|
PETER DRAPER MP – INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR TAMWORTH MEDIA RELEASES – JANUARY 2005 Minister should know of Brigalow decision fall out 28 January 2005 Independent Member for Tamworth Peter Draper has called on the NSW Minister for Primary Industries (Forestry) Ian MacDonald, to urgently meet with timber industry stakeholders in Gunnedah to hear how delays over a Brigalow Belt South Bioregion decision are impacting negatively on business. “I have asked the Minister to travel to the electorate as a matter of urgency to meet timber industry contractors, staff and operators such as Gunnedah Timbers and learn about the difficulties associated with the delay including restricted access to product, market loss and falling morale. Mr Draper said he understood a decision on the future of the Brigalow Belt South Bioregion, a vast stretch of forest from the Queensland border to Dubbo, was pending and it was imperative that the Minister responsible for forestry heard directly from those on the ground. “This decision will either make or break the timber industry in this area and it is only proper for Minister MacDonald to know the true situation,” Mr Draper said. “The moratorium imposed in 2003 has locked up vast tracts of forest, which lies in wait for either logging or conservation, pending the outcome of the Government’s deliberation. This has left Gunnedah Timbers to pick through slim offerings, harvesting undersized, immature trees and effectively losing critical market share to Queensland sawmills. “It has also placed the future of Gunnedah Timbers which employs 35 people in Gunnedah and 15 at Baradine in limbo. Staff have had been left in the dark over the future of their jobs while the bureaucrats sit on their hands still working through a decision that was expected 12 months ago. Mr Draper said timber operators including Gunnedah Timbers had united and informed the Government that unless a decision was made by March 31 this year, all saw millers reliant on the Brigalow for product would be forced out of business. “I am hoping an announcement will be made before this date and in the meantime that the Minister will demonstrate his commitment to achieving a balance between sustainability of the timber industry and natural resources by listening to operators in Gunnedah,” he said. Seniors invited to attend Premier’s Seniors Week Gala Concert Series 2005 25 January 2005 Ten double passes to the Premier’s Seniors Week Gala Concert Series to be held during Seniors’ Week 2005 are now open to senior community members in the electorate of Tamworth. The Independent Member for Tamworth, Peter Draper, said 20 tickets have been reserved for all State Members of Parliament and Members of the Legislative Council to distribute among seniors in their electorates to thank and reward them for services to the community. The two concerts in the Series will be staged at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Monday, 14 March at 10.30am and 2.30pm. This year’s theme will be Broadway Showstoppers with performances from well known musicals. “In previous years the tickets have been quite sought after and the demand can often exceed supply,” Mr Draper said. “Any senior citizen who takes an active role in the community through volunteering or service is welcome to contact my office to fill out a registration form. The only provisos being transport is not included and those who receive tickets need to be committed to attending,” he said. Mr Draper said the concert series had been running for 23 years with a second Christmas Series held in December 2005. “It’s a gesture on behalf of the Premier, Bob Carr, and the Government to acknowledge and show appreciation for the contribution our senior citizens make to community life and I would encourage people to register,” he said. Registrations for the tickets must be lodged with Mr Draper no later than 4 February 2005. Employers need clear guidelines - not more WorkCover NSW inspectors 24 January 2005
Commenting on WorkCover NSW’s appointment of five new trainee inspectors today, Mr Draper said the number of WorkCover’s inspectors had ballooned to over 300 yet employers were still no better educated on what was required of them under the draconian Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000. “The message I am receiving from employers across the north west is clear, they want to comply with OH&S laws but are being kept in the dark over what steps they must take to achieve compliance,” Mr Draper said. “The guidelines are deliberately vague and there is no road map for employers to follow to ensure their workplace practices and environments meet the standard. There is an urgent requirement in the business community for WorkCover inspectors to clarify exactly what employers must do to ensure they are immune from prosecution. “The disturbing message I receive over and again from employers, however, is that