E-Brief #27

E-Brief #27

The election of a Rudd Labor government provides Australia with a unique opportunity for genuine reform of our federation. In areas such as climate change, education, disability services, housing and health this cannot happen soon enough.

The election will be close. If you have any spare time in coming weeks to help out with your local ALP campaign please get in contact with your local candidate via Kevin07.

In the past fortnight I have: toured the Gordon Housing estate in Dubbo, opened the upgrade of Rotary Park in Merimbula and met with Victoria Brookman the Federal candidate for Bradfield through the EMILY's List mentoring program. I have also attended a number of events including:

• the 26^th birthday of Twenty10 at Claire's Kitchen,
• the launch of the NSW Parliament Indigenous Art Prize,
• the LHMU's Cleanstart campaign event as part of anti poverty week
• the formal accreditation ceremony of Parliament House as a Breastfeeding friendly workplace

I have also had many representations in recent time regarding the options being proposed for older drivers. You may also be interested in a paper that has been prepared by the Parliamentary Library.

Regards
Penny

PS Best video of the fortnight goes to the axis of awesome for their Rudd v Howard clip. Others worth a look are what have the unions ever done for us, off and running and another day another scare campaign. Doing a Howard (language warning on this one)

Budget Estimates 2007-2008

This week the Estimates Committees have started. Transcripts of these give a good overview of current issues in various areas of State government. So far the transcripts available are examinations for spending in the following portfolio areas:

• The Premier and Citizenship,
• Fair Trading, Youth, and Volunteering,
• Water Utilities and Emergency Services,
• Planning, Redfern Waterloo, Arts,
• Transport and Finance, and
• Housing and Tourism.

As more become available, they will be published on the NSW Parliament's dedicated Committees website.

Press Releases

Government In Action

• Nominations have opened for the NSW Premier's Council for Women.
• The Premier has announced a comprehensive overhaul of Cityrail services.
• The NSW Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos, announced new rules to protect vulnerable witnesses in court, new laws to confiscate graffitti vandalists' paint, stricter rules in sentencing, and a new scheme of scholarships to encourage Aboriginal students into tertiary education.
• The Premier announced new laws to protect victims of sexual assault by clarifying the meaning of consent.
• Community Services Minister Kevin Greene announced a new scheme to better measure the benefits of proposed child welfare programmes.
• Minister Verity Firth marked the inaugural Ride to Work day, congratulated NSW for leading the world in cancer research and treatment.
• Kristina Keneally, the Disability Services Minister, announced the release of the first tickets to the Premier's Christmas Concert, encouraged residents of NSW to get involved in Carers' Week (14-20 October), and called on the Commonwealth to match funding for supported accomodation and respite services.
• National Safe Work Australia Week will be held from 21 to 27 October, and the Minister for Industrial Relations encouraged workplaces to take part.
• Sharks will be protected under a new programme for sustainable harvesting announced by the Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald.
• The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be strengthened and upgraded, announced the Minister for Roads, Eric Roozendaal, who also congratulated the RTA on their successful "little pinkie" anti-speeding campaign.
• John Watkins, the Minister for Transport, announced the success of the secure taxi ranks programme, and continued the rollout of cash-free buses to cut travelling times in the Sydney CBD.
• The Minister for Housing, Matt Brown, met first home buyers in West Dubbo.

Committees Wanting To Hear From You

Anyone is entitled to make a submission to Parliamentary inquiries. The following committees are now receiving submissions, which you can do using the online form provided:

• Broadband in rural and regional communities.
• Environmental Impact Reporting in the NSW Public Sector.
• the operations of the Home Building Service.
• the prohibition on the publication of names of children involved in criminal proceedings.
• Web Based Annual Reporting in the NSW Public Sector.
• Natural Resource Management (Climate Change).
• Overcoming Indigenous disadvantage.
• State Plan Reporting.
• Young Driver Safety and Education Programs.

Some information about how the committees work and how submissions should be prepared is available here.

Penny In Parliament

The Legislative Council has been sitting during the last week and will be sitting again in the week coming up. During the last week I've made a number of speeches. I've spoken on the Budget Estimates and Related Papers, on the Christian Israelite Church Property Trust Bill, on the Associations Incorporation Amendment, and last of all on the second reading of, and debate on, the Motor Dealers Amendment Bill 2007, and on amendments to it.

The full daily Hansard of the NSW Parliament can be viewed here.

Take Action

• Register your support for paid maternity leave with the National Foundation for Women's Online Petition.
• Keep up to date throughout the election with the campaigns run under the Your Rights At Work banner.
• The Office of Fair Trading wants to hear from you on residential tenancy.
• Support Kevin07.

Events

• Support George Newhouse's Campaign Office opening in Wentworth with Julia Gillard, Deputy Labor Leader
  Monday, 22nd Oct at 6pm
• Drinks with Peter Garrett
  Friday 26th Oct at 7pm
• Lindsay Tanner Fundraiser
  Tuesday, 30 October 7pm