Community Crime Reporting

Parliament resumed this week following the winter recess. It will now sit until the end of the year. This will be the last sitting period before the next election.

Community Crime Reporting

I encourage members of the Lismore community to continue reporting crimes. At a recent (Police Accountability Community Team) PACT meeting it was pointed out that unless members of the community report crimes, proper statistics cannot be kept, which makes it difficult to lobby for extra police. It is vital the community assists police by contacting them if they suspect an offence, which in turn could provide intelligence in helping the officers to solve crime.

Pollies for Small Business Day

For Pollies for Small Business Day earlier this month, I took part in some work experience at Luv A Coffee caf‚ in Lismore and J H Williams rural store in Murwillumbah. As a former business owner, I certainly appreciated the opportunity to spend some time with local small business owners and get a better understanding of the current issues they face each day in their businesses, particularly in regard to the amount of red tape caused by decisions of government.

Seniors Week Awards

Applications are now open for 2007 Seniors Week Achievement Awards program. The awards recognise seniors from across the State for their contribution to the development of the community, for their leadership and for their initiative. The awards provide an opportunity to formally thank older people for the contribution that they make to the quality of life in our State. A group of individual can be nominated in one of the following categories; Education/Life-long Learning,
Health & Well-Being,
Intergenerational Understanding,
Community Service and Volunteering,
Environment/Science
Business Mentoring

Up to 60 awards are available for outstanding nominations. Nomination forms are available from my office. The closing date for nominations is yet to be advised.

National Asthma Week

Between 1-7 September the Asthma Foundation will be raising awareness about asthma in the community. Asthma remains extremely prevalent in the community with one in nine adults and one in six adults having the condition. Sadly, on average every week, six Australians die from asthma.

The Asthma Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, will be raising awareness and funds for asthma research during Asthma Week and in particular on Bubble Day when it will be selling colourful, fun merchandise such as bubble, pens, wristbands and bubble rings. Funds raised will be used for research and community support programs. Further information is available by contacting the Asthma Foundation on 1800 645 130.

Draft Private Native Forestry Code

Further to my last column, the Minister for Natural Resources and Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, has bowed to public pressure and good sense and announced it will re-start its consultation process on a Code to regulate Private Native Forestry.

The announcement is a huge relief for the timber industry, farmers and private property owners.

The Minister should now go further and implement a true transparent public consultation on this matter, not just refer the matter back to the Natural Resources Advisory Council (NRAC). Minister Macdonald needs to ensure the consultation process is truly open and transparent involving the real stakeholders.  This means holding public meetings state-wide, and listening to what the timber
workers, farmers and private property owners are saying.

In the end, the correct thing for Minister Macdonald to do is to amend the Native Vegetation Act to include Private Native Forestry as a Routine Agricultural Management Activity (RAMA) with operators following Best Operating Standards (BOS).