irrespective what steps they take, inspectors will find a breach. The difficulties associated with OH&S compliance were highlighted at a meeting Mr Draper attended in Gunnedah on Friday of employers and business groups concerned about proposed new penalties to be introduced to the OH&S Act which would apply to any death in the workplace. The changes contained within the draft OH&S Legislation Amendment (Workplace Fatalities) Bill would see prison terms and hefty fines introduced for employers in the first and subsequent instances of workplace fatalities regardless of the victim’s culpability. “The point was made at the meeting that WorkCover inspectors have a strong incentive to prosecute employers for breaching the OH&S Act as WorkCover NSW receives half the proceeds from the fine. “It is unacceptable that WorkCover NSW is rewarded for pursuing a prosecution as there is no provision in the OH&S Act which takes into account that employers took reasonable steps to ensure the safety of their employees. Rather, employers must ‘guarantee’ the workplace is safe and in workplace environments such as farms, workshops or anywhere tools, equipment or livestock is present, that is simply an impossible ask. “WorkCover has an obligation to pursue employers who blatantly disregard the safety and health of their employees but employers who invest in OH&S and make safety a daily consideration should not have to live in fear of this legislation,” he said. Mr Draper said four resolutions were unanimously passed at the meeting including one that opposed the draft Bill in its current form and should the legislation be passed, members of the NSW Parliament would be responsible for the flow on negative effect on employment and small business enterprises in NSW. Mr Draper has repeatedly raised the burdensome nature of the OH&S Act and the regulatory body of WorkCover NSW in the Parliament and will represent constituents on the new draft Bill which is due before the House during this budget session. Photo (from left): Speakers at a meeting of business owners organised by the Gunnedah District Development Board on January 21, 2004, included Peter Long of Long, Howland Lawyers and Advisors, Peter Draper MP and GDDB president Mike Broekman. Nominations for 2005 Tamworth Electorate Woman of the Year are open 24 January 2004 The Independent Member for Tamworth, Peter Draper, has today called for nominations for the 2005 Tamworth Electorate Woman of the Year. Alongside all members of the NSW Parliament, Mr Draper has been given the opportunity to invite nominations and choose one outstanding achiever who will be named the 2005 Tamworth Electorate Woman of the Year. The successful nominee will go on to contest the title of NSW Woman of the Year. The opportunity, courtesy of the NSW Office for Women, is part of United Nations International Women’s Day celebrations on 8 March 2005. The title aims to recognise the achievements and leadership of women across the state, both in business and their local community. “I am looking forward to receiving a flood of nominations as I know there are many women in the electorate whose contributions, successes and achievements have not gone unnoticed by the community. “I am asking people to think about the women in their communities who have inspired others by their leadership and dedication to their work, sport or embodiment of community spirit,” he said. The Tamworth Electorate Woman of the Year will be presented with an engraved silver goblet and invited to attend the Premier’s Reception for International Women’s Day in Sydney on March 8 alongside other winners from across NSW. The NSW Woman of the Year will be announced at the reception. “If you would like to nominate someone for this honour please contact my office by phoning 6766 1422/faxing 6766 6765 or call into 13 Fitzroy St Tamworth and fill out a nomination form,” Mr Draper said. Nominations must be lodged with Mr Draper’s office by 29 February 2005 with the winner announced on 7 March 2005. Surgical trainee heads to Tamworth Base Hospital 24 January 2004 Independent Member for Tamworth Peter Draper has welcomed the delivery of a Basic Surgical Trainee to Tamworth Base Hospital through a landmark agreement announced over the weekend by the NSW Health Minister, Morris Iemma. Mr Draper said Tamworth Base Hospital was one of two rural hospitals to benefit from the appointment of first year trainees who will add to Tamworth’s developing medical workforce. “Over the past 12 months Tamworth Base Hospital has seen the appointment of 14 new medical recruits. These doctors are now caring for local residents and providing services that in the past have required patients being transferred to other hospitals,” Mr Draper said. “I welcome the strengthening of our medical workforce. This is promising news for Tamworth and surrounding centres,” he said. “The additional doctors in Tamworth are helping to address a shortage of