Public Transport Concessions Review Issues Paper

During the last week, I have had the pleasure of being present at the River City Music Festival, Nimbin Show, the AMP Ignite the Dream Tour and the 118th Celebrations of New Italy. Again these events highlighted the diverse attractions in our area which so many take for granted. Organisations need community support to continually be successful.

I was very pleased to hear that both the Minister for Police and Minister for Health have listened to the community and recognised the need that frontline services and essential health services need to be maintained.

Public Transport Concessions Review Issues Paper

The Public Transport Authority is undertaking a review of concessions to find ways to help the community better access public transport. The review is to determine if some concessions could be better targeted and more equitably distributed and provides the Carr Government the opportunity to tackle the issue of differential concession fares between city and country.

Dairy Deregulation Compensation

The Coalition last week called on the Carr Government to provide adequate funding to assist NSW dairy farmers through the re-adjustment they will undergo as a result of full deregulation of the dairy industry. Assistance measures announcement by the Government are simply not enough. I am currently working with dairy farmers to come up with a suitable package to allow the Nationals to continue to seek a further package over and above the Federal package for NSW dairy farmers.

Lismore Race Cup Day

I was honoured to welcome and escort the Minister for Gaming and Racing, The Hon Richard Face as our guest to the recent successful Lismore Cup Race Day. Mr Face was very impressed with the organisation, facilities and support that this annual race day now enjoys.

SCU Graduation

The Southern Cross University's standing was certainly recognised by the attendance of Mrs Gordon Samuels, wife of the NSW Governor, who delivered the Occasional Address. Rhonda and I were appreciative of the opportunity to accompany Mrs Samuels at the graduation.

Forestry Concerns

Forestry Minister Kim Yeadon, when questioned about the restructure in Parliament recently by the Coalition, Mr Yeadon refused to be drawn on the number of job losses, but conceded a number of State Forest offices would be amalgamated. The Northern Rivers and mid North Coast regions will be amalgamated with the new regional office to be located at Coffs Harbour. The State Forests office at Casino will remain as an administrative centre. Staff numbers at all centres have yet to be finalised. This is a code for significant job losses and the down grading from a district office to administrative centre. Job losses in both State Forests and the timber industry showed how little the so called Country Labor really care about country jobs.