Senator Bridget McKenzie

279 Hargreaves Street, VIC 3550 ph 03 5441 4251 fax 03 5441 4260 02 6277 3200 www.bridgetmckenzie.com.au

FAST FACTS

Newsletter • 81% of urban students more AUTUMN 2017 likely to have obtained their Year 12 compared with just 67% of regional students

• Just 25% of students from regional areas are at university

• University completion rates - 18.3% of 25-34 year olds from remote and very remote areas

• 20.4% from regional areas obtaining a Bachelor Degree or above compared with MAJOR REVIEW 42.4% from capital cities INTO REGIONAL EDUCATION

It a great step forward for education community, families, employers and employer REVIEW BACKED BY in the regions, I was delighted to join groups, relevant government agencies and the Deputy Prime Minister and philanthropic sector. EDUCATIONALISTS Education Minister This is a significant step forward by the to announce a comprehensive review of Education leaders in the Bendigo federal government in looking at some of regional education. region were among the many that the challenges and barriers that impact on The aim of the review to be led by Professor the learning outcomes of regional, rural and supported the review announcement. John Halsey of Flinders University, (pictured remote students. Among them, La Trobe University vice- above left) is to identify and address key chancellor, John Dewar (pictured left) It will look at education from school entry to barriers and challenges that impact on said it had the potential to improve job success and how we can improve results educational outcomes in regional, rural and for regional students. students’ access to and the quality of remote areas. education. Professor Halsey has had extensive experience My regional colleagues and I have worked in regional education and understands the “We welcome review and look forward towards this move for the past two years as unique challenges faced by regional students. to working with Government and the well as holding forums and consulting with Opposition on this important issue. regional educationalists. A discussion paper and online platform for public submissions will be available from next “La Trobe has been applying its research This review, an election commitment by the month. skills to search for practical solutions , will provide the blueprint for further in this space for some time. We have work in the area. Professor Halsey is a perfect Further details at: proposed a number of ideas already in https://www.education.gov.au/independent- fit to head the review which will be of great fora such as CEDA and benefit to all regional students. review-regional-rural-and-remote-education Regional Development Conference. Your postcode should not matter and “We think it’s important to lift Higher should never determine your educational Education participation rates in rural and opportunities. regional and prevent brain drain This issue has been a problem in this country to the capital cities. for many years, it is time, in the 21st century, “Over the last decade (2006-2015) that we actually solve it. La Trobe’s regional presence has As part of the review, there will be a call for delivered over 14000 graduates from our submissions from interested parties and face regional campuses, over half of whom to face consultations with key stakeholders, commenced their careers in the region in including representatives from the education which they studied,” Mr Dewar said. ACCC STUDY INTO THE CATTLE AND BEEF INDUSTRY UPDATE ON DAIRY The ACCC Study into Australia’s cattle and beef markets which goes to the heart of ROUNDTABLES problems in the industry raised with me over many years is most welcome. In the last edition of this newsletter, I I took their frustrations back to the Deputy For decades, I have been hearing about a reported on the series of Dairy Industry Prime Minister, who had asked me to culture of fear and intimidation throughout the Roundtables held in regional late Chair the Roundtables and he has already beef industry and the ACCC Study addresses last year. implemented immediate measures to make many of those concerns. it easier for dairy farmers experiencing I am pleased to report that Deputy Prime hardship, to speed up payments of the FHA. A constant complaint that I have heard over a Minister Barnaby Joyce has acted decisively considerable time is the lack of transparency and quickly to the concerns of dairy farmers These include amendments to the Farm around how decisions are made inside the who attended a series of Roundtables. Household Support Act to more precisely processing plant once a carcase is on the define farm assets when assessing eligibility The Roundtables heard the views of hook. as well as removing the requirement to serve dairy farmers regarding the delivery of an Ordinary Waiting Period or Liquid Assets The recommendations that look at assistance measures, including the Coalition Waiting Period before people can receive implementing an objective carcase rating Government’s $579 million dairy assistance payments. scheme are much needed. package to support farmers affected by For a market to operate effectively and to reduced farm gate milk prices. However the feedback received during the four Roundtables was broader and included deliver returns to the entire supply chain, there The subsequent report was prepared by concerns about dairy processor behaviour, needs to be transparency around how prices the Department of Agriculture and Water the need for social and other supports, are set. Resources and the Department of Human dairy industry representation and industry Services. Everybody needs to be able to understand structure, strategy and politics. why that particular beast fetched that I heard from a number of dairy farmers The Roundtables are further evidence of the particular amount of money on that market. who attended the Roundtables in the Kiewa Coalition Government’s commitment to Farmers need to have that information Valley, in Shepparton, Camperdown and support Australia’s dairy farmers. available to them in a manner they in about long waiting times for understand, to use that information in their benefits, lost documents and the mountain farming practices and to know if they are of forms. meeting market expectations. At the moment that is not occurring and the ACCC recommendation that price grids should be made publically available and that they are easy to interpret and compare is a good one and vital for farmers. As I have also been suggesting, the ACCC Study found that improvements to market reporting are needed with cattle prices reported across sales channels on the same basis so that indicative prices for each channel are easily comparable. I particularly support the recommendation that the Red Meat Advisory Council should develop a uniform and independent complaints and dispute resolution process to give confidence back to the industry. Another positive recommendation is that selling agents should display the terms of auction in a prominent position at all saleyards. I support the ACCC recommended that the Red Meat Advisory Council should have prime responsibility for overseeing the recommendations and for monitoring their compliance. Now, I would also like to see the Red Meat Advisory Council and other interested parties including the ACCC appear before the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee before the its Senate Report is finalised in coming months. RIGHT MOVE (AT LAST) BY THE ABC