medical specialists in rural NSW but there must be an ongoing commitment from the Department to ensure doctors continue to be attracted to country areas. Mr Draper said the surgical trainee would live and work in Tamworth for 12 months. In the past basic surgical trainees have spent time on rotation at Tamworth Base Hospital but have never spent the full year in the area. In total 79 basic surgical trainees will gain training placed at metropolitan and regional hospitals across the State. Gunnedah throws its support behind push for a new ambulance station 21 January 2005 The community of Gunnedah is throwing strong support behind a bid by the Independent Member for Tamworth, Peter Draper, to secure funding for a new ambulance station. Hundreds of letters containing the signatures of Gunnedah residents are arriving daily to the Tamworth electorate office in response to a direct mail appeal by Mr Draper asking for their support. Mr Draper is in the process of sending letters to every household in Gunnedah and the surrounding villages asking people to join the fight to upgrade the Gunnedah Ambulance Station by signing a letter addressed to the NSW Minister for Health, Morris Iemma. “The response to date has been really positive, it’s essential for the community to demonstrate its support for the local ambulance officers and to back the need for a new facility,” Mr Draper said. “The letters will help convince the Minister, who inspected the station during a recent visit to the region, that the communities of Gunnedah, Breeza, Mullaley, Tambar Springs, Lake Keepit and Kelvin deserve health facilities equal to that provided in Sydney. Mr Draper said the current station was built in the 1950’s and due to poor maintenance has deteriorated badly. It has numerous defects including water-damaged eaves exposing the building to vermin, broken guttering, inadequate cooling and heating, poor security and a garage that is too low for two ambulance vehicles to park under cover. “I have explained to the community that Gunnedah’s ambulance officers should not be expected to operate in such conditions when the delivery of critical health care is their paramount concern. The community has responded admirably in demonstrating how much they value the work of these officers and that the community is entitled to a decent facility,” he said. Mr Draper is planning to meet with Mr Iemma and deliver the letters by hand after the mail out is complete. Rural businesses rally against draft OHS legislation 21 January 2004 Independent Member for Tamworth Peter Draper will today attend a meeting of concerned business owners and industry representatives in Gunnedah to discuss the draft Occupational Health and Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Fatalities) Bill 2004. Organised by the Gunnedah District Development Board, the meeting should attract a wide cross section of the town’s business community with Mr Draper invited to address the meeting to be held in the Smithurst Theatre at 1pm. Mr Draper said he was concerned that the position of small business operators and business representative groups in rural areas on the proposed new laws had not been duly considered the NSW Department of Industrial Relations. “The department is continuing to consult with stakeholders, in particular unions, over the implications of this Bill, however, it’s important the position of chambers of commerce and local industry groups in the north west are considered alongside their peak industry bodies. “I’m concerned that any changes the department agrees to make to the proposed laws will be union-driven and skewed against employers,” he said. Mr Draper said the Bill proposes a new offence where an employer contravenes the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 resulting in the death of an employee. The offence attracts significantly increased financial penalties and gaol terms for both first time and repeat offenders. “I am encouraging business community members to acquaint themselves with this draft Bill and should they have concerns, particularly about the strength of the legislation, they should lodge a submission at my office which I can expedite to the department for consideration,” Mr Draper said. “The department has informed my office that submissions are still being accepted but this window of opportunity is closing rapidly with the Bill predicted to be introduced in the Budget Session of Parliament.“ A copy of the consultation draft bill can be viewed at www.workcover.nsw.gov.au. 19 January 2005
Mr Draper and Mr Windsor have joined Mr Lee in appealing to the community to go along and see a movie at the cinema on Thursday, 20 January 2004 when all proceeds will go toward providing relief for victims of the South Asia tsunami. The Regent Cinema, in Tamworth, plans to donate the net takings from the full day of trade on Thursday to the Australian Red Cross Tsunami Appeal. This will include the tickets sales for 24 movie sessions, which start at 10am, and all proceeds from the Candy Bar. Contact: The Regent Cinema manager Grant Lee. Ph: 6766 3162, Email: regentcinema@bigpond.com. 19 January 2004
