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Election Winners and Losers

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Election Winners and Losers Tuggeranong Community Council Newsletter Issue 20: October 2012 Election winners and losers L to R: Mick Gentleman (ACT Labor), Zed Seselja and Andrew Wall (Canberra Liberals) and Amanda Bresnan (ACT Greens) The big winners in the seat of At the time of writing the loser at the drew Wall and Mick Gentleman. I am Brindabella at the recent ACT elec- polls appears to be Greens member, looking forward to working with them tion were Canberra Liberals Leader, Amanda Bresnan. She is a victim of in the future,” he said. Zed Seselja, Liberals newcomer An- the overall swing away from the drew Wall and Labor’s Mick Gentle- Greens that has also seen defeats However, he warned the Council will man. for her party colleagues, Caroline Le also hold them accountable to the Couteur and Meredith Hunter. many promises that were made to Mr Seselja successfully moved from Brindabella voters during the elec- Molonglo to his home seat of Brinda- Ms Bresnan said she also lost votes tion campaign. bella attracting a popular vote, which through the personal popularity of appears to have assisted the Liber- Canberra Liberals Leader, Zed Se- Mr Tsoulias said he was sorry to see als to gain a third member in Mr selja and the Canberra Liberals Ms Bresnan lose her seat Wall. Mr Wall is a 28-year-old small “Triple Rates” campaign, which also businessman and a newcomer to targeted the Greens. “She was a tireless worker for politics having joined the Liberal Brindabella. Amanda would be seen Party four years ago. Despite her loss she says she is at most Council and community looking forward to a break from poli- events mixing with constituents,” he Labor’s Mick Gentleman has been re tics, spending time with her husband said. -elected to the Legislative Assembly and possibly working overseas for a filling the position vacated with the while. “She regularly attended Council retirement of the long serving and meetings where she provided up- colourful, John Hargreaves. Tuggeranong Community Council dates and reports on the happenings President, Nick Tsoulias, congratu- in the Legislative Assembly,” Mr Mr Gentleman last served in the As- lated all members elected to the seat Tsoulias added. sembly from 2004 to 2008 and cred- of Brindabella. its himself with the successful intro- “I hope she will continue to have an duction of the Gross Feed-in Tariff “I congratulate Joy Burch and Bren- interest in the Council,” he con- during that period. Meanwhile former dan Smyth on being re-elected to cluded. Community Services Minister, Joy Brindabella and I especially welcome Darryl Johnston Burch was easily re-elected. new members in Zed Seselja, An- TCC Secretary Tuggeranong Community Council Working with our community www.tuggcc.com Page 1 CONTENTS PAGE What they promised The following is a list of many of the $19.2m for stage 2 of the du- election promises made to Brinda- plication of Ashley Drive. bella voters by the major political parties. Election winners and losers 1 What they promised 2/4 Bresnan departs proud of achievements 3 Lake gets some overdue TLC 4 News in Brief 4 Private sector partnership to Provide more car parking develop the stage one light rail spaces in Tuggeranong. 55plus News 5 network. Upgrade roads including dupli- Don’t Forget 5 Twenty additional buses and cation of Athllon Drive. Provide an urgent care clinic services across the top ten routes. in Tuggeranong. More Rapid services. Introduction of a green waste New bus shelters. bin. Six fare free days to try out Cutting car registration instal- ACTION. ment penalties. Bulk billing GP Clinic in Chis- Re-establish the Office of the holm. Ageing. $15m to improve hospital out- Introduction of a shuttle bus patient services. service to feed into the Rapid An additional 500 nurses, doc- bus lines. tors and allied health profes- Establish a land bank for aged sionals. care accommodation. $600,000 to establish a water Undertake a seniors transport play area at the Lakeside Lei- study sure Centre. Overhaul planning in the ACT. A new emergency services Increased funding for non- centre at Calwell. government schools in Tug- $4m to employ additional fire- geranong. fighters. Build a swimming pool in Lan- $250m Health Infrastructure yon. Program. Increase penalties for assaults $6.8m for road safety opera- on care, protection and emer- tions team, additional police gency service workers. vehicles and alcohol ignition vehicle locking system. $11m in local shopping centre upgrades. $80m to meet elective surgery waiting lists. $26m to upgrade sporting Support for High Speed Rail ovals and facilities, including and Light