It was a long time coming but the Australian areas in ABC broadcasting focus is a real Broadcasting Corporation has finally moved passion of mine and something that I have to add some balance to its reporting between been pushing in the Senate and elsewhere for urban and regional areas. Under the changes, years. Hopefully it will bring some fairness and ABC Managing Director Michelle Guthrie is equity for ABC viewers and listeners in regional shedding some city staff but up to 80 staff will and rural areas at last! be recruited over the next 18 months which will You can listen to the details at: give at least some balance to staff numbers. www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2016/s4631937.htm The imbalance between the cities and regional

ON THE OTHER HAND Michelle Guthrie told a Senate hearing that I However in a Public Hearing of the was involved in that the decision to axe ABC Environment and Communications shortwave services in Northern Territory and Legislation in Darwin recently, evidence elsewhere, including out of Shepparton to suggested a large number of protests with S.E. Asia didn’t attract more than a handful of the decision to axe the service affecting an protests. estimated 50,000 listeners.

SMALL BUSINESS BENEFITS FROM PENALTY RATES CHANGES

Small business operators I have spoken decisions are made independently by the to throughout Regional Victoria say Reserve Bank to remove any suggestion the recent decision by the Fair Work of political interference, decisions about Commission will mean many of them will employment awards and conditions are have the opportunity to open again on made independently by the Fair Work Sundays, creating more local jobs. Commission. Sunday penalty rates have been reduced in And by the way, The Fair Work Commission four industries, retail, hospitality, fast food was set up by the Gillard Labor and pharmacy – 4 out of 122 awards. Government in 2009 to review all awards every 4 years. So when the decision doesn’t Thousands of small businesses have been go the way he wants, Bill Shorten doesn’t competing on an uneven playing field accept the umpire’s decision, from the against big business that have negotiated body his own party, when in government, with unions through enterprise agreements established. that mean they already avoid high Sunday penalty rates. What has been lost in all of the union and Labor Party hoo har in all of this is the fact that, just as interest rate LEAVING THE CITY BEHIND IN OTHER NEWS….. There have been a flood of submissions flows through the community and means turned on one of its best mornings to the recently announced Get out of the more money for the local coffee shop, to the recently for the launch of the Central City Campaign, a campaign launched local mechanic, implores doctors to move Highlands NDIS, a major reform to support by The Nationals to decentralise more there, schools to grow, and helps to deliver Australians with a permanent and significant government offices and agencies better transport services. disability. Locally over 4600 people with to country Australia to boost job Regional Australia deserves its fair share of disability will join the scheme, providing 700 opportunities in the bush. government services and opportunities; and jobs and injecting $1.2 mill into the local that includes being able to access quality economy. I think this is a great incentive by the Deputy public sector careers just as much as any Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce, and obviously capital city. many towns think the same with around 800 submissions from country Australia to a new Regional areas deserve well-paid, skilled job Senate inquiry into decentralising government and Centres of Excellence to be established offices and agencies. to create knowledge hubs which continue to attract and grow those jobs. This is a great campaign which I believe can play a really strong part in attracting I will keep you up to date on what happens Commonwealth jobs to the regional areas. now in this push to revitalise country areas with much needed government agencies and Every public service job in Regional Australia commonwealth offices.

HAVE YOUR SAY Former Deputy Prime Minister, is the driving force behind a campaign to I am always keen to hear your views posthumously promote General Sir John on any issue that interests you. Monash to Field Marshall. Loved by his Please contact my Bendigo office if troops, greatly respected by serving hierarchy I can assist you in any way or if you in the Australian and British forces but want to raise an issue with me that not by the Prime Minister at the time, Billy interest you. Hughes who, Tim says was jealous of Sir John’s achievements on the battlefield. I have You can email me at: attended two events to promote the campaign [email protected] and Tim is confident the promotion to Field Or phone the office on Marshall will happen. 03 5441 4251