nsw

The State Plan was released last week. It sets out very explicitly the goals, priorities and targets for the Iemma Labor Government.

The elements of the plan that I am particularly pleased with are:

• the commitment to strengthen vocational education and training for young people
• the targets for improved health and educational outcomes for indigenous people
• targets to continue to improve numeracy and literacy
• continued focus on the improvement of public transport

John Della Bosca, the NSW Minister for Industrial Relations is getting into the electronic age with his e - newsletter Labourline. Labourline let's you know what the NSW Government is doing to protect workers.

For more info on what's happening for workers you can also check out UnionsNSW very successful Workers Online.

Posted Wednesday 13 September 06

I recently attended a briefing about the development of the state plan. I support an approach that sets out what the government's commitments in a way that is clear and measurable.

At this stage of development I would like to see a clearer focus on specific population groups, in particular women and indigenous people as well as an upfront commitment to social justice (including some more specific issues such as homelessness).

Premier's department have developed an e newsletter that outlines the process so far.

Yesterday I participated in the rally in front of parliament house to protest staff cuts both at parliament house and across the public sector.

Public service staff are essential to the operation of our parliaments, our governments and our communities.

Public servants are teachers, nurses and police officers. Public servants deliver the services that the community needs and expects. Child protection, housing, environmental protection and land management to name just a few.

In agencies across NSW, they are responsible for delivering the policy agenda set by governments. Public servants provide all the back office support that keeps these services operating.

This is a very daggy admission but I love census night. I love filling out the forms and describing where I am from, where I have lived, who my family is, what I do for a living and (being an avid public transport user) how I got to work this morning.

While I know that some people have privacy concerns about the census, as a politician and someone who has worked with government departments, local councils and community organisations I know that what people fill out tonight will form the basis of most planning at community, state and federal level for the next five years.

It is through the census data that we move beyond generalisations and get down to how our househoolds are actually living in our cities, suburbs and towns.

The Premier yesterday announced the development of a 10 year state plan for NSW.

The development of the plan gives everyone (individuals, organisations, communities and interest groups) the chance to have a discussion about the future direction and priorities for NSW.

This is an opportunity to discuss the very real social, economic and environmental challenges facing this state and try to find some common ground for the way we should move forward.

There will be direct community consultation and I am pleased to see that there is the opportunity for input via the website.

The NSW budget for 06/07 has been announced. I have highlighted some of the things that won’t necessarily get media attention but are excellent initiatives.

New preschool funding means that every child in NSW will have access to preschool.

The government has agreed to fund the wage increase for workers in over 7000 community organisations.

Education funding to reduce class sizes to 24 in year 2. In NSW public schools class sizes in kindergarten are now 20 and year 1 are 22.

Upgrades to train stations to make them accessible, new busways, new buses and new carriages for our train system.