The election campaign enters its fourth week, and it has been busy both here in Wentworth and around the country as Australians consider who should govern our country for the next three years.
I have been busy with important environmental initiatives affecting the nation as well as ones of more local interest; such as community water grants to fund water tanks at Bronte Surf Club and Vaucluse Public School. Lucy and I were down at Bondi on Saturday to announce a $255,000 grant to the Marine Discovery Centre at the Bondi Pavilion - offering a fish's eye view of the wonders of Bondi's underwater wonders.
In the past fortnight I was pleased to host Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Treasurer Peter Costello and Defence Minister Brendan Nelson to Wentworth - and Wentworth's children were the centre of my colleagues' attention.. Alexander Downer met with students at Moriah College and Peter Costello with students from several local schools at Kincoppal Rose Bay. Both of my colleagues were impressed, if not a little daunted, by the quality of the interrogation!
In this newsletter read about:
Helping families
Our families are the foundation of society. I am proud to be a member of a government that is committed to help strengthen Australian families.
Wentworth families are welcoming the Coalition’s tax plan. The Coalition’s substantial $34 billion plan will deliver tax relief of around $20 per week to the average income earner, rising to around $35 in 2010. The Coalition Government’s plan for tax relief does more than help families with their household budgets – it will make Australia stronger by rewarding hard work and initiative.
As a member of the Coalition Government, I understand that while we have a strong economy, many Australians are not experiencing all the opportunities delivered by our current growth and prosperity.
That’s why the Coalition has several initiatives that will benefit low income earners by providing tax cuts and helping to reduce pressure on household budgets. The Coalition’s pledge last week to provide more support for older Australians, people with disabilities and carers has been welcomed by the people of Wentworth.
The plan includes an increase in the Utilities Allowance for older Australians to meet basic household bills like power and gas. Low-income earners and pensioners will also benefit from measures in the new Climate Change Fund to assist the transition to cleaner, greener energy in our households.
Bold plans to continue to grow Australia’s economy, help families and reward hard work can only be achieved with the Coalition’s experience and strong economic management.
Protecting our environment
Wentworth is one of the most densely populated areas in Sydney, it is important that we preserve our water, parklands and precious coastline. Fortunately local residents, schools and community groups in our area have a very active role helping to take care of our environment.
That’s why Community Water Grants and Green Vouchers for local schools are so popular in our local area.
Many of our friends and neighbours have told me this week of their interest in the environmental issues raised during the election campaign this week, particularly the Coalition’s plan to address climate change and a clean energy future. A re-elected Coalition Government will strongly support innovative renewable energy, through a dedicated $75 million competitive grants programme for new and emerging renewable energy technologies.
The new Emerging Renewable Energy initiative is part of the Coalition’s Clean Energy Plan for Australia to help prepare for the climate challenge. It includes strong and practical support for developing renewable energy. The renewable energy initiative follows last week’s announcement for a Climate Change Fund which will help to further support climate action and importantly, assist households with the cost of moving to a carbon-constrained economy.
These initiatives are part of the Coalition’s plan for practical climate change action, made possible by a vision for clean energy and the Government’s strong management of the economy.
Only the Coalition has the experience to ensure Australia can respond to the challenge of climate change while maintaining a strong and prosperous economy.
$255,000 Grant to the Marine Discovery Centre
Will Jones has done an amazing job building a marine discovery centre at the Bondi Pavilion. He has put together a series of exhibits and films which offer us a fish eye view of marine life off Bondi Beach. The beautiful creatures of Bondi are not limited to those reclining on the sands and Will's marine discovery centre serves to remind us of the vital importance of marine conservation; one of my key priorities as Environment Minister.
