6th August 2010

GREENS WILL BE SCHOOLS’ INSURANCE POLICY ON INFRASTRUCTURE

A strong Greens’ presence in the Senate is vital to provide insurance to
schools that they will receive the infrastructure they desperately need,
according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Education, says the
Taskforce report into the Building the Education Revolution program has
confirmed the problems with the scheme but also the benefits for schools
and communities across Australia.

“It is clear that there have been some problems with the program in less
than three per cent of cases, and that these were serious problems which
have to be addressed,” Senator Hanson-Young said.

“However the report also acknowledges what everybody except Tony Abbott
knows – that the BER program, as part of the stimulus package, had to be
done under severe time constraints in order to help keep Australia out
of recession.

“The program was also a big opportunity to redress years of chronic
underfunding of Australian schools, particularly in the area of
infrastructure.

“The Greens are glad we supported this package, and we remain committed
to its future. Regardless of who is in government after this election,
the remaining schools on the list must receive the infrastructure
funding they need.

“If Tony Abbott had his way, Australian schools would have missed out on
$16 billion in vital infrastructure funding.

“The Liberals are clearly the party of no when it comes to policy, and
Tony Abbott is Dr No. A strong Greens presence in the Senate will ensure
that the Coalition can’t just say no to schools who are still waiting
for the infrastructure they need and deserve.”
 
The Greens believe in transparency and accountability, and support the
Report’s recommendations for publication of school specific cost data
related to the BER program, and greater involvement of school
stakeholders and consultation in decision making on design and education
outcomes for projects yet to be completed.

“This program needs to be completed, but remaining projects must be
scrutinised to ensure they are well targeted, efficiently delivered,
economically sound and environmentally sustainable.”

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6 August 2010

High Court decision win for democracy

Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown has welcomed a High Court ruling that
laws to close electoral rolls at 8pm on the day writs for an election
are issued as unconstitutional.

Senator Brown said the decision highlighted the need for the Greens in
the Senate.

“These laws should never have been passed,” said Senator Brown.

“The Howard Government put them through when they had control of both
Houses of Parliament, the same composition that allowed them to
legislate for WorkChoices.

“With a Tony Abbott led Government looking increasingly likely, the need
for the Greens in the balance of power in the Senate is even more
important.

“The two voters who initiated this challenge with Get Up’s support have
delivered a great service to the voters of Australia and democracy. I
congratulate them for it,” Senator Brown said.

Media contact: Erin Farley 0438 376 082
www.greensmps.org.au

Erin Farley
Media Adviser
Senator Bob Brown | Leader of the Australian Greens
Suite SG-112 Parliament House, Canberra ACT 
P: 02 6277 3577 | M: 0438 376 082| F: 02 6277 3185
http://bob-brown.greensmps.org.au/| www.GreensMPs.org.au
<http://www.greensmps.org.au/> 

Media release
 
>From Sylvia Hale, Greens spokesperson for Planning
 
6 August 2010   – For immediate use
 
Catherine Hill Bay plan a fix for Labor mates
 
The Greens have slammed the new draft State Environmental Planning
Policy (SEPP) for the South Wallarah Peninsula at Catherine Hill Bay.
 
“When the Land and Environment Court threw out the original development
application for Catherine Hill Bay by Rose Property Group and others and
described the proposal as being based on a ‘land bribe’, the Government
should have listened to the community and abandoned the massive
development of the area,” said Sylvia Hale MLC, Greens spokesperson for
Planning.
 
“Sadly, the Government has taken the expected route of sticking up for
its donor mates by supporting an expanded version the original proposal
and proposing a SEPP that allows developers to maximise building on the
site.
 
“This is simply a disgrace.
 
“The Greens welcome the proposal to give Catherine Hill Bay and Middle
camp villages the highest level of heritage protection. This is a great
victory for hard working local residents who have campaigned tirelessly
in opposition to the Rose Group’s plans to develop the area.
 
“But that protection is little more than spin when Government then
moves to support development to the south and west of the village.
 
“The Government’s proposing to overturn the existing coastal
protection SEPP to allow for significant development of the headland is
an appalling precedent and one that will irrevocably detract from the
heritage significance and ambience of the area.
 
“The proposal to add significant low density residential development to
Catherine Hill Bay and nearby Gwandalan and Nords Wharf is deeply flawed
and unsustainable.
 
“Coal and Allied (C&A), the promoter of the Gwandalan and Nords Wharf
developments, has produced glossy environmental assessment statements
suggesting that its developments will have little impact on the
environment. But even these assessments admit that Nords Wharf would be
subject to bushfire threat and that there are few employment
opportunities in the area, little public infrastructure, and an almost
total reliance on private motor vehicles for transport.
 
“The Government must prohibit more sprawl, wherever it occurs, and end
its culture of writing planning documents in the interests of its donor
mates.
 
“This announcement is the latest in a series of decisions that degrade
the environment and trash good planning, simply to ensure generous Labor
donors and mates get what they want.
 
“I have no doubt the community will view the Government’s action with
the contempt it richly deserve,” said Ms Hale.
 
 
Contact: Colin Hesse on 02 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124
—
Another message from the Greens Media mailing list.

Alzheimer’s Australia chief executive Glenn Rees says the peak body commissioned the report to help steer future health planning.

“The key things that it has found are that by 2050 there will be a shortfall in aged care places – both community care places and residential care places – of about 280,000 places,” he said.

“What that means in simple terms is that we would have to double the increase in the supply of community care packages and residential care packages every year for the next 40 years.”

The report points to a huge increase in the number of people predicted to have dementia in 40 years time, which means an increased need not only for aged care places, but the services that these people will need.

“This report finds that by 2050 the numbers of people with dementia will be about 1 million. That is an increase of four-fold from today’s numbers,” Mr Rees said.

The peak body says the current basis for planning for Australia’s aged population is to look at the number of people who will be more than 70 years old.

Mr Rees says this system does not work, and it needs to be either pegged to the growth in dementia or the number of Australians who will be more than 85 years old.

The results of the study will be presented to the Productivity Commission inquiry into aged care.

Mr Rees says so far the Federal Government and the Opposition have focused on moving money around for short-term gain, and much bigger commitments to reform and funding are needed.

“There is no real indication in what has been said in this election that either major party understands the extent of the reforms needed in aged care,” he said.

Aged care provider Bupa Care Services’ managing director, Paul Gregerson, says the study’s findings will add to the anxieties of ageing Australians.

His company conducted a survey of 1,200 people over the age of 50 to find out what Australians worry about as they are getting older.

“One of the significant things that we found was that people worry more about dementia now than they do about stroke and heart disease,” he said.

“We found that cancer is the thing that Australians worry most about. The second most thing that they worry about is dementia and losing their mental independence.”

Tags: community-and-society, aged-care, health, disabilities, healthcare-facilities, mental-health, older-people, health-policy, australia