Mr Draper was invited by the Tamworth Sports Fund to help launch their fundraiser for young Tamworth district sportsmen and women - the Dummy Spitting Contest - at the 2005 Telstra Country Music Festival Tamworth. Mr Draper pitted or rather spitted himself against the Federal Member for New England Tony Windsor and a strong field of contenders in an attempt to record the furthest spit on the Peel St spitting field. “I was only too happy to take part in this competition held by the Tamworth Sports Fund as the organisation provides financial assistance to Tamworth athletes who represent the state or nation in their chosen sport,” Mr Draper said. “With a trophy and $1000 up for grabs and proceeds going toward relieving financial pressure on young athletes, there’s never been a better excuse to have a spit and it was strangely therapeutic,” he said. Mr Draper’s best of four dummy spitting attempts was around the 4.3m mark which unfortunately placed him out of trophy contention early in the competition. “I am urging everyone to have a bit of fun and support this worthwhile fundraiser,” Mr Draper said. The Tamworth Sports Fund Dummy Spitting Contest continues daily opposite the Tamworth post office until Saturday, 22 January, or until the dummies are sold out. New apprentices help to fill rural skills shortfall 18 January 2004 Independent Member for Tamworth Peter Draper has welcomed the appointment of two new Country Energy apprentices in Tamworth and Gunnedah. Mr Draper said Tamworth’s Anthony Sullivan and Gunnedah’s Jamie Wheatland have accepted positions at Country Energy’s field service centres as line workers. “It is my understanding that Anthony and Jamie began training this week and are among 58 apprentices to join field crews in 44 different communities across NSW at the end of this month,” Mr Draper said. “I was happy to learn that both Anthony and Jamie will undertake their apprenticeships at field service centres in their home towns. “Country Energy provides a terrific opportunity to unskilled workers to learn a trade with long-term career prospects. “At a time when trade apprenticeship opportunities are few and far between in country areas, the company is to be congratulated for its role in retaining locally-based, qualified skills in rural communities through its apprenticeship program,” he said. Country Energy began the program in 2001 with more than 280 new apprentices joining field teams in almost 100 locations in NSW. Mr Draper said Country Energy was “doing its bit” in addressing a skills shortage in rural areas which he believed could be remedied with increased funding and resources poured into TAFE institutions. “Apprentices should be able to access any trade course of choice in country TAFE campuses instead of having to travel to access courses. The travel issue is a barrier to people wanting to take up apprenticeships and those wishing to employ them,” he said. 343 first-home buyers in the electorate of Tamworth save over $1.4million in stamp duty waiver 17 January 2005 Independent Member for Tamworth Peter Draper has sought an assurance from the State Government that the first-home buyers’ bonus of a stamp duty concession will continue to apply despite a blow out in the scheme’s budget. Mr Draper said in the ten months since the scheme’s inception, 343 people in the electorate of Tamworth saved over $1.446 million or an average of $4,216 each by not having to pay stamp duty. Commenting on figures released by the NSW Acting Treasurer, John Della Bosca, on NSW first home buyers’ uptake of the first home buyers grant and stamp duty concession, Mr Draper said it was encouraging to see so many people in the electorate taking advantage of the discount and investing in rural NSW. Across New England the figures revealed that between the period 7 April 2004 (the mini budget) and 10 January 2005, 878 first-home buyers in the New England region lodged applications for First Home Plus and secured a total stamp duty concession of $3,310,924. The average duty concession was $3,771. For the same period in the electorate of Tamworth, 343 first-home buyers lodged applications for First Home Plus and secured a total stamp duty concession of $1,446,224. The average saving on stamp duty was $4216. “The property market appears to be holding strong in the north-west and it’s important that stamp duty concessions and the first-home buyers grant continue to apply. For many people this bonus has made the difference between purchasing a home and continuing to rent,” Mr Draper said. “It’s great to see the smaller towns and villages in the electorate featuring strongly with first-home buyers taking advantage of lower prices and quality of lifestyle. This trend augurs well for the future of places like Curlewis and Kootingal where 14 people chose to purchase their first home in each of these centres. Mr Draper said he has written to the NSW Treasurer asking for an assurance that the Government will honour the commitment to provide concessions despite already spending $8million more than the $276million it budgeted for the scheme in its first year. Mr Draper said he continued to voice his strong opposition to the unpopular 2.25 per cent stamp duty the Government collects on investment property sellers. First Home Plus applications processed for the period 7 April 2004 – 10 January (inclusive) in the north west:
Rural employers react strongly to proposed new workplace fatality laws 14 January 2005 The Independent Member for Tamworth, Peter Draper, is responding to grave concerns held by north west business owners and industry groups that proposed new laws relating to workplace deaths will render them guilty until proven innocent. Mr Draper has received representations from employers and industry groups such as the Tamworth and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Gunnedah District Development Board over the Government’s draft Occupational Health and Safety Legislation Amendment (Workplace Fatalities) Bill. “The NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, John Della Bosca, has ruled out introducing industrial manslaughter laws but employers remain equally concerned that this Bill proposes to create a new offence with higher penalties where an employer contravenes the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2000 causing the death of an employee,” Mr Draper said. “On a broad scale those who have contacted me believe the Bill would materially impact on the future of business development in the region. At the other end of the scale small business owners feel they would be singled out and treated as criminals in the unfortunate event of a fatal accident at the workplace,” he said. Mr Draper said has conveyed the concerns to Mr Della Bosca and sought assurances that the proposed new laws will not impact adversely on employers with a good safety record but who through unfortunate circumstances find themselves facing prosecution. “While protecting the innocent, it is also important the laws call to account those employers who fail to ensure the safety and well being of their workers,” he said. “Employers also are asking that in the case of a workplace accident, negligence or disregard for safety on behalf of the employee should be a consideration. “It comes back to the issue I have raised numerous times in Parliament that under the current NSW WorkCover regime, employers feel they are damned if they comply with OH&S regulations and damned if they don’t. “At the end of the day employers feel the laws relating to OH&S are being strengthened to a point where it’s hardly worth the risk of being in business,” he said. The Bill introduces new penalties for breaches of the Act that result in the death of an employee or other person at the workplace. It proposes a new provision that applies maximum penalties for subsequent offenders of $165,000 for individuals (including directors and managers) and $1.65million for corporations. The Bill also provides a penalty of up to two years imprisonment or $110,000 for first time offenders and up to five years imprisonment for a subsequent offence. Mr Draper plans to meet with the Gunnedah District Development Board and employers in Gunnedah to discuss the impact of the Bill on Friday, 21 January, 2005. Moves to lift the burden of expense from country patients seeking specialist treatment 13 January 2005
Mr Draper has raised the need for reform to the IPTAAS in the NSW Parliament having received representations from constituents who have not been able to access financial assistance due to its restrictive criteria. “I am asking the community to get behind the campaign by filling out a Cancer Council postcard and posting it free of charge to their head office. The cards will be forwarded to my office for action,” Mr Draper said. “The problems with the IPTAAS being raised by The Cancer Council are valid. People in regional areas in need of specialist medical treatment, be it for cancer or other serious conditions, are carrying an unnecessary cost burden,” he said. Mr Draper has appealed to the NSW Health Minister Morris Iemma to implement recommendations relating to the IPTAAS which were made at the New England Summit convened in Armidale by the Federal Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor, in October 2003. “The resolution passed included an increase in funding to the IPTAAS, recognition of the financial and physical burdens arising from repeat outpatient treatment, a reduction in the distance patients must travel to be eligible for assistance to 80km and better co-ordination between transport services,” Mr Draper said. “This is an important issue for people living in regional