
Issue No 88		16 March 2001

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Politics

Westie’s Macquarie Street Alert

The Workers MLC, Ian West, provides the first in a series of regular rundowns on the upcoming Parliamentary session


	Ian West

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This "Alert" is intended to provide you with a snapshot of how Parliamentary laws and Government initiatives are progressing. It will contain discussion papers, green & white papers, legislation and initiatives. It's not an exhaustive list; rather it has been compiled using the Notices of Motions Paper, and also from the Ministers' offices themselves. If you have any queries about where something is up to contact my office and I'll assist in following up the issue.

The "alert" will come in three relevant sections; the first section will focus on what usually occurs before legislative reforms or laws are introduced to the Parliament (eg. includes Green/White/Discussion Papers/Exposure Bills/Working Groups); the second section will look at legislation mooted of currently before the House; and the third will look at Government initiatives and announcements.

Bob Carr Premier; Minister for the Arts; Citizenship

Green/White/Discussion Papers - "Private Financing of Public Infrastructure" submissions closed on 28th February 2001. Further information can be accessed on http://www.nsw.gov.au/wwg/ I recommend all people look at this document because of its many implications. The Premier has identified the need for the community and unions to be involved in the processes and working groups that this Paper gives rise to.

Initiatives - Mid Term Statement will be held 25th March at 11.00am at Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre, 597 High Street, Penrith. The Premier will report on the Government's progress in finding new solutions and responding to the needs of the community.

Andrew Refshauge Deputy Premier, Minister for Urban Affairs & Planning; Housing; Aboriginal Affairs

Green/White/Discussion Papers - State and Local Planning will be streamlined under the Minister's "Plan First" White Paper released on 6/3/01. State Plan will be one document, which encompasses the planning requirements of all Government Agencies. It will include policies on water quality, air pollution, transport and wetlands protection. Regional Plan will provide a blueprint for the sustainable development of each of the regions, and cover the regional planning requirements of Government agencies. Local Plan will for the first time be a single plan for each local government area, containing all the planning requirements needed by an individual landowner.

The "Plan First" White Paper is available from all DUAP offices, or by phoning 1800 806 361, or website at http://www.duap.nsw.gov.au/planfirst

Michael Egan Treasurer; Minister for State & Regional Development; Vice President of the Executive Council

Green/White/Discussion Papers - the "Private financing of Public Infrastructure" document can be accessed as mentioned above. We'll be hearing more about this over the coming months.

Legislation - State Budget due on 29th May 2001.

Initiatives - The Treasurer announced during Question Time on 8-03-01, that the upcoming Budget will include the abolition of taxes under the intergovernmental agreement, comprising the abolition of financial institutions duty at a cost to revenue of $634 million per year and the abolition of stamp duties on marketable securities at a cost of $425 million per year. Additionally there will be a further $150 million in tax cuts in the coming Budget, a "responsible increase in spending" and it will be the fifth Carr Labor Budget to be in surplus.

Bob Debus Attorney General, Emergency, Minister for Environment; Emergency Services; Assisting Premier on the Arts

Legislation

Legal profession reforms: the Minister recently announced amendments to the Legal Profession Act that will require bankrupt barristers and solicitors to prove they are fit to continue practising the law or be struck off.

Initiatives:

Nature Conservation Trust

The Carr Government has added 1.4 million ha. of high conservation value land to the national parks system in NSW in 6 years. The Minister has recognised the need for appropriate mechanisms to protect private land that has high conservation value, and has introduced legislation to establish the NSW Nature Conservation Trust, an independent, Non-Government body designed to facilitate conservation of lands outside the formal reserve system.

Environment Trust Grants

The Minister recently announced over $7.2 million in Environment Trust grants for 142 projects state-wide to help improve and protect our environment. The grants are for major state-wide and regional environmental challenges, as well as local environmental problems. $3 million has been granted under the Abandoned Mines Program to rehabilitate derelict mine sites. $1.7 million will go to community organisations and schools across NSW. The Government has provided more than $1.9 million to 10 research projects including $256,000 for the University of Western Sydney (Hawkesbury) to investigate ways of managing chemical and pesticide use by non-English speaking farmers.

Record funding for our emergency services

$469 million is being spent this financial year to ensure the NSW Fire Brigades, Rural Fire Service and the SES are even better equipped to protect and assist the community during emergencies. It's $161 million more than the Coalition provided in its last budget.

Harry Woods Minister for Local Government; Regional Development & Rural Affairs

Submissions sought - The Minister is contemplating a "Local Government Sin Bin" option to help deal with disruptive councillors. Public comment is sought by the Minister for Local Government on options to deal with disruptive councillors. In the past year 8 local councils were brought to the attention of the Dept of Local Govt. for so-called councillor misbehaviour. Submissions and comments on Councillor Behaviour Options can be sent to "The Department of Local Government, Locked Bag 1500, BANKSTOWN NSW 2200."

Local Government website is http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au and for Regional Development it's http://business.nsw.gov.au

Sandra Nori Minister for Small Business; Tourism

Green/White/Discussion Papers/Workshops - The Minister has announced a series of workshops throughout March to help formulate a comprehensive plan for the state in Nature Tourism. The workshops will be discussing key issues, challenges and opportunities in developing sustainable practices in bushwalking, camping, cross country skiing and wildlife viewing. NSW has 500 national parks and nature reserves, 4 world heritage areas, 3 marine parks and 8 aquatic reserves. The workshops would address priority issues such as nature tourism products and experiences; sustainable access; infrastructure development such as transport and accommodation; and training.

