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E-Newsletter
This will be the last e-newsletter of 2005 and will go out to nearly 7,500 recipients, around 70% of whom are in Wentworth . If you have some friends who would like to receive the newsletter, please direct them to my website, and of course, if you would like to unsubscribe or change your details click on the links at the base of the email.
The best thing about this email newsletter is that if you hit reply your email comes straight to my desk top and (subject to the occasional lapse) I respond to all of them. It means that what starts off as a broadcast communication (one to many) becomes a one to one communication. Your feedback is very important to me. Not only does it ensure I know what you think, but also I get a lot of good ideas and information which help me do a better job for you.
Violence at the Beach
Over the last week we have seen some very ugly, and unAustralian, violence especially at Cronulla and Maroubra here in Sydney . These events are a reminder of how intolerance and mindless hatred can shake our peaceful way of life. Of course we need strong laws and tough policing to stop loutish and violent behaviour; and the police deserve great credit for their professionalism and discipline. But above all we need to reinforce that easygoing tolerance which has been such a hallmark of our society.
There probably isn't a lot of point arguing about how this fight started. But we know how it must end, and that is with Australian men and women treating each other with respect, regardless of their background.
Last weekend, a number of our beaches were all but closed or "locked down" to use the latest jargon. Many fellow residents of Wentworth have expressed to me their grave concern that our beaches should be sealed off. Bondi Beach in particular epitomises the openness and egalitarianism of Australian life.
It would be tragic if this "lock down" were to be repeated on future weekends. By all means lift the level of policing. By all means, search cars for weapons and question those who look like they are up to no good. And if they are found to be carrying weapons or inciting violence, throw the book at them.
But Sydney summers mean family days at the beach, and we should have enough police and enough good sense to ensure that rival gangs of thugs are not able to stand between Aussie families and their holidays at the beach.
Finishing the Year with a Flourish
The parliamentary year finished with a flurry. Parliament has approved the Workchoices legislation which reforms Australia 's industrial relations system. See my speech about workchoices here.
We have also carried new laws to strengthen our hand in the battle against terrorism. My speeches on that Bill are here, and here.
While I am not as frequent a blogger as I ought to be, my latest blog has some reflections on a year in parliament.
John Barraclough
On a sad note, we mourn the passing of a great Australian and Wentworth resident, John Barraclough AM. John served with distinction as the State Member for Bligh from 1968 to 1981 and in 1975 and 1976 he was the Minister for Culture, Sport and Recreation. Together with several hundred other local residents and friends I joined John's widow Lois and their children at a beautiful funeral service at St Marks, Darling Point last Friday.
Charity Christmas Appeal
On Thursday morning we delivered a station wagon full of non-perishable food items to Norman Andrews House charity, shelter and drop in centre in Bondi. See photos here.
This followed our Christmas Appeal at my community Christmas party the previous night where hundreds of non perishable food items were donated. See my speech here.
Australians are a generous people and nowhere more so than within our own community in the Eastern Suburbs. However, often the causes that attract our greatest attention are those which touch us directly, with which we have the most empathy.
For all of us, I hope, homelessness will not be something we experience first hand. But in the midst of our prosperity, there are fellow Australians who are without anything.
Reverend Fran Wootton , the Community Minister at Norman Andrews House and her team assist those Australians and this year as we did last year I invited guests to bring items of non-perishable food for Norman Andrews House.
I am delighted that we have helped add a little Christmas cheer to the residents of Norman Andrews House.
Tax Reform Update
On Thursday I gave a speech at Peter Charlton 's World Financial Services Conference on "Global Trends in Tax Reform" See the full speech here.
I told the conference that I believe we have the means and the will to tackle a new round of tax reform in Australia . If we cannot afford tax reform today, when will we be able to afford it? And if a Government with a proven and trusted track record of economic reform is not qualified to take it on, who else would have the courage, let alone the public trust, to do so? If not us who? If not now, when?
