Academic Award

Academic Award

I was pleased to attend my first School Assembly for the 2005 year at Richmond River High School. Principal Neville Ryan and the school community organised a special presentation of the 2004 HSC Academic Award to Anna Jones following her wonderful achievement in the HSC last year. Anna will attend another presentation next week to receive the Premier's Award for All Round Excellence, achieving over 90% in all subjects. Congratulations Anna.

Women's Day

I am calling for nominations from the community for Lismore Electorate Woman of the Year. On United Nations International Women's Day - 8 March 2005, the NSW Office for Women is recognising the achievements and leadership of women across the state both in business and their local community. Honouring women for their contribution to our communities is an important means of building the confidence and pride of all women, and encourages other women and girls by publicly presenting role models. A nominee may be a teacher, nurse, a business woman, author, community worker or even a sports person, as it is also the Year of Sport and Recreation. Nominations forms are available from my office on telephone 6621 3624 or call into 55 Carrington Street (opposite Lismore Post Office). All nominees will be invited to a presentation function to announce the Lismore Electorate Woman of the Year, who will also be presented with an engraved silver goblet. A further invitation will be extended to the winner to attend the Premier's Reception for International Women's Day alongside other winners from across NSW, where the NSW Woman of the Year will be announced at the Reception. Closing date for nominations is 18 February 2005.

Enclosure Permits

I have received advice from the Minister for Lands, Tony Kelly that he has agreed to two distinct temporary rent concession structures for enclosure permit holders over the next three years. The two structures, one for single enclosure permit holders and one for landowners who hold multiple enclosure permits, are outlined in fact sheets being distributed to all enclosure permit holders. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Inquiry into Community Based Sentencing Options for Rural and Remote Areas and Disadvantaged Populations

The Standing Committee on Law and Justice is calling for submissions to its inquiry into Community Based Sentencing Options for Rural and Remote Areas and Disadvantaged Populations. The terms of reference require the Committee to inquire into whether it is appropriate and in the public interest to tailor community based sentencing options for rural remote areas in NSW and for special need/disadvantaged populations. Submissions close on Friday 11 March and can be sent to The Standing Committee on Law and Justice, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney 2000 or lodged online at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lawandjustice.

Clean Up Australia Day 2005

Clean Up Australia Day is on Sunday 6 March. Anyone can organise a Clean Up site. It's as easy as identifying a local park, the street you live in, a waterway or bushland that needs to be cleaned up. To register your site visit www.cleanup.com.au or phone 1800 282329 and you will be sent a free Clean Up Kit. Business Clean Up Day is Tuesday 1 March and Schools Clean Up Day is Friday 4 March.

Inquiry into Personal Injury Compensation Legislation

The General Purpose Standing Committee No. 1 will conduct and inquiry into, and report on the operations
and outcomes of all personal injury compensation legislation approved by the Parliament of New South Wales from 1999, with particular reference to: The impact on employment in rural and regional communities;
The impact on community events and activities, and community groups;
The impact on insurance premium levels and the availability of cost-effective insurance;
The level and availability of Compulsory Third Party motor accident premiums required to fund claims cost if changes had not been implemented in 1999; and the impact on the WorkCover scheme if changes had not been implemented in 2001; and
Any other issue that the Committee considers to be of relevance to the inquiry.

Submissions close on Friday 11 March and can be sent to The General Purpose Standing Committee No. 1, Legislative Council, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney 2000 or lodged online at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au.

Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week 2005

Australian Organ Donor Awareness Week will this year be held from 18-25 February to promote organ and tissue donation, encourage Australians to become organ donors and to highlight the importance of families knowing each other's intentions regarding donation. In 2004 the donor rate increased by over 17% and it is hoped this positive trend will continue.

Locusts Levy

The NSW Labor Government's decision to lump farmers with an increased levy to fund locust plague control has enraged farmers. When the Pest Insect Destruction fund ran out last year, Labor decided a $14 million loan to farmers was acceptable, despite promising the levy would not increase. Farmers have been enraged by comments made by Primary Industries Minister Ian Macdonald that while a 500 percent increase in the locust levy sounds dramatic it only adds up to around $100, a figure Minister Macdonald says farmers would be able to find easily. Minister Macdonald continues to fail to understand that many farmers are flat broke as a result of the drought, floods, crop and stock losses and the locust plague.

Lifeline Funding

Last week the Nationals/Liberal Coalition announced it would guarantee $1.5 million in annual recurrent funding for the Lifeline counselling service if elected to Government in 2007. The Carr Government's funding arrangement was woefully inadequate and not guaranteed. Lifeline provides an essential service to the community without a financial contribution towards operational costs from the Government. This is despite patients being referred to Lifeline from NSW Health and other State Government agencies.