Red Leather #74

Red Leather #74 - 24 February 2010

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:

• Light Rail extensions -  Dulwich Hill to Circular Quay
• Cycle Ways - $158 million
• 1000 New Buses - $2.9 billion
• Ferries - six more - $225 million
• North West Rail Link
• South West Rail Link
• Western Express CityRail Service
• More rolling stock - carriages $3.1 billion
• Commuter Car Parks $400 million

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 The Tathra SLSC in my duty electorate of Bega has been allocated $96,000 to replace outdated kitchen equipment and upgrade floors, walls and benches to comply with food safety standards.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

• Inquiry into Water Management, closes 26 February.
• Inquiry into Are You Connected?: Telecommunications Availability in Rural and Regional Communities, closes 5 March.
• Inquiry into Transforming Life Outside Cities: the Potential of Broadband Services, closes 5 March.
• Inquiry into Recreational fishing, closes 19 March.

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@gmail.com  for details

In The Loop | Fundraiser for Tanya Plibersek
When | Thursday 4th March, 6pm
Where | Dendy Newtown
Cost | $30/$20 unwaged
RSVP | Click here for booking form then email to tanya4sydney@gmail.com by 2/3/10

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@aucampaignforburma.org