July 2010

Dear Friend,

Welcome to my monthly update for July 2010.

If you would like to contact me via email, please see my contact information below, or click here.

Federal Election Called for August 21st 2010

This election is about giving a great people a better government. We are a great country but we have been let down by our government, at least for the past three years. Australia will be at its best when all of our people are empowered to be at their best. But the only way to change for the better is to change the government.

Only a Coalition government can end the spin and incompetence that has marked the Rudd Gillard Government. The government has just got worse over the past four weeks since Labor’s faceless men executed the elected prime minister. Four weeks ago the government had lost its way but since then it's just got worse.

Why should people trust Labor’s 2010 promises when you couldn’t trust its 2007 promises; why should people trust a new prime minister who said she’d fix the messes her own government had created – failed to do so – and now has rushed to the polls before she’s established her credentials to govern; why should people trust Julia Gillard when even Kevin Rudd couldn’t?

There is a real risk in this election. It’s that a bad government will get the second chance that it doesn’t deserve and that Australia can’t afford. The election isn’t about glib slogans. It’s about competent government that works for everyday Australians and their families and that’s what the Coalition stands ready to deliver. The Prime Minister wants to move forward because the recent past is so littered with her own failures. If we stay with Labor we’ll be moving forward to more spending, more taxes, more debt, and more boats.

That’s why Labor needs to move out for our country to move on. We’ll stand up for Australia. We’ll stand up for real action. We’ll end the waste, repay the debt, stop the new taxes and stop the boats.

Click the image above to view a brief statement from Tony Abbott.

Click here to read the Liberal Party's Action Contract and here to download information about the LNP policies.

Liberal Media Releases

- Where Are The Obstectrics Reviews, Katy?

- The Health Statistics The Minister Didn't Tell You

- RRDT Passes Into Law With Police Association And Community Support

- Libs To Censure Gallagher Over Elective Surgery Misleads And Mismanagement

- Plan To Downgrade Urgent Surgery Patients Against Advice Of Doctors

- Questions Remain Unanswered Regarding Point-To-Point Speed Cameras

- Stanhope Claims Price Not Important For Struggling Home Buyers

- Stanhope Must Do More To Foster Competition For Third Party Insurance

- Rents Skyrocket Under ACT Labor - $130 Above The National Average

- More Evidence Contradicts Stanhope's Housing Affordability Claims

- Labor Slugs Families $5000 For Travelling To Work & School

- Burch Has No Clue About $10,000 Tax On New Childcare Places

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Brendan's Budget Wrap Up

The 2010 ACT Budget, according to the Shadow Treasurer, Brendan Smyth, was very disappointing.  It was disappointing because it lacks any vision for the future of the ACT; it was disappointing because it lacked any strategy to return the ACT Budget to surpluses; it was disappointing because it failed to articulate any strategy to diversify the economic base of the ACT; it was disappointing because it did not contain any decisions on how to reduce wasteful government spending; it was disappointing because of the inappropriate spending priorities that it contained.

Indeed, the 2010 ACT Budget is a lazy Budget that reflects much of what is wrong with the ACT Labor Government.  In 2009, the ACT Treasurer, Ms Gallagher, promised that there would be a sound strategy for savings developed during 2009-10.  She failed to deliver on this promise.  In fact, she and her colleagues are still looking for the savings that she says are required.  The critical decisions appear to be beyond her.

In 2009, Ms Gallagher promised to set out a plan to return the ACT Budget to surplus.  She failed to deliver on that promise.  Instead, all she has done is not make any significant fiscal policy decisions and simply hope that the ACT Budget will restore itself to surplus.

Ms Gallagher’s failure to use the 2010 ACT Budget to position the ACT economy to strengthen and diversify is a cause for much concern.  The Labor Government has wasted nine years and still the ACT waits for a sense of vision and effective long term strategy.  Sadly, the current Government does not appear to be capable of providing this leadership to the ACT community.

From Mr Brendan Smyth MLA - Deputy Leader or the Opposition and Shadow Treasurer

In response to pressure from the Canberra Liberals, Education Minister Andrew Barr recently announced a back-flip in funding; giving the Shepherd Centre and Noah’s Ark a short-term reprieve, after months of hard work by the two centres to engage with the Government on continued funding.

This was an excellent outcome for the organisations involved and the ACT community. The Minister refused to meet with these organisations and has been dragged kicking and screaming by the community and the Canberra Liberals to do the right thing.  It should never have to be this way.

Both organisations provide vital services to children with special needs and their parents—but Mr Barr had these services slotted for the budget chopping block.

This is a terrific outcome for the many parents whose children’s learning development would have stalled and would have had no options but to resort to institutional programs. The Education Minister really needs to focus on presenting and implementing good policy—not just spin.

Click here to view more about the work being done through The Shepard Centre and Noah's Ark.

Alistair Coe: The ACT Government has wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on concrete and stainless steel blocks for people to glue posters to. Each block costs between $18,171 and $36,111.

This is yet another example of ACT Labor’s mismanagement of the budget. The  source of these costings can be found by clicking here.

Click here to continue reading the story.

One for the Kids!

Local Federal Candidates

Please feel free to contact me regarding a local issue or any issues in relation to my shadow ministerial responsibilities. If there are any functions or community events occuring that you believe I should attend, please let me know.

Jeremy Hanson CSC MLA

ACT Legislative Assembly | Civic Square | London Circuit | Canberra ACT 2602 or GPO Box 1020 Canberra ACT 2601

p - 02 6205 0133 | f - 02 6205 3017 | e - hanson@parliament.act.gov.au