NSW and I look forward to working with The Cancer Council NSW to deliver financial relief to patients,” he said. Photo: The Cancer Council NSW regional programs co-ordinator Natalie Flemming and Independent member for Tamworth Peter Draper with postcards which support the campaign to reform the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme. Nationals’ health policy cuts the heart out of rural health services 13 January 2005 The Independent Member for Tamworth, Peter Draper, has condemned The Nationals’ policy that private patients should only be treated at private hospitals citing it as detrimental to rural health services. “The NSW Nationals leader Andrew Stoner has displayed a complete lack of understanding of the rural doctor crisis with his policy statement that ‘private patients should only be treated in private hospitals’,” Mr Draper said. “The Nationals’ policy would effectively strip the financial incentive for medical specialists to consider places such as Tamworth as a career base and for GP’s to establish practices in smaller centres,” he said. Mr Draper said the policy went against recent inroads to the rural doctor shortage including medical interns taking up training positions at Tamworth Base Hospital and a recruitment drive that also delivered an influx of medical specialists to the hospital. “Is Mr Stoner ignorant of the fact that private patients in the smaller rural communities such as Gunnedah and Walcha do not have access to private hospitals? The policy goes against efforts to recruit doctors to rural and regional communities as patients who choose private health cover for surgery would be forced to seek treatment in the major centres. “The reality is that private hospitals in country areas are not always able to provide complicated surgical procedures meaning patients have to go into the public system for treatment if they want to stay local,” he said. Mr Stoner made the statement that “patients who can afford to pay should be treated in the private hospital system” in response to allegations that private patients were queue jumping elective surgery waiting lists at NSW public hospitals. Draper seeks a guarantee for Aboriginal studies in primary school syllabus 10 January 2005 Member for Tamworth Peter Draper has written to the NSW Education Minister, Dr Andrew Refshauge, asking for a guarantee that Aboriginal studies will not be removed from the mandatory primary school syllabus. The moves comes in the wake of reports at the weekend that the NSW Board of Studies was considering dropping Aboriginal history and reconciliation issues from the curriculum for years K to 6. “Dr Refshauge has since refuted the claim in the media, however, where there’s smoke there’s fire and I would be greatly concerned about any moves to review the role of Aboriginal studies in the school syllabus,” Mr Draper said. “I have written to the Minister asking for a guarantee that Aboriginal studies remain as a mandatory part of the syllabus and that he detail what subjects will be dropped in moves to address an increasingly crowded selection of subjects. “To keep pace with a diverse labour market there is growing pressure on the Department to provide a balanced and varied curriculum. Aboriginal studies, however, should be considered a core subject as the Indigenous history of this nation and issues of reconciliation are relevant and important to every Australian child,” he said. Mr Draper said the inclusion of the subject in the syllabus was crucial in regions such as the north west where the Indigenous population in schools was growing. “Enrolments of Aboriginal children at schools are increasing with about 60% of students at Gunnedah Primary School being Aboriginal and an estimated 40% of students at Peel Technology High School in Tamworth being Aboriginal,” he said. “It is vital that children have an awareness and understanding of the Aboriginal experience for the sake of ongoing reconciliation and cultural harmony in our community,” he said. Draper welcomes new communities into the electorate of Tamworth 7 January 2005 The Independent Member for Tamworth, Peter Draper, is planning to spend time this year getting to know people and issues of concern in communities set to join the electorate of Tamworth in 2007. Mr Draper said the redistribution of NSW electoral boundaries has been finalised with the Electoral District Commissioners proclaiming the new boundaries for the 2007 State election on December 21, 2004. “I enthusiastically welcome the inclusion of the communities of Barraba, Breeza, Boggabri, Manilla, Mullaley, Premer and Tambar Springs into the electorate of Tamworth,” Mr Draper said. “Although the electorate will lose Walcha and the surrounding villages of Woolbrook, Nowendoc and Yarrowitch to the Northern Tablelands, the consolation is their new representative in the NSW Parliament will be my fellow Independent Richard Torbay. Mr Draper said he intended