28 March 2008

Switch on to switching off - Earth Hour

Senator Kate Lundy today reminded Canberrans to register for Earth Hour.

Earth Hour requires participants to turn off all unnecessary lights at 8pm, wherever they may be on the 29th March.

“I registered for Earth Hour and I urge all Canberrans to join in and register today”, Senator Lundy said.

“Reducing our emissions is critical to limiting the impact of climate change. One way we can all make a difference is by saving energy every day in our homes.”

“I believe that community participation is vital in the fight against climate change. We all need to take action, and make sure the lessons we take from Earth Hour last longer than 60 minutes.”

In Australia, 100 million tonnes of greenhouses gases are generated each year through everyday activities such as using household energy. This makes up one fifth of Australia’s total emissions.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said Earth Hour 2008 demonstrates globally Australian leadership in saving energy and combating global warming.

“The organisers are to be applauded for making this a truly global initiative – and one that encourages broader debate about a more sustainable way of life,” Mr Rudd said.  

To register for Earth Hour go to www.earthhour.org/sign-up

For further information on Australian Government programs visit www.climatechange.gov.au

 Contact: Rachel Allen 0418 488 295

20 March 2008

Boost in allowances and pensions to help over 31,000 people in ACT

More than 15,000 people in Fraser and 16,000 people in the electorate of Canberra will start receiving increased allowances and more regular financial payments from the Australian Government, starting today.

As well, pensions are scheduled to go up with the rise in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Local pensioners, carers, disability support pensioners and self-funded retirees will all be better off with increases in the Utilities Allowance, Seniors Concession Allowance and Telephone Allowance. This delivers on Labor's election promise to help make ends meet for seniors and carers.

For Utilities Allowance recipients payments will go up from $107.20 a year to $500 a year for singles or couples combined. This increase will start today for over 18,000 Age Pension recipients in the ACT.

The Government is also extending the allowance to Carer Payment recipients and nearly 7,000 people on Disability Support Pension recipients under Age Pension age in Canberra.

The Seniors Concession Allowance will also rise from $218 a year to $500 a year for local Commonwealth Seniors Health Care Card holders, and will be paid quarterly.

And people receiving payments such as the Age Pension, Carer Payment, Special Benefit and Disability Support Pension will receive a 1.7 per cent boost to their pensions in line with the rise in the CPI.

This announcement will provide enhanced assistance to Australians in need, including many in Canberra, helping them better budget for regular bills throughout the year, through increased quarterly payments.

Contacts: Rachel Allen – 0418 488 295 (Lundy), Ash Musgrove – 0419 02 0419 (Ellis), Tony Hodges – 6277 4803 (McMullan)

17 March 2008

High-Speed Rail would benefit Canberra

A high-speed train linking Canberra and Sydney has the potential to bring enormous benefits to the ACT and region by providing a safer, faster and less energy intensive travel for local and regional residents.

High-speed rail could reduce travel times between Canberra and Sydney to around an hour, reducing lost time in travel for people travelling to Sydney and improve business productivity.

This infrastructure also has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, providing an incentive to get out of our cars and onto the train.

I believe that investing in high-speed rail is an important step for Canberra, both economically and environmentally and that we should embrace this technology.

I have written to my parliamentary colleagues and Infrastructure Australia urging them to support this infrastructure for the benefits it brings regionally and nationally.

Contact: Rachel Allen 6277 3334 or 0418 488 295

12 March 2008

ACT students seek to overhaul VSU

Canberra students today had the opportunity to meet with the Minister for Youth, the Hon. Kate Ellis MP, to discuss their experiences of Voluntary Student Unionism.

Student representatives from the Australian National University, the University of Canberra and the Canberra Institute of Technology were invited to Parliament House as part of the Federal Labor Government's inquiry into the impact of Voluntary Student Unionism on Services, Amenities and Representation for Australian University Students.

Discussions focused on the effects the previous Government's abolition of compulsory student unionism has had on university students in the ACT in terms of their access to services, amenities and representation.

The Minister for Youth also met with representatives from the Australian National University and the University of Canberra.

"University students need access to services and amenities such as childcare, healthcare, counselling and recreational facilities" Senator Kate Lundy said.

"These consultations have given the Government a real insight into the lives of students and some of the challenges they face."

The inquiry has received over 120 submissions, all submissions will be carefully considered by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Contact:  Rachel Allen -  6230 0411 or 0418 488 295

4 March 2008

Delivering on election promises to address housing stress

2006 census figures reveal that there are over 12,000 families suffering housing stress in the ACT.

Housing stress occurs when people pay more than 30 per cent of their gross income on rental and mortgage costs. According to the ABS, more than 15 per cent of all mortgage holders and 20 per cent of all renters and  in the ACT suffered housing stress in 2006.

Across the country, over one million Australian families are in housing stress.

Federal Labor is delivering on its election promise to address housing stress by formally establishing a significantly expanded National Rental Affordability Scheme.

The National Rental Affordability Scheme will fund tax incentives for investors to build up to 100,000 new affordable rental properties.

The new target of 100,000 properties doubles the Government’s pre-election policy of 50,000 new affordable rental properties. This doubling of the number of affordable rental properties to be built under the scheme reflects the severity of the housing affordability problem in Australia.

This measure is one of a range of policies the Federal Labor Government is implementing to assist Australian families under financial pressure. The Government will also invest up to $30 million to streamline and move online, the approval of Development Applications.

Contact:  Rachel Allen -  0418 488 295