Generosity of Local Businesses

Generosity of Local Businesses

I was certainly humbled by the support for the 2005 Thomas George Charity Walk, which again reinforced and highlighted the generosity of local businesses in our area. 30 walkers gathered and departed from the Media Centre in Goonellabah and embarked on a 12 klm walk to Lismore Airport. Many of the walkers were representatives and support people of local businesses. This support was further enhanced by the effort and work of Susan and Matthew McDermott, partners in Step Up Financial Planning, who were able to secure $ for $ funding up to $10,000 from the AMP Foundation. Their assistance in securing this at such short notice together with the generosity of the businesses and community of the Northern Rivers community enabled us to raise $31,432. Simply, I thank very one who was involved, as it was a team effort, to aid the beneficiaries of the 2005 appeal.

Vocational Education & Training Act 2005

This recently passed legislation provides for the recognition in NSW of training providers who have been registered by interstate registering bodies and for the recognition of vocational courses that have been accredited by interstate course accrediting bodies. Although this Act repeals the Vocational Education & Training Accreditation Act 1990, it provides for the continuation of the Vocational Education & Training Accreditation Board (currently constituted under that Act) as the agency responsible for registering training providers and accrediting vocational courses in NSW. Also at the heart of the new framework is the National Register, which is defined to mean the National Training Information Service managed by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science & Training. This Act brings to an end one of the many cross border that have been continually raised to me by young people and training groups alike.

Clubs - Part of our Local Community

The NSW Liberal/Nationals Coalition recently outlined its plan to protect the future of licensed clubs and the valuable services they provide to the community by stopping future increases to Labor's debilitating clubs tax. Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed with the state's registered clubs at the annual Clubs NSW conference in Tweed Heads, the Coalition declared it would freeze gaming machine taxes at the 2005 rate for its first term in Government. This MoU reflects the desire of the Liberal and the Nationals to create an environment conducive to the sustainability and future health of the NSW Club Movement. The Parties recognise the significant, growing economic and social contribution that clubs make to the State and in turn local communities. I have personally countersigned the MoU with local clubs, Casino RSM and Lismore Workers Club. The Government's tax grab has seen clubs go out of business and community groups, charities & sporting organisations suffer through slashed donations. Clubs are an integral part of our community, particularly in rural and regional New South Wales, through their support for local community organisations. Club patrons have seen cutbacks to live entertainment and price rises in food and beverages.