Initiatives - The Minister also announced a new international tourism campaign called "Feel Free," which will target key Asia markets such as Singapore, Hong Kong and China. It is part of the Government's post-Olympic strategy to increase investment in NSW.

To go to Tourism website: www.tourism.nsw.gov.au and for Small Business: www.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au

Carmel Tebbutt Minister for Juvenile Justice, Assisting Premier on Youth, & Assisting for Environment

Initiatives - The Minister and the Department are discussing with the Public Service Association (PSA), ways in which the ratio of Staff to Detainees in Youth Detention Centres can be increased.

Information, publications and research papers, as well as links to other Departments and organisations can be accessed at the following address. Juvenile Justice website: http://www.djj.nsw.gov.au

John Watkins Minister for Fair Trading; Corrective Services; Sport & Recreation

John Watkins has recently assumed responsibility for the Corrective Services portfolio.

Green/White/Discussion Papers/Exposure Bills/Working Groups - The Minister released an exposure bill aimed at overhauling NSW home-building laws. Reforms include giving consumers more information about tradespersons' past Fair Trading records. The Fair Trading Director General will be given power to cancel and suspend licences. Building licensees will be required to continue educating themselves each year. The Fair Trading Tribunal Building Division will cap cases to under $500,000 to stop large developers clogging the tribunal.

Legislation - Trade Measurement Amendment Bill

On 6-03-01, John Watkins introduced new laws to help ensure consumers get everything they pay for when they buy groceries and other products. Under the Bill consumers must only be charged on a net weight basis - that is, without any packaging included in the stated weight or price. Mr Watkins said. "Traders who include packaging in the price are clearly ripping off consumers." The new law also applies to petrol pumps, alcohol dispensers, weighbridges, industrial scales, firewood and even rubbish dumped at the tip. A Supermarket Working Group has been formed - consisting of Fair Trading, the Australian Retailers Association and supermarket chains - to address this problem. The NSW legal change is part of a nationwide approach. All other Australian fair trading jurisdictions, excluding WA, are passing similar trade measurement laws.

Initiatives - The Minister officially opened the Hills District Netball Association's Netball Centre on 24th February. The new indoor centre will host competitions, and provide elite and local athlete training and coaching. The Hills district has 3,500 registered netballers. Watkins' Department provided assistance of $800,000.

The Minister also got agreement from the Banks about gaining access to sensitive commercial information to help produce an accurate figure of the nation's over-commitment on credit. The Victorian and NSW fair trading ministers would look at assessment criteria, default rates on loans, and how credit limit increases are assessed in a bid to help people stop getting over their heads in debt. Australians currently owe about $70 billion in personal debt, with $17.4 billion of that on credit cards.

Duty branch information relevant to John Watkins' Sport & Rec portfolio includes $46,657 funding for the Ku-Ring-Gai electorate for sunprotection shades for greens at St Ives Bowling & Recreation Club, fixed playground equipment at Gordon East primary school and toilet with upgraded access ramp and car parking space at Ku-Ring-Gai Council. In Hawkesbury, funding totalled $46,481 on ski boat for disabled, upgraded playground for Hornsby Council, 3 cricket practice nets for Galston-Glenorie JCC, half court basketball court for Hawkesbury Council, and children's safety enclosure for Annangrove Park. In The Hills, funding totalled $46,185 for recreation facilities for Baulkham Hills Council, upgraded playground for Hornsby Council, and light towers for evening training at Castle Hill United Soccer Club.

Further info Sport & Recreation: www.dsr.nsw.gov.au & Fair Trading: www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.

View entire issue - print all of the articles!

Issue 88 contents

Interview: Labor Law
Shadow Attorney General Robert McClelland outlines his plans for workers entitlements, legal aid and a Bill of Rights

Unions: Poetic Justice
The ACTU kicked off its 2001 Living Wage campaign this week with a new shock tactic: poetry.

Technology: Big Brother’s Legacy
Organisations with restrictive staff email polices risk locking themselves in the Industrial Age by treating their staff as units to be monitored.

Corporate: Scumbags Exposed
On the eve of the inaugural Corporate Scumbags Tour, we look at the worst of the worst from the Top End of Town.

International: Playing Away
Pat Ranald looks at a proposal to hold Australian companies to basic standards when they invest in developing countries.

Environment: Nuclear Titanics
The Maritime Union has joined Greenpeace in a campaign to stop our seas becoming a nuclear highway.

History: Out of the Bog
Neale Towart looks at the life of big Jim Larkin, one of the heroes of an Irish trade union movement that continues to thrive.

Politics: Westie’s Macquarie Street Alert
The Workers MLC, Ian West, provides the first in a series of regular rundowns on the upcoming Parliamentary session

Review: The Next American Century?
How will the United States maintain its global power in an era when the very notion of the nation-state is under challenge?

Satire: Dollar Crashes Through Psychological 0.00c Barrier
The bedevilled Australian dollar dropped below the crucial 0.00c barrier losing its battle to avoid the humiliation of being worth less than the commemorative Bradman coins distributed by the Sunday Telegraph last weekend.

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» Blood on the Beds at Sleep City

» Paint Lock-Out Claims First Victim

» Casino Workers Seek Full Metal Jacket

» Leichhardt Council Endangers the Public

» Casual Teachers Break Through

» Tide Turns on Award-Stripping

» Workers Demand Seat on Racing Board

» Shangri-La Faces D-Day

» Fiji PM Appointment Illegal

» Activists Notebook