The first week of the federal election is over and I have been enjoying a busy week talking to individuals, families, businesses and community groups around Wentworth.
The Coalition Government has announced several key policies and funding commitments over the past week that will benefit all Wentworth residents, particularly the $34 billion plan to cut income tax and the $30 million water safety plan.
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Tax
This week the Prime Minister and Treasurer announced a $34 billion plan to cut income tax for every Australian taxpayer from 1 July 2008. This tax plan will boost family income and help families deal with cost of living pressures. It also provides further incentives for low income workers to join in the workforce.
Our goal is to reward participation and hard work by ensuring that in five years:
- People earning $20,000 or less pay no tax
- 45% of taxpayers have a marginal tax rate of 15% or less
- 85% of taxpayers have a marginal tax rate of 30% or less
- 98% of taxpayers have a marginal tax rate of 35% or less
The Coalition's tax reform plan will result in a significant reduction in taxes for all individual taxpayers and will build a world class competitive tax system while maintaining the sustainability of the revenue base.
This tax reform plan is great news for families in Wentworth. A family with a breadwinner on average earnings and a partner in part-time work will get tax relief of around $30 per week moving to $50 per week in 2010.
It will also boost capacity in the Australian economy.
It is clear that Labor doesn't have a tax plan. A staggering 91.5% of Kevin Rudd's tax plan announced at the eleventh hour is a copy of the Coalition's tax policy. But if Labor forms the next government, who will KevinRudd copy then? He would have to overcome huge trade union influence in relation to any policies. He would never be able to deliver because he would never have the capacity to build the economic management which is required.
Only the Coalition Government has the experience to can manage Australia's $1.1 trillion economy and deliver tax cuts for families.
National Water Week
Water is one of our most precious resources and is the subject of regular discussion in Australian households. This week we celebrate National Water Week, 21-27 October.
National Water Week raises awareness of the need to protect, conserve and better manage our precious water resources not only in cities, but in regional areas as well. I am proud to report the Coalition Government has long recognised the value of protecting Australia's natural resources and is working towards long-term water solutions. That's why the Coalition has committed $2 billion over the past three years to the Australian Government Water Fund for programmes such as Community Water Grants, Water Smart Australia and Raising National Water Standards.
The Coalition Government's ongoing commitment to securing Australia's water future is even more evident from our $10 billion plan to improve water management across the nation, announced early this year. At a national level, this bold new National Plan for Water Security will ensure rural water use is placed on a more sustainable footing.
At a local level, the Coalition is proudly supporting community groups with local water saving projects and educating people about wise water use.
These are practical ways the Coalition Government is helping to save this precious natural resouce into the future.
National Water Week is designed to encourage communities around Australia to take action to protect and conserve our water resources and habitats. This has great resonance in Wentworth. Many Wentworth residents take advantage of our wonderful beaches and are already helping to look after our marine and coastal environment.
SLSA and Coastcare funding
On Saturday I was pleased to visit Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club to announce Surf life Saving Australia and Coastcare have been awarded a $45,000 grant to teach communities about the importance of protecting our coastline and marine environment. I congratulate them on working together to teach people practical ways to protect our beaches and the native plants and animals that inhabit it. I hope it inspires local clubs and volunteers in Wentworth to conserve and repair our unique coastal environment.
New commemorative sculpture at Bondi
Surf Life Saving Australia last week unveiled a new sculpture commemorating the surf lifesavers who have lost their lives patrolling Australian beaches. I was privileged to attend the new 'Memorial to the Surf Lifesaver' at HunterPark in Bondi on Friday morning.
This sculpture reminds us of the valuable contribution made by tens of thousands of people who have participated in one of Australia's greatest volunteer traditions, making the coastline safer and more enjoyable for everyone.
Wentworth is the obvious place for this special 'Memorial to the Surf Lifesaver' because it boasts some of the best beaches in the world, and Australia's most famous surf beach. It is also home to many founding clubs for the surf life saving movement, of which I am proud to have a close association.
Community Water Grants
I believe that each week, every member of our community should focus their attention on wise water use. I am strongly committed to conserving our water resources. That's why I extended the Coalition Government's successful Community Water Grants Programme in the last Budget to $200.7 million over six years.
Locally, I have worked hard to secure over $200,000 funding for Community Water Grants in Wentworth that will save over 4 million litres of water each year.
Nationally, the Coalition has invested over $130 million in funding for over 3200 projects, together saving the amount of water 105,000 average households would use in one year.
