Member of the Legislative Council

THE GREENS NSW

A Sustainable Transport Master Plan – Community Workshop

Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre

1 – 3pm, Monday 16 April, 22 Earl St, Coffs Harbour

Your invitation

The NSW government will be releasing a draft Transport Master Plan in June this year with its vision for transport for NSW for the next 20 years. Members of the community are being consulted as part of that process.

As the Greens transport spokeswoman I am undertaking consultation with the community in an effort to ensure as many voices and views are heard as possible throughout this process. I aim to collate ideas from these workshops and feed them into the government’s draft plan to ensure NSW gets a sustainable and community-focused transport master plan.

I will be talking to communities in regional NSW and broader Sydney in an effort to ensure genuine solutions for sustainable transport in local areas are considered. There is a danger that the some people’s voices will be ignored during the government’s process and this is my attempt to ensure that this doesn’t happen.

There will be a workshop in Coffs Harbour on Monday, 16 April 2012, from 1-3pm at the Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre at 22 Earl St Coffs Harbour via Harbour Drive and the Pacific Hwy.

I am looking forward to hearing your considered views and ask you to extend this invitation to your contacts.

To confirm your attendance at the workshop please contact Gail Broadbent in Cate Faehrmann’s office by (12 April 2012) gail.broadbent@parliament.nsw.gov.au

I look forward to seeing you there,

CATE FAEHRMANN MLC

Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber said the Federal Government’s decision to appoint a national Small Business Commissioner would be welcome news for Australia’s small business community.

NSW Business Chamber advocated the appointment of a Small Business Commissioner in NSW and is pleased to see the idea taken up at the national level.

“The small business community in NSW has enthusiastically embraced our State’s Small Business Commissioner and I have no doubt they will be thrilled with the idea of a permanent small business advocate at the national level,” said Kellon Beard, Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber Regional Manager.

“We’ve seen a strong focus by the Federal Government recently with announcements such as the inclusion of the Small Business Minister in Cabinet, an increase in the small business instant tax write-off to $6,500, and now a Small Business Commissioner.”

Mr Beard said he wanted to acknowledge the work of the Opposition, particularly the Shadow Small Business Minister Bruce Billson, in advocating these policy initiatives.

“Mr Billson has been doing a great job advocating on behalf of the small business community and I encourage him to keep hard at it.”

Kellon Beard

Regional Manager

Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber &

New England North West NSW Business Chamber

146-148 Gordon Street Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Tel: +612 6584 0910 | Mob: 0427 767 246 | Fax: 02 6584 0930

Web:www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au

FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT MINISTER

PACIFIC HIGHWAY DUPLICATION

QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE

PARLIAMENT HOUSE

15 FEBRUARY 2012

ROB OAKESHOTT (Member of Lyne) – My question is to the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport. Will you release a full schedule of works for the completion of the Pacific Highway now that your party has promised at two elections to complete the highway by 2016 and it will now appear in the four-year forward estimates in this year’s May budget?

ANTHONY ALBANESE – I thank the Member for Lyne for his question and for his commitment to his constituents, and other constituents, who use the Pacific Highway.

We already have committed some $4.1 billion to the Pacific Highway. More than 1,600 workers are today working on site rebuilding the Pacific Highway. This is vital for productivity. It has been identified by Infrastructure Australia as a priority. But it is also vital for safety. Over the last 20 years some 809 people have lost their lives on the Pacific Highway, which is 809 too many.

That is why we on this side of the House (Federal Labor) are absolutely committed to fulfilling the duplication by 2016, which was first promised by the Howard Government in 2004. They promised it but did not put any dollars into it. They contributed $1.3 billion over 12 years and during that time the State [Labor] Government committed $2.5 billion.

At that time – when they (the Federal Coalition) were in government – they said the Pacific Highway was a “state road”. They called upon the NSW Labor government to do more. The Member for Cowper [Luke Hartsuyker], for example, said in this place:

“It is a state road. NSW refused to commit one extra dollar of State government funding to a road they are responsible for.”

The State Member for Coffs Harbour, Andrew Fraser, who had a bit to say – inaccurately – in recent months about funding on the Pacific Highway, said this when he was in opposition:

“The Pacific Highway is a state road. I pay credit to the Federal [Labor] Government for increasing the funding arrangement. I damn and condemn this State government. The State government should pour the money in.”

But now, when in government, only yesterday Mr Fraser was saying in the NSW Parliament that they cannot afford to pay their share.

We on this side of the House say: let’s end the politics with this issue. Let’s have 50-50 funding to deliver on the Pacific Highway. Let’s see the Member for Cowper and the Leader of the National Party [Warren Truss] talk to their National Party colleagues in NSW and get them to deliver on what they say is their joint commitment to fully duplicate the Highway by 2016. That is what is required.

