Ebrief #46

Last week was estimates week for the 2008/2009 budget. Theoretically it should be a time when the Opposition and the Crossbenches spend time questioning the government about budget allocations. This is a patchy exercise. My general view as a result of the estimates that I sat on  (Roads, Ports, Finance, the Legislature, Treasury, Premier and Transport) was that the opposition spent too much time regurgitating what was in the media that morning and less time on actually examining the budget.

In the past fortnight:

• as Parliamentary Secretary for Transport I was able to meet with the Planning Institute of Australia and the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW.
• I sat on the inquiry of GPSC #1 into the need for the mini budget - a bizarre exercise where the Opposition wished they were able to ask questions like John Faulkner but instead needed some fairly basic coaching on the basics of the NSW budget.

For those that want to know about some of the issues in more detail that are impacting on NSW, it is worth checking out the full NSW Budget estimates website where the transcripts of each of the portfolios can be found.

Two significant Labor legislative reforms over the past fortnight included the decriminalisation of abortion in Victoria and the passing of GLBT law reform federally that recognises same-sex couples as parents for the first time.

Video of the week: Yes these people are serious -- Socialist-Marxist-Communist, Say Hello to Michelle Obama. And because John McCain is not getting enough airplay check out the Maverick Rap Song.

Regards

Penny

P.S. As this ebrief is a bit late this fortnight I can include the Premier's announcements on Rail Maintenance and Sydney Ferries.

Government in Action

• Premier Nathan Rees announced that he would be cutting Senior Executive Service positions in the NSW Public Sector by 20% (saving taxpayers about $34 million), and abolished the State Owned Corporation responsible for NSW railways, bringing RailCorp under the direct control of the NSW Government to boost accountability and improve services for the people who use the rail system.
• The Premier also opened up the islands of Sydney Harbour National Park for visitors interested in experiencing their history.
• The Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Tony Stewart, urged women to have a mammogram this October in Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
• Minister for Tourism Jodi McKay said that going surfing was a key attraction for nearly 1 million tourists who visited NSW last year.
• Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald launched National Organic Week and reminded people just how seriously the Government takes illegal fishing as a shop owner was fined $2000 for having a protected specifies for sale in his shop.
• Further sightings of locusts were also verified over the past week and farmers across central and southern NSW were urged to report sightings of locusts, as the Government continues to work with the Rural Lands Protection Boards, the Australian Plague Locust Commission and NSW Farmers to ensure a coordinated and effective response to the locust threat.
• Minister for Community Services Linda Burney told a Parliamentary Estimates Committee that she was concerned by an increase the number of children who had died over the past 12 months who had been reported to the Department of Community Services. Minister Burney also expressed her concern at figures indicating that nearly one in five calls to the DoCS helpline related to drug and/or alcohol abuse by the  carer.  
• The Department of Community Services has put out an Expression of Interest for panels of legal experts to support the Department when taking legal action to place children and young people in out-of-home care.
• Minister Burney also announced $1.27 million in funding to provide services to families with young children in Sydney's north.
• Finance Minister Joe Tripodi praised the entries for this year's WorkCover Safe Work Awards and Ports and Waterways Minister Joe Tripodi announced that 70 applications have been received for new recreational boating infrastructure projects across NSW.
• The Government is expanding its Anti-Social Behaviour Project to Leichhardt in a bid to reduce anti-social behaviour by young people in the area.
• Minister for Youth, Graham West, encouraged young people to join a special on-line forum to share their experiences of cyberbullying - in an attempt to address and understand the problem, and Minister for Volunteering Graham West launched a new book Volunteering: Why We Can't Survive Without It - which looks at the history of volunteering in Australia and its importance to our society.
• Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Mental Health), Barbara Perry launched a new early intervention program designed to help preschoolers overcome severe anti-social and disruptive behaviour.

Committes wanting to hear from you

• Inquiry into New South Wales planning framework, closes 12 December.
• Inquiry into Governance of NSW universities, closes 16 February.

Take action

Rainbow Labor Fundraiser

2008 has been a significant year for GLBT law reform.  Join Rainbow Labor, and special guest Federal Attorney General Robert McClelland, to raise a glass in celebration of the Labor Party's GLTB law reforms so far.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 31, 7pm for 7:30pm, Charles Hewitt Gallery, 335 South Dowling Street, Darlinghurst. Check out the invite here.

Tickets $60 waged, $40 unwaged, includes a sumptuous stand-up dinner and glass of sparkling on arrival / cash bar available.  RSVP by october 20 rainbow [dot] labor [at] gmail [dot] com.

Making Women Count

Join the Women's Electoral Lobby, NSW and Jessie Street National Women's Library to celebrate the publication of Making Women Count: A History of the Women's Electoral Lobby on Friday 24 October 2008, 5.30pm at the Jessie Street National Women's Library.

RSVP by 22 October to Joan Bielski on 9437 6916 or jmbielski [at] optusnet [dot] com [dot] au

Think Before you speak

Check out this great US campaign to help stop homophobia in schools. The campaign includes TV ads featuring US celebrities (including Hilary Duff), information for students and teaching resources.

Check out: http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/   

Quotes of the fortnight (from Estimates hearings)

The Hon John DELLA BOSCA: Dr Kaye, I was not being sarcastic - you are far too sensitive. I was being genuine. I am not channelling Michael Costa. I am just being me.

- The Minister for Health, is not channelling Michael Costa.

____________

Dr MATTHEWS: I think your words were, "according to my calculations", and you looked at your papers, "we are $56 million short" so I would be interested in looking at your calculations.
The Hon. MELINDA PAVEY: I will give you mine. Will you give me yours?
Dr MATTHEWS: That sounds like an invitation I cannot possibly refuse.

- This contribution from the National Party shows their level of serious interest in the matters of state