Tuggeranong Community Council Newsletter June 2013 Public servant petition presented to Parliament has created national capital of micro- economies. “If Canberra is to continue to prosper, it is important that each of these micro- economies is supported and remains strong,” she said. “That is why I am pleased today to table in parliament a petition from the resi- dents, local businesses, Tuggeranong Community Council, employees and community groups of Canberra to call for the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs to remain in one of Canberra's great satellite cities, Tuggeranong,” Ms Brodtmann added. “Public Service jobs based in Tugger- anong are the backbone of the local economy. Over 900 petitioners, including myself, are therefore calling on the Federal Member for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann presents the petition to Parliament House to do all in its power to maintain and improve existing Public Service jobs A petition, comprising more than 900 health, and our environment. Any loss of in the Tuggeranong region,” she stated. signatures, was presented to the Federal public service jobs reduces household Parliament calling for the retention of income and consumer spending, hurting “Specifically we are calling for the 40,000 public service jobs in Tuggeranong. The businesses and our economy. square metres of space that is needed to petition was delivered by the Federal house the newly-consolidated FaHCSIA Member for Canberra, Gai Brodtmann. Therefore we call on the House to do all building to be located in the Tugger- in its power to anong CBD. FaHCSIA employs more The petition read; To the Honourable 1. Maintain and improve existing than 1,000 people who currently support The Speaker and Members of the House public service jobs that are lo- the many businesses and services of of Representatives. We, the undersigned cated in the Tuggeranong region; Tuggeranong,” Ms Brodtmann said. residents, local business, and employees 2. and to locate in Tuggeranong of the Tuggeranong region of the ACT, CBD the required 40,000 to “Moving these jobs out of Tuggeranong wish to bring to the House's attention 42,000 square metres of space would have a huge impact on small busi- that a reversal of our population demise that is needed to house the newly nesses and services in the area. It would depends on Commonwealth Public Ser- consolidated Commonwealth significantly weaken one of our vitally vice jobs for Tuggeranong as the funda- Government Department of Fami- important satellite cities and microecono- mental backbone of our local economy. lies, Housing, Community Ser- mies,” she warned. vices and Indigenous Affairs. Public Service jobs are the major con- The petition was supported by the Tug- tributor to the security and prosperity of Ms Brodtmann told Parliament Canberra geranong Community Council, Commu- our families and communities. These is built on a satellite city concept which nities@Work and the Tuggeranong Hy- jobs will ensure our safety, our perdome management. Tuggeranong Community Council Working with our community www.tuggcc.com Page 1 CONTENTS PAGE Lawder Assembly Budget support for bound language school Minister for Education and Training and ALP Member for Brindabella, Joy Burch, has announced the 2013-14 Budget allo- Public servant petition presented to Parliament 1 cation of $1.8 million for an Introductory English Centre (IEC) at Wanniassa Hills Lawder Assembly bound 2 Primary School. Budget support for language school 2 Ms Burch said the IEC will support stu- Cash to replace wood heaters 3 dents newly arrived in the ACT with a language and cultural background other Plans to extend cigarette smoking ban 3 than English and who have limited Eng- What the ACT Budget means for lish language. Tuggeranong 4 Next TCC Meeting 4 “I am delighted to announce the Budget provides $1.818 million in capital, recur- New Shadow Cabinet 5 rent costs and expenses for the IEC at Wanniassa Hills Primary School,” Ms The health care consumer voice 5 Burch said. 55+ Club News 6 “This is great news for students who Call for “Footsteps to Follow” nominations 6 New Member for Brindabella, Nicole Lawder have recently arrived in Canberra with News in brief 7 limited or no English skills, and delivers Community sector advocate, Nicole on a 2012 ACT Labor Election commit- Motorists given CTP choice 7 ment,” she said. Lawder, is the newest addition to the Odd News—Giant feral cats roam ACT's Legislative Assembly, by just eight Top End 8 votes. The Wanniassa Hills Primary School will support the Tuggeranong region, with Don’t Forget 8 Ms Lawder has been declared the re- other primary school age IECs already placement for recently departed Zed supporting Belconnen/Gungahlin, North Seselja. Canberra, and South Canberra/Weston. A countback of ballot papers in the There is also a secondary school-age southern electorate of Brindabella, which IEC at Dickson College. Introductory elected Mr Seselja, was used to deter- English Centres are co-located in main- mine his replacement. stream