We need to do more. We accept that that is the case. But it can only be done in partnership with the NSW Government. That is the way forward and it is the way to ensure that the full duplication can be completed.

NATION BUILDING PROGRAM: PACIFIC HIGHWAY DUPLICATION

PAST FUNDING (1996/97 – 2007/08)

NSW Labor Government: $2.5 billion

Howard Coalition Government: $1.3 billion

CURRENT FUNDING (2008/09 – 2014/15)

NSW Government: $1 billion

Federal Labor Government: $4.1 billion

PROPORTION DUPLICATED

[Based on funding already committed]

1996: 10 per cent

2007: 40 per cent

NOW: 52 per cent

By mid-2014: About 70 per cent

NOTE: Federal Labor is spending more on the Pacific Highway than another road in the country, and compared to the former Howard Government, about three times as much in half the time.

If the Howard Government had made a similar financial commitment to the one we’re now making, the Highway would today be fully duplicated.

Right now over 1,600 construction workers are on-site upgrading and duplicating the Highway.

Projects currently underway:

• Construction of the Ballina Bypass, with work expected to be completed in 2012.

– Federal contribution: $421 million

• Duplication of the road between Sapphire and Woolgoolga, with work expected to be completed in 2013.

– Federal contribution: $610 million

• Construction of the Bulahdelah Bypass, with work expected to be completed in 2012.

– Federal contribution: $284 million

• Construction of the Kempsey Bypass, with work expected to be completed in 2013.

– Federal contribution: $618 million

• Upgrade and realignment of the road at Banora Point, with work expected to be completed in 2012.

– Federal contribution: $347 million

In addition, work will start on the following major projects during the current financial year (2011-12):

• Duplicating the road between Tintenbar and Ewingsdale.

– Federal contribution: $566 million

• Duplicating the road at Devils Pulpit.

– Federal contribution: $62 million

BENEFITS OF FULL DUPLICATION:

The upgrade and full duplication of the Pacific Highway is the most complex and expensive road project in the nation’s history.

The multi-billion project will deliver safer driving conditions, cut travel times and improve the road’s flood immunity, outcomes which over time will lower transport costs and lift productivity.

An upgrade and fully duplicated Pacific Highway will:

• Travel times: Reduce journey times between Newcastle and the Queensland border by 2.5 hours. The work already completed has cut travel times by 80 minutes for cars and by 90 minutes for trucks.

• Safety: Significantly reduce road fatalities, with the work already completed having contributed to a halving in annual deaths.

[Between 1990 and 2010, accidents on this road claimed 809 lives.]

• Flood immunity: Provide flood immunity against 1 in 20 year events in floodplain areas and 1 in 100 year events along the rest of the highway.

A fully duplicated Pacific Highway will be 664 kilometres long, approximately 13 kilometres shorter than its current length.

006.12 10 February 2012

Immigration skilled migration visits NSW Mid-North Coast

Officers from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will visit the mid-north coast region of NSW during the week of February 20 to present businesses and overseas workers with information on skilled migration and employer-sponsored visa options.

Two departmental officers will visit Port Macquarie, Woolgoolga and Coffs Harbour to conduct information sessions on Australia’s skilled migration program. The officers will also be available for individual appointments with employers and employees to answer their questions about skilled migration.

“Some businesses in regional communities can find it difficult to fill skilled vacancies with local workers and may want to consider sponsoring a suitably qualified worker from overseas,” a departmental spokesman said.

“Our officers will be available to provide a range of information on temporary or permanent employer sponsored visa options and the concessions available for regional applicants.”

The department’s regional visits program enables employers in communities outside capital cities to attend information sessions and to sit and talk directly with an immigration officer about specific issues they may face.

DIAC will run the seminars on skilled migration visa options on the following dates:

Port Macquarie Monday 20 February

2pm-4pm     Port Macquarie Council Chambers, corner of Lord and Burrawan Streets, Port Macquarie

Woolgoolga Wednesday 22 February

4pm-6pm     Woolgoolga Neighbourhood Centre, Corner of Beach and Boundary Streets, Woogoolga

Coffs Harbour Friday 24 February

9am-11am     Rainbow Room, Coffs Harbour Ex-Services Club, Pacific and Vernon Streets, Coffs Harbour

Those who would like to attend should email or ring Mr Rhett Henkel, Regional Outreach Officer, on 0401 998 817 to confirm attendance at one of the sessions.

The DIAC team will also be available for individual appointments at the following times:

Port Macquarie: Tuesday 21 February  9am-2pm

Appointments will be at the Regional Development Australia Mid-North Coast

Suite 1, Oxley House, 133-137 Gordon Street, Port Macquarie.

Woolgoolga Wednesday 22 February

1pm-3pm

Appointments will be at the Woolgoolga Neighbourhood Centre, Corner of Beach and Boundary Streets, Woolgoolga.