I also published an op-ed on tax reform in the Sydney Daily Telegraph here.
Thoughts on Sedition
The Government members backbench committee spent many hours with Attorney General Philip Ruddock working on the new anti-terror laws in a very collaborative and constructive fashion. The laws were much improved at the end of the process. For more on these discussions see the links to my speeches in Parliament on the terror legislation mentioned above.
There was a lot of concern expressed about the concept of sedition. I wrote a brief op-ed for the Daily Telegraph which summarises my own thoughts which are shared by many of my colleagues on the committee.
Wentworth Sustainable Cities Forum
On 21 November, the Wentworth Liberals held a forum at Easts Leagues Club in Bondi Junction to discuss the House Environment Committee's Report on Sustainability Cities. Over 100 members of the Wentworth Liberal Party Federal Electoral Conference attended.
It was a very interesting evening especially given recent developments in Sydney which underline the need for national leadership to ensure our cities move towards, rather than away from, sustainable development.
Two of the leading figures in the Sustainable Cities debate delivered presentations. Dr Garry Glazebrook , a leading rail and urban transport consultant, spoke about sustainable transport, particularly light rail. Professor Greg Leslie , from the University of NSW 's UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology, talked about water recycling.
I had a bit more to say about urban transport systems and the need for more support of mass transit (as opposed to toll roads and tunnels) in a speech to the Connections social welfare organisation in Melbourne.
New Community Park in Watsons Bay
This demonstrates the Federal Government's commitment to enhancing our local environment.
The park is a welcome addition to the amenity of Watsons Bay . Together with Camp Cove to the north and Green Point Reserve to the west, the former Marine Biological Station and its associated park constitute a boost to green spaces in the Watsons Bay area.
It wasn't Greg and my only joint venture lately; we published an op-ed on water recycling in the Daily Telegraph here.
Safety for Pets-Latest Dog Blogs
Once again the Dogs have out blogged me! It is bad enough their writing many more blogs than me, but on a recent email newsletter there were three times as many click throughs to Rusty 's latest dogblog as there was to my speech about selling the rest of Telstra!!
However, they now have numerous helpers, including Bears saved by the Animals Asia Fund. After receiving some media coverage in Ita Buttrose's new magazine 'BARK!' the dogs conducted a dog related magazine forum , as well as Summer Safety Tips.
Rusty has written a blog titled "Pets are for life, not just for Christmas." This blog is a very important lesson to all those thinking about buying a pet this Christmas, because over 80 000 Christmas present pets are given to the RSPCA due to insufficient analysis of the effects of pet ownership.
The dogs will continue their blogging in the New Year, however, will be taking time off during January while their editor is away.
If your pet wants to write to our dogs about any issues or just to have a chat please send a picture and a letter (preferably written by the dog) that we can add to our site.
We will also be holding a competition for next years calender. There will be 3 categories (4 pets in each category) of Feline, Canine and "miscellaneous". Please send us a photo of your pet and a back story (written by the pet) about their favourite Wentworth activities. Jojo, Mellie and Rusty will hopefully have some assistant judges.
$5,500 Federal Grant for North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club
North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club received $5,500 to help preserve their local history under the Federal Government's Community Heritage Grants program.
The grant will be used to restore the Club's photos and archives for their 100th anniversary in early 2006.
North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club is Australia 's largest surf club, with over 1,800 members.
$4,000 Federal Grant for Cenotaph on Bondi Beach
North Bondi RSL Sub-Branch received $4,000 under the Federal Government's Saluting Their Service Commemorations Program.
The grant will be used to upgrade the Cenotaph located in front of the RSL Club in Ramsgate Avenue on Bondi Beach . The Memorial has deteriorated over the years and is in urgent need of repair.
This project, which is expected to be completed in time for ANZAC Day 2006, will ensure that the Cenotaph will provide a fitting tribute to Wentworth 's servicemen and women.
Yours sincerely,
Malcolm Turnbull MP Member for Wentworth