The Community Water Grants programme is part of the $2 billion Australian Government Water Fund.
National Water Safety Plan
I welcome the Coalition Government announcement this week to provide more than $30 million over four years for national water safety measures to continue the fight to reduce drowning deaths in Australia. The National Water Safety Plan outlines strategies to cut the number of deaths from drowning. It will be developed in partnership with the Surf Life Saving Australia, the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia, Austswim and the Australian Ski Patrol Association.
As part of this plan, local families and surf life saving groups in Wentworth will join with me in welcoming the Coalition's new $10 million Beach Safety Service Development Fund and $7.5 million for water safety education. This will help members of our local clubs to increase patrols, improve signage, purchase rescue boats for beaches deemed to be at high risk of drownings, and raise awareness to help make beaches safer.
With so many wonderful beaches in our local patch, Wentworth will enjoy a share of this important new funding.
The new National Water Safety Plan comes on top of the Coalition's commitment to celebrating Surf Life Saving during the movement's 100th anniversary year and $10 million support for an Australian Lifesaving Training Academy.
Improved access to local health services
I was pleased to welcome Minister for Health and Ageing, TonyAbbott, to Wentworth on Saturday where he announced a new initiative by the Coalition Government to make Medicare-eligible MRI scans more available.
We visited the Bondi Family Medical Centre where the Minister announced the Coalition Government will allow general practitioners to refer patients for Medicare-eligible MRI scans for two important conditions.
I welcome this initiative that provides better health services for Wentworth families, and support for GPs as the first line of medical diagnosis and care.
Vital funding for local health support
On Tuesday I was delighted to MC the Capital Appeal Function to support the Sir Montefiore Homes in Randwick, Woollahra and Hunters Hill. We were raising vital funds for dementia care.
I also attended the St Vincent's Hospital and Mater Health Gala Dinner to announce $200,000 in funding by the Coalition Government to contribute towards the purchase of heart surgery equipment for the hospital.
Wentworth Defence sites uncertain under Labor
Wentworth residents will share my alarm about Kevin Rudd's plan to re-zone and sell off Commonwealth land holdings in our local area.
Wentworth is home to a number of significant Defence sites which Labor is proposing to sell of and re-develop. This is completely unacceptable.
This plan would be of particular concern to local residents in Kings Cross, Potts Point, Paddington, Darlinghurst, Vaucluse, RoseBay and WatsonsBay.
$900,000 for Ted Noffs Foundation in Randwick
Last week I was pleased to visit the Ted Noffs Foundation in Randwick to announce funding of $900,000 for programmes to help people with drug and alcohol problems and mental illnesses.
I am delighted that the Coalition Government is helping the TedNoffsFoundation with its important mission of giving hope to our youth.
The funding will support a comprehensive range of service improvement activities including staff development and training, supporting access to clinical psychological services and improved quality of service planning and delivery.
Launch of Raising Children Network
I officially launched Australia's first Raising Children Network local forum on Friday at the Entertainment Quarter in MoorePark.
The Raising Children Network is an initiative to provide new parents with information and support to assist in raising children.
As a member of the Coalition Government, I recognise that raising children is one of life's most rewarding if equally challenging roles. The more information and support that we can provide new parents through the local community makes this great task that little bit easier.
$1.7 million for WoollahraPublic School building project
Students and staff at WoollahraPublic School will benefit from a $1.7 million grant from the Coalition Government for a new building project. I was pleased to visit the school on Tuesday to announce the funding.
The building projects, principally funded by the Coalition, included construction of a hall, a covered outdoor learning area and a canteen.
I was particularly delighted to announce this new funding for WoollahraPublic School following the recent awarding of a Green Voucher worth $50,000 to the school for energy efficiency measures.
Happy Birthday to Caretaker's Cottage
On Thursday I had the privilege of meeting the young residents and workers of Caretaker's Cottage at Waverley Bowls Club and to join their 30th birthday celebrations. For the part three decades, a remarkable team from the Cottage have worked tirelessly among the eastern suburbs community to help our youths in crisis.
Malcolm supports national Ride to Work Day
I put the rubber to the road for fitness and the environment on Wednesday to support National Ride to Work Day.
Like thousands of Wentworth residents who regularly ride to work have already discovered, cycling is a win-win for personal health and for the environment. Cycling to work saves greenhouse gas emissions and has obvious long-term health benefits.
Wentworth is a challenging yet rewarding electorate for riding to work. The beautiful views around our local area made it more inviting.
Yours sincerely,
Malcolm Turnbull