Coffs Harbour Thursday 23 February  9am-12pm

Friday 24th February  1pm-2pm

Bookings are essential for individual meetings – phone 0401 998 817

Media Enquiries: National Communications 02 8862 6261

Visit our Media Centre at: www.newsroom.immi.gov.au

“Our community has yet another chance to ensure local issues are heard and I’m asking all residents to view the Planning Review Issues Paper and send submissions before the closing date of February 17, 2012, ” Mr Stoner said.

See full details in pdf  161211PlanningReview

Hi all,

During the Regional Leadership Conference in Port Macquarie on Friday 18th November, Dr Tim Williams launched the Mid North Coast Regional Digital Strategy. Details on the strategy are available below.

RDA Mid North Coast are seeking feedback on the strategy and are asking the community to provide comments by 16th December 2011.

Please utilise the information and links below to consider what this strategy means to you and have your say.

The opportunity to provide feedback is open to all in the community, so please feel free to forward this email to those you consider might be interested or have something to contribute.

My apologies to those who may have already received this.

Thanks and regards

Mark Almond

Employment Project Coordinator

Building Australia’s Future Workforce – Mid North Coast Region

Australian Government Dept of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

3rd Floor, 3 Hopetoun Street (PO Box 627) CHARLESTOWN NSW 2290

Phone–(02) 4940 1707 Mobile-0412 834 590 Fax-(02) 6204 2368

As part of RDA Mid North Coast’s commitment to ensuring that our region is broadband ready, “Making Connections, Filling the Gaps – Towards a Digital Region” is the first regional digital strategy in the country and was launched at the Strategic Regional Leadership Conference in Port Macquarie.

RDA Mid North Coast commissioned Dr Tim Williams to prepare a strategy that provides direction for stakeholders and communities of the Mid North Coast to leverage the competitive advantage that currently exists within our region. Dr Williams has produced a highly relevant and exciting strategy for all tiers of government, education/health providers, SME’s and communities of the Mid North Coast to benefit from.

The aim of the strategy is to exploit three key linked opportunities in the region that comprise;

• The advent of high speed broadband
• The fast-growing shift to online public services and engagement with citizens at local government, federal and state level
• The emergence of a digital economy and clusters of manufacturing, creative, health and knowledge based industries in the region.

The strategy is open for comment until Friday 16 December 2011. Comments will be collated and published as an appendix. We look forward to your comments and your willingness to identify how you may assist in the creation of a digital region on the Mid North Coast.

Download the strategy here

INAUGURAL CHAMBERS DAY FOR THE MID NORTH COAST REGION 14TH NOVEMBER 2011

On Monday I attended the meeting on behalf of our Chamber.

Representatives from Coff’s Harbour, Port Macquarie and Kempsey were also present.

Two guest speakers gave presentations- Chris Denny from Observatory Managed Apartments and Daniel Jordan from Joyer Consulting.

Chris explored the idea of what is meant by good customer service and the importance of the customer experience, suggesting that this is a guiding principle that should be incorporated into every facet of the business’s operation. He has developed an impressive array of strategies in an attempt to quantify to what extent customers expectations are met and identify where improvements could be made.

We had a brief discussion on sustainability. He saw it first and foremost as a marketing tool and was certainly not ideologically driven. To be able to claim to be carbon neutral would entail the purchase of carbon offsets and I was left with the impression that he was not quite sure whether it was worth it!

I suspect that claims of carbon neutrality might get a bit clichéd before too long.

Daniel Jordan provided an oversight of the various components of social media and how they could be best utilised in marketing and promotion. He stressed the importance of setting clear goals for what you want to achieve and identifying the avenue that would best reach your target market.

There are apparently 17,000 facebook users within 80 kms of Port Macquarie

That done we moved on to an open discussion of the development of the alliance of chambers on the mid north coast and how it could best benefit individual members.

I believe there are real benefits in being associated with a larger organisation. Apart from the obvious strength in numbers, the State Chamber website provides a valuable resource where you can access a wide range of advice and information on many aspects of small business operation.

If you’ve got a problem you can be sure someone else out there is having the same difficulties.

If you haven’t already checked out the NSW Chamber of Commerce website have a look at the home page to see what’s on offer. (NSW Business Chamber)

One of the primary functions of the State Chamber is to lobby for members. Whilst local issues (trouble with councils etc.) are best dealt with by the responsible chamber, they will take up issues with the relevant politicians that are seen to be of regional/state significance.

Finally we discussed the relevance of a regional meeting and all present agreed it was a useful exercise. Port Macquarie is prepared to continue to host, and pay for, the meetings.

Initially suggested that they should be annual but I think they should be at least every 6 months to maintain traction.

