The NSW Libs - two staffers have quit in the wake of this.

Regards
Penny

WANT TO READ MORE >>>>

Launch of Releasing the pressure on remand

2009-10-27T23:54:30-06:00

This morning I attended the launch of ‘Releasing the pressure on remand: Bail support solutions for children and young people in NSW'.

Authored by Burnside, this paper was prepared following a roundtable with some of NSW peak NGO's and community service provider organisations.

A number of reports have noted the increasing number of children and young people in NSW being held on remand in the state's Juvenile Justice Centres.

There are a combination of factors at play that have lead to this increase - but as Jane Woodruff, CEO of Burnside said this morning, there's no point telling Government's what the problems are (they probably already know), you need to offer them solutions.

This report recommends that young people should have a range of support services available to them throughout their engagement with the juvenile justice system. Including early intervention, mandated support to help them negotiate the legal system as well as, importantly, accommodation options and ongoing support services after court.

Minister for Juvenile Justice, Graham West, was also at this launch this morning. He confirmed this Government's commitment to finding new ways to support young people in the Juvenile Justice system - and announced funding for a trial of supported accommodation services for young people on remand. This is a worthwhile step in the right direction.

NSW Positive Ageing Statement

2009-10-20T19:28:04-06:00

The NSW Government has announced the Positive Ageing Statement which follows on from the 2030: Planning for our Changing Population report. The Statement sets the Government's priorities to ensuring older people in NSW live happy, healthy and fulfilling lives.

Minister for Ageing Paul Lynch has said:

"The fact that people are living longer is a very positive thing. And while an ageing population poses challenges, it presents a range of opportunities and benefits to older people and the community as a whole".

In addition, and to coincide with celebrations for the 2009 International Day of Older Persons, the Government has also announced two new funding initiatives - Positive Ageing grants of up to $50,000 and Applied Research grants of up to $250,000. Applications close 27 November 2009. For more information check out the DADHC website.

Red Leather #69 - now available

2009-10-11T21:23:42-06:00

The last two weeks have been parliament free and very busy. Key government news includes:

The unemployment rate in NSW has fallen from 6.1 per cent to 5.6 per cent. NSW is now below the national average of 5.7 per cent and below Queensland and Western Australia.
The State's AAA credit rating has been confirmed combined with a 25% boost in NSW property sales and figures showing that NSW State Final Demand grew by 0.8 per cent - just above the national growth of 0.7 per cent in Australian domestic final demand.
The NSW Government is also on track to protect the River Red Gums and has welcomed the release of the first independent assessment report on the River Red Gum and Woodland Forests by the Natural Resources Commission.

I attended a Privacy Advisory Committee meeting, farewelled Stevie Clayton as the outgoing CEO of ACON, spoke to a group of MP's and local Councillors from South Africa about local government in Australia, was a guest blogger for Microsoft, co-hosted a talk about approaches to drug law enforcement and launched a fantastic online exhibition in Broken Hill that features the lives of 77 women from the past and the present.

Planning is also underway for some activities for Anti Poverty Week in the Parliament, another Gov 2.0 conference and opening the Apps4NSW competition. I am also working with Tanya Plibersek to have a consultation about lowering the voting age to 16.

The ALP State conference is happening on the 14 and 15 of November. Expect debate about the Building Modern Labor Party Report and the new draft platform.

Video of the Week: Australian Politicians when they were young - little John Faulkner is the funniest.

Website of the Week: NSW Labor MP's are allowing the community to decide how funding for community projects a will be allocated in their local areas. This is being done online. If you live in Marrickville, Menai, Heathcote, Canterbury or Balmain - get online and help decide which local projects get funding - don't forget to let your friends and neighbours know that they can vote as well.

Regards
Penny