schools. Their role is to provide intensive English language teaching Under the ACT's Hare-Clarke electoral prior to entry into mainstream schooling. system, by elections are not held to fill vacancies. Seven candidates contested “This Wanniassa Hills Primary School the seat, and Ms Lawder outpolled site provides a permanent home for the Tharwa identity Val Jeffery by just eight Centre. The Centre will cater for up to votes. three classes of primary school students from preschool to year six and associ- Ms Lawder, who is chief executive of ated activities with student families. The Homelessness Australia, will be sworn in facility will also be available for after- when the assembly sits in August. She hours use by adults wanting to learn was not present for the countback. English,” Ms Burch stated. The Canberra Liberals issued a state- The Tuggeranong IEC will incorporate ment from Ms Lawder in which she said the latest teaching practices and lan- “I am extremely pleased to be given this guage learning technologies, including opportunity, and I’m really looking for- videoconferencing. ward to doing great things in my new role.” Source: Media Release Source: Canberra Times Tuggeranong Community Council acknowledges its supporters. Tuggeranong Community Council Working with our community www.tuggcc.com Page 2 Plans to extend Cash to replace wood heaters cigarette smoking ban “It’s important that Canberrans are aware of the health effects of wood smoke so Playgrounds, public swimming pools, that they can use their wood heaters sporting fields and bus interchanges are more effectively, or replace them,” Mr. among the next locations that the ACT Corbell said. Government will seek to restrict cigarette smoking. “The ACT Government has some great incentives for residents to replace their The proposals to extend the smoking wood heater with more environmentally- ban in public places is contained in friendly alternatives including an $800 'Future directions for tobacco reduction rebate for a ducted gas system, and a in the ACT 2013-2016' released by ACT $600 rebate for replacing it with new Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, to coin- flued gas installations,” he said. cide with World No Tobacco Day. "Replacing old wood heaters is a simple "The ACT has already taken consider- and effective way that individual house- able steps to protect the community from holds can contribute to lowering residen- the harmful effects of tobacco smoke tial air pollution and improving health and to discourage the uptake of smok- ing. I am announcing a new list of loca- Wood heaters are the largest single source of outcomes for those with serious health air pollution in Canberra according to ACT conditions such as breathing difficulties tions where prohibiting smoking may Environment Minister, Simon Corbell. and asthma," Mr. Corbell concluded. reduce the health impacts on the wider community," the Chief Minister said. Tuggeranong residents are being en- Meanwhile Asthma NSW has told a Sen- couraged by the ACT Government to ate inquiry into air quality wood heaters "The latest list of locations to consider a remove their slow combustion wood account for more than 50 percent of par- ban on smoking has targeted places burning heaters and switch to cleaner ticle pollution in Sydney compared to 14 where there is close personal interaction more efficient forms of heating in an ef- per cent from cars. like bus interchanges and in many cases fort to further reduce particle air pollution close interaction with children like play- in the Valley and protect public health. Asthma NSW Chief Executive Officer, grounds and swimming pools." Michelle Goldman warned exposure to Launching the ACT Government’s 2013 the fine particles in domestic wood The 'Future directions for tobacco reduc- Wood Heater Buyback Program, Minister smoke is a significant health concern. tion in the ACT 2013-16' includes op- for the Environment and Sustainable tions to prohibit smoking at the following Development, Simon Corbell, said do- “They can cause respiratory and circula- locations: mestic wood heaters remain the largest tion problems, particularly in elderly peo- public swimming pools, single source of particle air pollution in ple, children and those with existing playgrounds, Canberra and can impact on public health conditions,” she said. sporting fields, health, especially on those with pre- bus interchanges, existing lung conditions such as asthmat- “A NSW Government paper recom- university campuses, ics. mends urgent action and warns wood smoke will add $8 billion to the state’s building entrances, and, He said the ACT Government is again health budget in the next 20 years. Obvi- large public events. reminding Canberrans about the effec- ously we can extrapolate that across tive use of wood heaters to minimise Australia. That equates to a cost of “The document also recommends an pollution and help protect residents from $22,000 for every wood heater in the investigation into the impact that harmful health impacts.