PRIVATISATION of electricity, health, education and training is never a clever thing to do.
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Essential services belong in public hands to protect the public interest. Low interest rates give the opportunity to borrow to build infrastructure while keeping essential assets in public hands.
Jobs and environment - there are 10 times more jobs in renewable energy than in the coal industry.
In Port Macquarie we did have a thriving solar panel industry until the conservative governments drove investment away. Jobs in the renewables industries are clean, safe and good for the planet. A pristine environment is necessary for another big employer, tourism.
Education - Public schools are the centre of the community, and like TAFE, offers equality of opportunity with high quality teaching and standards.
Public education is education for life.
And tertiary education shouldn't be a debt sentence.
Transport and planning - unlike the old parties, the Greens work for the people who elect them, not the corporations that finance them.
The old party way, which led to politicians going before ICAC, needs to be replaced with democratic, sustainable and smart planning.
We need investment in public transport such as a shuttle bus for the Base Hospital.
1. TAFE has suffered massive funding cuts and fee hikes. A lot of people in our community have been locked out of qualifications they need to get jobs; upgrade their qualifications and even complete their apprenticeships.
Quality and affordable education is essential to our community and our economy.
2. The government’s plan to privatise electricity poles and wires networks will mean $1.7 billion of revenue will be lost to the economy each year.
That money will go to private corporations instead of funding health and education.
We value Essential Energy in our community and the uncertainty the privatisation agenda is causing to the workers is great. Labor will not sell/lease any of the poles and wires in this state.
3. The National/Liberal state and federal governments have been stealthily privatising many health, community and social services and this is of great concern to some of the most vulnerable in our community.
This in combination with funding cuts are hurting many.
4. Many mental health services are lacking in this community. Funding needs to be provided to improve this situation.
5. Community land should stay in public hands, whether it is the Plaza carpark site or the
Crowdy Head foreshore, not sold to the highest bidder.
BY far the most frequent concern raised by constituents in the electorate is the poor state of local roads and footpaths.
While I understand the challenges facing local councils particularly in regard to ongoing maintenance of infrastructure it is important that there is investment to ensure the safety of road users including cyclists and pedestrians.
The expansion of acute mental health facilities at the Port Macquarie Base Hospital and community support for those with mental health issues remains one of my highest priorities. We are fortunate to have a world class health facility with the expansion of the hospital but more needs to be done to assist those inpatients with mental health concerns.
The ongoing increase in our population and the demand for health services means consideration must be given to further expansion of car parking at the precinct. My personal experience has given me an insight into the challenges facing those with disabilities and their carers and I am very aware of the apprehensions of many as we transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
One of my priorities is to work closely with local service providers and consumers to ensure we all have confidence that the future with the NDIS is one that provides peace of mind and appropriate individualised care and support.
There has been a huge investment into local public schools over the past four years but there is more to be done. I am very cognisant that there is a need for major capital investment in both campuses of the Hastings Secondary College.