Rail. Kambah and Greenway ovals. Support for measures to make $3m for new premises for the wood heaters cleaner and Tuggeranong Introductory more efficient. English Centre. Continued on page 4 Tuggeranong Community Council acknowledges its supporters. Tuggeranong Community Council Working with our community www.tuggcc.com Page 2 Bresnan departs proud of achievements action is required. In fact, I had dis- cussions with the AHHA after my draft legislation was released. While we had different views about what level of standards to pursue, I be- lieve the discussion was very pro- ductive and positive and we agreed to continue talking about legislation, which the AHHA actually viewed in general as a positive move. Improv- ing efficiency of wood heaters also makes them cheaper and more ef- fective to run. “While I will no longer be your political representative, I will take a keen interest in the work of the TCC.” We need to remember in this whole debate that wood smoke has a real impact on people with respiratory and heart disease, and is something Outgoing Greens member for Brindabella Amanda Bresnan says she is leaving with a the Asthma Foundation has called proud record. (Photo citynews.com) for action on and asked voters in the It is with sadness that I leave the belling – with the growing impact of election to consider the impact wood ACT Legislative Assembly in not re- obesity, diabetes, heart disease and smoke has on people’s health. taining my seat in the 2012 election. other diet and lifestyle related dis- eases on the health system, food The campaign run by the AHHA dur- It has been a huge honour to repre- and diet is an area where tough de- ing the election was very disappoint- sent the electorate of Brindabella cisions will have to be made. ing, not just because I had talked to and be an elected representative of them in good faith, but also because the community. It is an experience I had legislation pass to establish an it completely misrepresented the many years ago I never thought I official visitor for people with a dis- Greens proposals. The Greens have would have had, and one in which I ability who live in group homes and never called for wood heaters to be have learnt much. It has certainly to reform the way the official visitor banned and have sought at all times made me a stronger person and scheme works, both which had been to discuss matters with the industry. taught me much about myself. sought for years. I also had legisla- tion pass to establish a fairer system We have also been overwhelmed by “I am very proud of what I of repaying fines for people who are the number of emails and phone calls from people who suffer nega- and the Greens achieved vulnerable and disadvantaged, something the Tuggeranong Com- tive health impacts from wood over the last 4 years, which munity Council (TCC) campaigned smoke, and had to listen to them and has made a difference to the on. The ACT was the only state or the groups that advocate on their community.” territory not to have such a scheme behalf. It was very unfortunate that it and now it does. was turned into a political issue and While I have lost my seat, I am very that sensible a discussion didn’t oc- happy to have had a strong personal An issue I worked on over the 4 cur. vote and have received many, many years and which the TCC and other emails, phone calls and messages organisations have been concerned I would like to thank everyone in- from people and community organi- about, is wood smoke and the im- volved with the TCC for welcoming sations – it does make me feel like pact this has on people’s health. me to your meetings and working my work over the last 4 years has with you on various issues over the helped people. I released draft legislation and a dis- past 4 years. While I will no longer cussion paper which focused on im- be your political representative, I will I am very proud of what I and the proving the emissions standard and take a keen interest in the work of Greens achieved over the last 4 efficiency of wood heaters, some- the TCC. I wish the TCC and its years, which has made a difference thing the Australian Home Heating members all the very best. to the community. I had legislation Association (AHHA) themselves Amanda Bresnan pass the Assembly on fast food la- have recognised as an area where Former ACT Greens Member for Brindabella Tuggeranong Community Council Working with our community www.tuggcc.com Page 3 From page 2. Lake gets some overdue TLC Increase mental health funding by $35m. $1.5m for housing for people ex- periencing mental illness. $1.9m over four years for dental hygienists. A feasibility study into a second hospice and a second birth centre for the ACT.
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