holding a series of meetings in each of the new centres later in the year to begin the process of introducing himself and building profiles of the communities he would represent should he retain the seat after the election. Mr Draper has already made representations to Government on behalf of the incoming communities having lobbied Roads Minister Carl Scully to upgrade the Mullaley Boggabri stock route and Manilla’s Green Hatch bridge, Energy and Utilities Minister Frank Sartor regarding Barraba’s water supply, Mineral Resources Minister Kerry Hickey in relation to the Woodsreef asbestos mine and Health Minister Morris Iemma for the redevelopment of Manilla Hospital into a Multi Purpose Service. “The towns coming into the electorate share considerable community of interest with Tamworth and Gunnedah and I have no doubt it will be a smooth transition. I have family ties in both Manilla and Barraba and am looking forward to meeting more people in each of the new centres,” he said. Excerpts from a report titled ‘2004 NSW Redistribution: Analysis of Final Boundaries, which was released this week by ABC election analyst Antony Green, is available by fax, full report by request. 2005 Seniors Week projects receive grants boost 5 January 2005 Celebration of the 2005 Seniors Week in the Tamworth electorate will be boosted with the roll out of State Government grants for activities and projects, Member for Tamworth Peter Draper, said today. Mr Draper said seven organisations in Tamworth, Gunnedah and Walcha have received grants totalling $3800 from the NSW Department of Disability, Ageing & Home Care to help stage events for Seniors Week which runs from March 13 to 20 this year. The grants and successful applicants included:
“These projects were chosen from among 500 applications DADHC received from across NSW for 2005 Seniors Week grants and I’m pleased to see organisations in each of the Tamworth electorate’s larger centres providing activities as more people will be able to take part in the celebrations,” Mr Draper said. Mr Draper has congratulated the successful applicants and is urging the community to support their efforts to organise activities by taking part. “The success of Seniors Week depends not only on good organisation but on the active participation of community members. Seniors Week is a good opportunity to celebrate the contribution senior citizens make to society and a great excuse for the senior members of our community them to get together and enjoy themselves,” he said. Funds roll out to combat noxious weeds 5 January 2005 Member for Tamworth Peter Draper has welcomed an allocation of almost $500,000 in State Government funding to control noxious weeds in the Tamworth electorate. Mr Draper said the NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian MacDonald, has provided him with information detailing the allocation of direct grants totalling around $495,300. “The grants are provided to assist local authorities fulfil their obligations under the Noxious Weeds Act 1993. This funding is critical as it enables councils to employ weed control co-ordinators, conduct surveys and inspect land to monitor weeds,” Mr Draper said. Local control authorities which are in or partly in the Tamworth electorate to receive the grants in the 2004/2005 financial year include:
The Northern Inland Weeds Advisory Committee, which helps co ordinate control of weeds and develops regional weed management plans, has also been given $135,000. Mr Draper said high priority weeds in the Tamworth electorate included Green Cestrum, Chilean Needlegrass, Serrated Tussock, Mother of Millions, Giant Parramatta Grass, Gorse, Silverleaf Nightshade and African Boxthorn. “Gunnedah Shire has been singled out as having a particular problem with Parthenium Weed with control efforts listed as a high priority project,” Mr Draper said. “These weeds not only impact on agricultural productivity but threaten native flora species. I am pleased to see the Minister recognise the need for investment in the control of noxious weeds in the Tamworth electorate,” Mr Draper said. |
Employers are crying out for more information on occupational health and safety legislation compliance while WorkCover NSW misdirects funds into training new inspectors, the Independent Member for Tamworth, Peter Draper, said today. 
Independent Member for Tamworth Peter Draper (second left) pictured (from left) with the Federal Independent Member for New England, Tony Windsor, cinema employee Ashleigh Hodge and The Regent Cinema manager, Grant Lee.
Independent Member for Tamworth Peter Draper well and truly spat the dummy today but it was for a good cause.
The Independent Member for Tamworth, Peter Draper, has thrown his support behind a Cancer Council NSW campaign to improve financial assistance to regional cancer patients through the Isolated Patients Accommodation and Travel Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS).