The approved projects in the Federal electorate of Page are:

 • Lions Road, along the border loop access road, at Cougal: $522,500 to widen the road to provide for two lanes on and near bends and install guardrail on high drop-offs and curve warning signs;

• Intersection of Bentinck Street and Norton Street, at Ballina: $31,500 to install concrete islands and medians and change the ‘Give Way’ to a ‘Stop’ sign; and

• Kyogle Road (Bentley Road), West of Fernside Road, at Fernvale: $20,150 to install curve and advisory signage and reflective guideposts.

The projects were recommended by a panel of independent road safety experts and will be delivered during the course of the coming financial year (2012/13).

Ms Saffin said since being elected in 2007, the Federal Labor Government has allocated more than $3.5 million to fix twenty one black spots across the Page electorate.

“This investment is helping to make our local roads even safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, with sixteen of these projects already completed,” said Ms Saffin.

“And the good thing about our Black Spot program is that anyone can suggest an intersection or section of road they believe should be considered for a safety upgrade.

 “Nomination forms are available from my office or can be downloaded from: www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au.”

Mr Albanese said an independent evaluation of the program found it prevented at least 32 fatalities and more than 1,500 serious injuries in its first three years, underscoring its effectiveness at reducing fatal car accidents. “That’s why nationally we’ve doubled the program’s funding to half a billion dollars – more than honouring all our election commitments.”

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek has announced $515 million in measures to cut waiting lists, boost the public dental workforce and improve infrastructure for dental services in regional, rural and remote areas.

Ms Saffin said the Budget funding announcement is the first step towards a national dental care system.

“I have been lobbying for better access to public dental services for many years.

“It is an issue I raised in my first speech in Federal Parliament.

“I have long been an advocate for a Medicare style system for dental care, as I can’t understand why our oral health is seen as somehow separate to the health of the rest of our bodies.

“This week’s announcement is great news and I am pleased to see not only funding for dental services, but also for expanding the public dental workforce in regional areas.

“The blitz is designed to get rid of the backlog of state dental waiting lists. Minister Plibersek has said she will be working to make sure that the states at least maintain their current effort so the whole system can work better.

“There is great need in our electorate for this blitz on the state dental waiting lists

“In the time I’ve been the Federal Member for Page I’ve had many people with serious dental problems come to me for help in accessing public dental care.

“I have helped as much as I can by making representations to the Northern NSW Local Health Network to expedite these dental patients and get them the urgent care they need.

“I will be following up with the Minister to make sure the Page electorate receives its fair share of this new funding,” Ms Saffin said.

The Budget announcement includes:

-          Funding of $345.9 million for a public dental waiting list blitz which would, according to the National Dental Advisory Council address the current 400,000 people on waiting lists around the country.

-          Funding of $10.5 million for oral health promotion and to develop a National Oral Health Promotion Plan to promote dental services and better oral health.

-          Funding of $35.7 million for an expansion of the Voluntary Dental Graduate Year Program to offer 100 places per annum from 2016 to increase the dental workforce to be able to deliver more dental services through a national scheme;

-          Funding of $45.2 million for a Graduate Year Program for Oral Health Therapists to support 50 placements per annum from 2014 to increase service delivery capacity and create a more flexible dental workforce;

-          Funding of $77.7 million for Rural and Remote Infrastructure and Relocation Grants for Dentists to provide up to 100 infrastructure grants and up to 100 relocation grants to support up to 300 dentists in setting up practices in rural areas to meet the current shortage of dental services in rural and remote areas; and

-          Funding of $450,000 to non-government organizations coordinate further pro-bono work by dentists for the most disadvantaged Australians across the country.

Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Leader of the House and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) (14:50): I thank the member for Page. The member for Page is a great supporter of infrastructure in her electorate; in particular, the Pacific Highway, where she got to open the final stage of the Ballina bypass—a great project announced by this government, funded by this government and opened by this government.

Last night the Treasurer delivered a Labor budget that builds on our nation-building agenda, a budget that returns to surplus but not at the expense of investing in our productivity and the infrastructure that we need for the future. Since we came to government we have doubled the roads budget and increased investment in rail tenfold. We have reformed the way that we plan, finance and build infrastructure by establishing Infrastructure Australia, and in last night’s budget we committed funding for the final projects that were on the Infrastructure Priority List produced by Infrastructure Australia after its national audit in 2008.

We have now funded every single project, because last night we provided $232 million for the Goodwood and Torrens Junctions project that will improve the movement of freight and ease traffic congestion in Adelaide. In addition, we confirmed funding for the Majura Parkway in the ACT. This is about delivering on Infrastructure Australia’s agenda. We also, of course, put into the Nation Building Program an additional $3.56 billion, subject to matching funding from New South Wales, to complete the full duplication of the Pacific Highway by 2016—promised by the Howard government, but they only contributed $1.3 billion over 12 years. This will take our contribution, if New South Wales matches its rhetoric before the election with action in its next budget, to over $7.7 billion. It will improve productivity; more importantly, it will improve road safety.

There has been some comment from New South Wales today about the funding arrangements. I table a press release from Wendy Machin from the NRMA confirming that it was the Howard government that set the fifty-fifty funding split for the Pacific Highway from 2006, and the NRMA has supported this approach since day one. I also table from the Sydney Morning Herald a front-page story of 7 March 2009 headed ‘Rees bungle costs state $50 million’, where, because New South Wales Labor were not delivering on their Pacific Highway promises, I took action against them. This needs to be above politics. The New South Wales government needs— (Time expired)

Ms Saffin said the new SchoolKids Bonus would give 10,600 families in Page an automatic cash payment of $410 for each child in primary school and $820 for each child in high school.

“Mr Abbott’s position is a kick in the guts for many local families who are struggling to make ends meet.

“Labor’s new SchoolKids Bonus replaces the Education Tax Refund. I have regularly put out reminders to parents about claiming the Education Tax Refund, but an estimated 2,700 families in Page were missing out on the full amount.

The New SchoolKids Bonus will ensure that all eligible families receive every cent they deserve. And it easier for families as there is no paperwork, no need to keep your receipts, just a twice yearly cash payment for every child at school.

“The Liberal-National Coalition wants to deny local families this money to pay for the costs of essentials like school books and uniforms because they seem to think families can’t be trusted to spend this extra money on their kids.

“It is clear the Coalition does not support Australian families. Instead, they want to rip hundred dollars from the pockets of families who are just trying to put their kids through school”.

Ms Saffin said at the same time they were denying payments to local families, the Coalition was also adding to its $70 billion black hole.

Tony Abbott’s finance spokesperson Andrew Robb said they would deliver a $15 billion surplus if in Government, but have yet to show how they would do it.

“A $15 billion surplus from the Liberal-National Coalition would require severe cuts to vital health and education services – the services local families rely on,” Ms Saffin said.

Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, said four local projects have been successful in the first round of the Australian Government’s Biodiversity Fund, receiving a total of $2,349,700.

The successful groups are:

• Upper Clarence Combined Landcare Incorporated ($1,315,000) for projects including controlling invasive species, bush      regeneration and restoring vegetation
• EnviTE ($690,000) for coastal corridor restoration  over 22 sites,
• Clarence Valley Council ($223,300) to restore habitat and address biodiversity loss and riparian degradation on the      Clarence floodplain.
• K Newnham ($98,000) for regeneration of subtropical rainforest and create an environmental corridor along creeks.

Ms Saffin said farmers and other land managers across our region already do a great job through Landcare work, and the Biodiversity Fund will build on this work.

“The Northern Rivers region has a strong history of leading the way with environmental protection, and restoration and forest regeneration programs.

“I congratulate these successful applicants in this first round of the Biodiversity Fund and commend them for their commitment  to restoring the biodiversity of our region.”

The Biodiversity Fund is a key component of the Government’s Clean Energy Future plan, and is supported by revenue from the carbon price.

More information about the Biodiversity Fund and a list of successful projects is available at

www.environment.gov.au/cleanenergyfuture/biodiversity-fund/index.html

FEDERAL Member for Page Janelle Saffin congratulated Kyogle on winning the Young Legends Category and being a national finalist in the 2012 Keep Australia Beautiful Tidy Towns Awards, announced at a Vice-Regal ceremony in Canberra today.

Ms Saffin praised Kyogle Tidy Towns Chair Ian Judd and his committee on being the New South Wales finalist for the overall Tidy Towns Award, which was won by Caloundra on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

“I have been closely following Kyogle Tidy Towns’ progress through these prestigious awards, and for a rural town with an estimated population of 2800 residents, the Kyogle community really punches above its weight against much larger regional centres interstate,” she said.

“Kyogle Tidy Towns is a very well organised group, is committed to the Tidy Towns Program and partners with its local community to promote sustainability and environmental protection. The way it embraces the town’s young people has been recognised with the Young Legends Category Award.

“Situated at the top of the Richmond River catchment, the Kyogle community has taken on the responsibility of ensuring that water running from the catchment is pure and free of contaminants.

“Kyogle Shire Council’s award-winning hydroponic wetland and sewage treatment plant reuses wastewater, improves the quality of water entering the Richmond, hydroponically waters over five acres of native plants and supplies trees for Landcare, community and school groups.

“Kyogle’s main street features classic art deco architecture and buildings, and a self-guided art deco tour has been introduced which showcases the unique style of the town.

“Kyogle Tidy Towns can be extremely proud that they are a shining example to the rest of Australia for controlling litter and waste, and improving the quality of life for residents and the tourism experience for visitors.”

The Tidy Towns Awards program is run by Keep Australia Beautiful. Further information on the awards can be found at http://www.kab.org.au/what-we-do/tidy-towns/.

The 2012-13 Budget will deliver a vital new health facility in Yamba.

Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek today announced that $4.3 million will be provided to build a new community health centre in the town.

“The Gillard Government is delighted to be directing funding toward a facility which will provide important health services to local families,” said Ms Plibersek.

“These capital works will be a major boost for the local economy while they are being carried out, and will provide health care services to thousands of residents of Yamba, Iluka, Maclean and other areas of the Lower Clarence once they are completed.”

Member for Page Janelle Saffin said existing service gaps, particularly in relation to oral health and mental health, will be addressed as part of the project.

“Access to quality health care, which will meet the increasing demand for services and attract doctors and nurses to our region, is the number one priority for residents in Yamba,” said Ms Saffin.

“The funding will go toward new outpatient clinics and facilities for local GP services, mental health and dental services.”

“I would like to pay special tribute to Yamba-based health campaigner, Jim Agnew OAM, who has been lobbying for this facility for many years.”

Funding for the community health centre was made available from the Gillard Government’s Health and Hospital Fund (HHF.)

The application was assessed by the independent HHF Advisory Board.

This centre is one of a large number of projects being funded by the HHF in the 2012-13 Budget to help regional health service networks manage the expected increase in demand for services over the coming years.

Funding for the hospitals will be made available from the Gillard Government’s Health and Hospital Fund (HHF.)

The application was assessed by the independent HHF Advisory Board.

This development is one of a large number of projects being funded by the HHF in the 2012-13 Budget to help regional health service networks manage the expected increase in demand for services over the coming years.

Treasurer Wayne Swan said: “As a Labor Government, we will always manage the economy in the interests of working people, and that means delivering a surplus while making room for critical investments in health infrastructure like the one here in Yamba.”

“The Gillard Government is delighted to be directing such a significant amount of funding to redevelop the Lismore Base Hospital,” said Ms Plibersek.

“These capital works will be a major boost for the local economy while they are being carried out, and will offer hospital services to more than 170,000 people in the Northern Rivers region once they are completed.”

 Member for Page Janelle Saffin said the Lismore Base Hospital redevelopment will include the expansion of the emergency department, improved renal dialysis facilities, and improved facilities for primary care.

 “I am so excited to get this cash injection into Stage 3 of Lismore Base, as a project we have talked about for years can now start to become a reality,” Ms Saffin said.

“I have always made clear that health care is my number one priority, and I lobbied hard in Canberra to support the community campaign for funding for Stage 3 of Lismore Base.” “I am pleased that the Federal Government had a policy that allocated monies for regional and rural health, so that we could get the funds in a one-off.

“It is vitally important that residents of the Northern Rivers have access to quality health care that meets the increasing demand for hospital services and will attract doctors and nurses to our region. Ms Saffin said the funding for St Vincents will increase theatre capacity, for both private and some contracted public elective surgery, and will significantly shorten waiting times for surgery.

“St Vincent’s Private Hospital provides wonderful health care in our region sitting alongside public health and the two work in a complementary way, giving patients choice in care,” Ms Saffin said.

“The funding will go towards building new theatres for general, urological and ophthalmic surgery as well as relocating and refurbishing an existing endoscopy suite.”

St Vincents Private Hospital is contributing half the funding of this $5 million project. Funding for the hospitals was made available from the Gillard Government’s Health and Hospital Fund (HHF.) The application was assessed by the independent HHF Advisory Board.

These redevelopments are among a large number of projects being funded by the HHF in the 2012-13 Budget to help regional health service networks manage the expected increase in demand for services over the coming years.

Treasurer Wayne Swan said: “As a Labor Government, we will always manage the economy in the interests of working people, and that means delivering a surplus while making room for critical investments in health infrastructure like the ones here in Lismore.”

Firstly, small business is the backbone of our local economy with more than 10,000 registered small businesses in the Page electorate. Secondly, I wanted the Minister to meet with local people in small business and listen to their needs and concerns  as well as talking about some of the Federal Government’s small business initiatives.

Some time back I started lobbying for two things- the Minister for Small Business to be in Cabinet, and for a Federal Small Business Commissioner.  Both have been achieved.

It is important for small business to be represented at the Cabinet table when major decisions are being made about our economy.  The Industry minister is there so it makes sense for small business to be there too.

I lobbied for a Federal Small Business Commissioner so there can be one person at national level who is an advocate for small business sector.  .

Local business events

As soon as Brendan O’Connor was appointed to the Small Business Portfolio I immediately invited him to our electorate and he immediately accepted the invitation to speak at a business breakfast in Lismore and a business lunch in Grafton.

There was a strong turn out at both events. Unfortunately the Minister didn’t make it to the Lismore breakfast because his plane couldn’t land due to a heavy fog. However, I fielded questions from the audience and raised their particular issues later with the Minister and they are being followed up. And Minister O’Connor has promised to come back soon.

At the Grafton business lunch Minister O’Connor fielded questions and detailed some of the Federal Government’s small business initiatives including:

                *the new $6500 asset write-off threshold from 2012-13                               

                *the list of measures already being  introduced to reduce red tape including national business registration and the small business superannuation clearing house and support                for Standard Business Reporting to give businesses a simpler way to complete financial       reporting.

I want to thank the Regional Manager of the Northern Rivers-NSW Business Chamber, John Murray, for the Chamber’s assistance in organising the functions. And I also acknowledge the work of all the local business chambers and those members who volunteer their time to support our local business communities.