The aim of the survey is to access the economic impacts of Rally Australia 2011 as experienced by local businesses.  In particular to examine business preparedness, post event outcomes and identify possible increases in short term employment due to the event.

This will be important information for future events and everyone is encouraged to take the time to complete the survey.

Link for the survey:https://scutourism.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_7QG5E52mSRxlz0g

MEDIA RELEASE 21 October 2011

BUSINESS COMMUNITY WELCOMES NSW GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO PACIFIC HIGHWAY REPORT CARDS

Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber has welcomed the commitment by the NSW Government to providing six-monthly report cards detailing the progress of the Pacific Highway upgrade towards targeted milestones and the final completion date.

Roads Minister Duncan Gay announced today that the O’Farrell/Stoner Government will provide six-monthly report card updates to the NSW North Coast communities on the upgrade.

NSW Business Chamber has campaigned for the last three years on the proposal for six-monthly report cards for the Pacific Highway upgrade that would be signed off by the Premier of NSW and Prime Minister providing a new level of accountability and transparency on the overdue project. The proposal for report cards was also one of the 10 Big Ideas to Grow the Mid North Coast.

“The Pacific Highway upgrade has been an ongoing saga for the past two decades with no clear end in sight – that’s what we want this report card proposal to deliver,” said Kellon Beard Murray, Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber Regional Manager.

“The Roads Minister, Duncan Gay, understands the importance of getting this project finished – especially in terms of saving lives and providing economic opportunities for communities along the NSW North Coast.

“The Minister’s enthusiasm to provide a new reporting mechanism should provide a new level of accountability and transparency in the delivery of the Pacific Highway upgrade.

“The Chamber would also like to acknowledge the tireless work of local MP and Deputy Premier, Andrew Stoner, in pursuing a better outcome on the Pacific Highway upgrade.

“We are looking forward to working with the NSW Government in developing the report cards. We would encourage the Federal Government to sign on to this initiative.

“These report cards will hold both Governments to account to the community in completing this vital project.”

Media Contact: Kellon Beard 0419 260 220

Kellon Beard

Regional Manager | NSW Business Chamber

146-148 Gordon Street Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Tel: +612 6584 0910 | Mob: 0427 767 246 | Fax: 02 6584 0930

Web:www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au

Our purpose: We inspire, influence, inform and invigorate business and its environment.

Local businesses to have a voice at Jobs Forum

The Mid North Coast region will have a voice at the Federal Government’s Jobs Forum next week after lobbying by the Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber for regional businesses to be represented at the Forum.

Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber wrote to local Federal MP, Rob Oakeshott, calling for regional business communities to have a voice at the Jobs Forum. As a result, Mr Oakeshott will be accompanied to the Jobs Forum by representatives from Industry Mid North Coast.

“When the Jobs Form was announced the Chamber was adamant that the Forum will need representatives from regional areas of Australia to ensure all voices and ideas are heard – I’m pleased to see that our local MP has secured a local voice at the Forum,” said Kellon Beard, Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber Regional Manager.

“The Jobs Forum is a great opportunity to come up with solutions to the challenges that are facing important segment of the Australian economy – we have a booming mining sector that requires more skilled workers while at the same time the retail and manufacturing sectors are facing pressures of lower customer spending confidence, higher dollar and international competition.”

Mr Beard said he hoped that the Jobs Forum would not become another Federal Government talkfest but a vehicle to deliver economic reform and jobs growth.

Mr Beard said the Future Jobs Forum should identify solutions to the challenges facing Australian businesses including:

• The future of manufacturing – how will manufacturers cope with a high Australian dollar, carbon tax and international competition?
• Fair Work Act – is the Act working the way it was intended to and what reforms are required to support job creation, innovation and productivity growth?
• Challenges facing retailers – what does the increasing popularity of online retailing mean for the future of brick and mortar retailers?
• Carbon Tax – does Australia’s ‘go it alone’ approach to climate change increase pressure on Australian businesses and place them in an unfair and uncompetitive position?
• Taxation – are the current settings for the carbon tax, company tax, GST and payroll tax appropriate to encourage job creation?
• Skills shortages – what long term impact will the multi speed economy and ageing population have on skills shortages?
• Youth unemployment – how do we improve the school to work transition for young people?
• Funding for universities – are financial incentives driving the right number and type of graduates?

“Everything needs to be on the table at the Future Jobs Forum. Employers have serious reservations about what effects the Fair Work Act, the Carbon Tax and the high Australian dollar are having on Australia’s competitive edge. These should all be discussed in a frank and open debate.”

Media Contact: Kellon Beard 0427 767 246

Kellon Beard

Regional Manager

Mid North Coast NSW Business Chamber &

New England NSW Business Chamber

146-148 Gordon Street Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Tel: +612 6584 0910 | Mob: 0427 767 246 | Fax: 02 6584 0930

Web: www.nswbusinesschamber.com.au