We have provided support to the Marine Discovery Centre before and I was delighted to announce grants of $255,000 on Saturday which will enable Will to complete the Marine Discovery Centre. It will be a wonderful tourist and educational attraction at Bondi - well worth a visit. For more click here
Securing water resources in Adelaide and closer to home at Bronte
The Coalition has long had a commitment to securing the water resources in the Murray-Darling Basin. This year we announced plans to take over water planning in the Basin and established the $10 billion National Plan for Water Security.
Adelaide is particularly vulnerable to reduced water availability in the Murray River. With a small catchment of its own, Adelaide relies on the Murray for up to 90% of its water in drought years and with storages at record lows, there is now a real risk that at some point in the future, the Murray could run dry - as indeed it did on occasions before the development of the big dams and weirs that regulated the river.
Last week we announced further support for Adelaide with a range of projects and an extra $40 million to water proof the city. The Coalition has a vision for Adelaide that has a water supply independent of the River Murray. This will help ease the burden on the River and provide greater water security for residents and water users in the city and its surrounds.
Unfortunately Labor does not share the Coalition’s commitment to protect Adelaide’s water supply and protect the health of the Murray. They have given up on drought proofing Adelaide and do not have a water vision for our dry continent. Read more about the Coalition's plan to water proof Adelaide here
Locally, I was pleased to award 13 groups in Wentworth with grants totalling $530,000 for projects that help to reduce the use of mains water, sustain community amenities and promote wise water use. I saw a great of example of this today when I visited Bronte Surf Life Saving Club to present a $50,000 grant to install rainwater tanks that will be used to flush toilets at the club. The project will save more than 500,000 litres of water per year.
Wentworth is fortunate to have so many groups that are developing local projects to try and save the precious natural resources in our area including Bronte Surf Club.
Wentworth veterans talk to Defence Minister
Defence Minister Brendan Nelson visited Wentworth last week. We started at Garden Island where we inspected the work on HMAS Darwin and some of the latest developments in naval technology. Then we set off to Rose Bay RSL where we made a joint announcement of RAAF Point Cook airbase being placed on the National Heritage List. Point Cook was the birthplace of the RAAF and the audience of veterans, including former Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Dave Evans, Vice Admiral David Leach and Rose Bay RSL President Darvill Malcolm were delighted to hear of this great honour to the RAAF. Brendan and I enjoyed lunch with the veterans and shared their insights into defence matters
Honouring our veterans
On Wednesday Paul Ham invited me to launch his new book: Vietnam: The Australian Story, which examines Australia’s military engagement in Vietnam as well as the broader Vietnam War and Vietnamese history. Paul Ham is a local author, military historian and journalist who lives in Bondi Junction.
This book details the tenacity and bravery displayed by Australian forces in the Vietnam conflict and puts the Australian involvement into its historical context. This follows Paul's very successful book on Kokoda.
Last week I announced the Coalition will help to protect and maintain the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea and honour the sacrifices made during that most important battle.
The Coalition Government will provide $15.9 million to assist Papua New Guinea obtain World Heritage listing to the Kokoda Track as well as build capacity in Papua New Guinea to effectively manage the associated environmental issues.
I also announced an extra $511,000 to upgrade the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, located along the Parramatta River in Sydney’s inner- west. The walkway comprises a path through 22 stations describing the significant places and engagements on the Track.
Foreign Minister visits Wentworth
It’s not often that local students and business people have an opportunity to talk to Australia’s Foreign Minister so I was happy to invite Alexander Downer to visit Wentworth last Wednesday so he could discuss issues that are important to local residents.
I arranged for the Foreign Minister to visit Moriah College, Queens Park, where he talked to Year 11 social science students. We presented Moriah with a $50,000 Green Voucher (available to all schools) to use for rainwater tanks and solar water, and announced a $60,000 grant for the school’s chaplaincy programme.
The Foreign Minister then addressed a gathering of local Jewish community leaders at a function that evening where he emphasised the Coalition’s resolute opposition to terrorism. More than 15 Rabbis and the leaders and representatives of the major Jewish communal groups attended the function
To read more about the Foreign Minister's visit click here
Senior students quiz Treasurer at Kincoppal Rose Bay
Lucy and I have enjoyed a long association with Kincoppal Rose Bay and have been fortunate to return to the school on many occasions to meet staff and students, present awards and announce several grants. Kincoppal Rose Bay kindly agreed to welcome me to the school again last week to host a visit by the Treasurer, Peter Costello.
The Treasurer met seniors from the school on Thursday as well as students from Ascham, Brigidine College, Cranbrook and St Clare’s College. He spoke about managing Australia’s $1.1 trillion economy, rewarding hard work and initiative, and keeping Australia strong, prosperous and secure.
The economics, business studies and commerce students had an opportunity to quiz both the Treasurer and myself on a range of economic and environment topics and then joined us for an informal lunch afterwards.
Read more about the Treasurer's visit includingphotos click here
Young Australian Writer of the Year
Wentworth is home to the Young Australian Writer of the Year! I am proud to report that local Reddam House student, Ryan Hirsch, has won first place in the Young Australian Writing Award. Ryan was placed first in the national Primary School 2007 Short Story contest with his story, ‘The Pigeon Lady’.
Congratulations!
Ryan is in Melbourne this week accepting an award which he won ahead of some 20,000 students from all over Australia.
His short story was judged by a panel of respected Australian authors and will be published in the Oz Kidz in Print magazine.
Extended after-hours access to GPs
Families in Wentworth can obtain round the clock medical attention, thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Coalition Government for better access to after-hours health care.
On Tuesday I visited the Eastern Suburbs Medical Service, led by Medical Director Dr Danny Beran, to present the local grant from the Coalition’s Round the Clock Medicare policy.
This grant will allow local GPs to provide after-hours services so this is great news for all local families in our area.
Nationally, the Government’s $106 million investment will ensure that as many people as possible will have access to high-quality care and more convenient GP services.
Wentworth is one of 140 Australian communities to be offered a grant.
This boost for local health services comes on top of the Coalition’s new initiative announced at the weekend to make Medicare-eligible MRI scans more available. General Practitioners can now refer patients with specific head and knee injuries for MRI scans.
Read more about this annoucement here
Skills for Australia’s future Defence
Wentworth is set to share in a boost to the defence sector with the Coalition’s $208 million plan to increase recruitment of young people with specific skills into a career in the Australian Defence Force.
This announcement has resonance in our local area given that Wentworth is home to several defence sites - Kings Cross, Potts Point, Paddington, Darlinghurst, Vaucluse, Rose Bay and Watsons Bay.
Over the next five years, the defence sector will need an additional 7,000 people with engineering, project management, logistics and associated technical trades skills.
Skills for Australia’s Future Defence will enable thousands of young Australians to gain an education in fields vital to defence and to the broader community, as well as providing them with a pathway to ongoing employment. It will also assist those who serve the Australian Defence Force as Reservists to develop new skills in key fields.
This practical plan to strengthen our security in an uncertain environment and create a highly skilled defence sector is in complete contrast to Kevin Rudd’s proposal to re-zone, sell off and re-develop significant defence sites in our local area.
Only the Coalition has a plan for a Strong Australia, ensuring our national security and protecting our borders into the future.
Vaucluse Public 150th anniversary
Congratulations to staff and students at Vaucluse Public School, celebrating its 150th anniversary today. I was thrilled to help mark this special occasion this morning by officially opening a community day and an exhibition of historic photographs. Vaucluse Public has personal significance for me because this is where I spent three years of my primary school. The anniversary celebrations are set to continue into 2008 – the anniversary year. I was also delighted to announce that Vaucluse Public had received a $49,000 Community Water Grant for water tanks, dual flush toilets and spring loaded taps - all set to save nearly 900,000 litres of water every year! Lots of old boys and old girls were there, all delighted to find class pictures of themselves from years gone by.
Yours sincerely,
Malcolm Turnbull