Month: May 2019

Visitors to Far North Queensland will soon be able to walk or cycle a stunning new coastal and hinterland route from Palm Cove to Port Douglas, thanks to an $8 million investment from the Coalition Government.
Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said the Wangetti Trail, once complete, would become one of the country’s leading adventure-based ecotourism experiences.
He said funding for the project is part of the government’s $50 million National Tourism Icons package announced in this year’s federal budget.
“The Wangetti Trail will be a one-of-a-kind experience, attracting hikers and cyclists from across Australia and the globe,” Minister Birmingham said.
“Having a dedicated trail will also help protect the natural landscape in the region whilst at the same deliver an iconic tourism product to help drive visitor growth.
“It will help lure thousands of extra visitors into the region’s hotels, shops and restaurants and will also help support the variety of ecotourism and indigenous experiences on offer.
“In a six-day walk or a two-day ride, visitors will be able to take in the extraordinary scenery of the regions rainforests and coastline, learn about the rich local indigenous culture, and sample local hospitality at pubs and restaurants along the trail.
“One in thirteen Australian jobs rely on our tourism industry.
“That is why the Coalition Government is maintaining our record investment in tourism infrastructure and marketing as part of our plan to generate another 1.25 million jobs across Australia.”
Federal Leichardt Warren Entsch MP said the Wangetti Trail would create around 150 local jobs and be a significant boost to tourism and the local economy.
He said this investment in local tourism was about listening, acting and delivering for the community.
“This incredible new nature-based experience, once up and running, will be a major tourism drawcard to our region,” Mr Entsch said.
“Our $8 million funding boost will go towards building the second stage of the Wangetti Trail from the Mowbray River through to Palm Cove.
“It will include trail construction, upgrades to bridges, campsites and associated infrastructure.
“It will also include $350,000 to advance Indigenous tourism partnerships on the Wangetti Trail.”
Mr Entsch said the trail has the potential to attract an extra 28,000 visitors to the region each year, making a significant contribution to the local visitor economy.
“The Wangetti Trail is expected to generate $18.3 million in additional spending in the local economy of which at least $10.4 million is expected to be from new visitors coming specifically for the trail.”

In an uncertain world, Australia’s prosperity depends on our security. To protect Australia and our national interests, we are building a stronger Defence Force, restoring Defence funding to 2 per cent of GDP by 2020-21 and investing over $200 billion in military capability over the decade
The Liberal and Nationals Government‘s 2016 Defence White Paper sets out a comprehensive strategy to deal with our security challenges. Included in this comprehensive strategy is a commitment to invest in Defence infrastructure in the Northern Territory as part of the Integrated Investment Program.
The Assistant Minister for Defence, David Fawcett said that the Northern Territory has a vital role to play as a partner with Defence and that timely investment in Defence infrastructure was important to ensure that local businesses remain viable into the future to provide support to our military and allies.
“The Morrison Government will therefore direct Defence to bring forward the start date on approved infrastructure work packages for commencement before the end of 2019”, Assistant Minister Fawcett said.
“Our decision will bring real money into the Territory and Top End businesses more quickly than was otherwise planned”
“The successful Local Industry Capability Plan initiative has been based on feedback from regional businesses and means that work packages will be tendered that are suitable for local companies to bid for and win, delivering both value for money and local benefit”.
Minister Fawcett thanked Country Liberal candidates Jacinta Price (Lingiari), Cathy Ganley (Solomon) and Dr Sam McMahon (Senate) for their advocacy to ensure that work continued to flow to local companies from the $20 billion Defence infrastructure package for the Northern Territory.
“Total work funded in 2018/19 will be $335 million, growing to over $400 million in 2019/20. Defence is currently investing in projects across the NT including Larrakeyah, Robertson Barracks, and RAAF Tindal.”

A Shorten Labor Government will ramp up support for the recreational fishing industry with a $55.5 million investment to renew ageing infrastructure, replenish native fish stocks in our rivers and create the first ever Prime Ministerial Roundtable on Recreational Fishing.
Around 3.4 million Australians engage in recreational fishing each year, directly contributing an estimated $1.8 billion to the economy and supporting around 90,000 Australian jobs.
Labor will provide a $45 million boost to improve recreational fishing infrastructure all across Australia. This new investment builds on our previously announced $10 million commitment.
We will focus on upgrading existing and building new boat ramps, pontoons and jetties to help improve safety and amenity for people launching their vessels.
Many existing boat ramps are in bad need of an upgrade – they are often single lane, resulting in long queues and often dangerous competition for spots on the launches.
Labor will invest $10 million into native fish breeding and stocking across Australia, replenishing 10 million native fish a year into Australia’s rivers.
We will work closely with similar state programs and in consultation with recreational fishing groups to determine which species and breeds should be priorities.
A further $500,000 grant will be provided to the Give Back to Habitat campaign to support on the ground efforts to protect and restore fish habitats. Recreational fishers are some of Australia’s most committed conservationists, and Labor wants to offer practical help.
In addition to this funding, a Shorten Labor Government will establish the first Prime Ministerial Roundtable on Recreational Fishing.
Industry leaders and recreational fishing groups will be invited to meet annually and discuss issues with the prime minister, and minister responsible for fisheries.
The annual roundtable will be held in regional Australia – for example North West Tasmania, the North Coast of New South Wales, or Central or North Queensland: areas in Australia where recreational fishing is a major pastime. For the first time, recreational fishing groups will be able to take issues directly to the prime minister.
A Shorten Labor Government will also:

• Ensure the small pelagic fishery is protected from large-capacity factory freezer trawlers, preventing the use of super trawlers
• Continue to support the national Recreational Fishing Council and give our recreational fishers a seat at the decision-making table

This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to invest in communities around Australia, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals.
After six years of Liberal cuts and chaos, our united Labor team is ready.

Greens Adam Bandt MP today said that the decision by the Labor candidate in Melbourne is the right one, and noted that the contest is now one between the Greens and the conservatives.
“Violence against women and sexual violence is unacceptable, in any circumstances. The decision of the Labor candidate to resign is the right one,” Mr Bandt said.
“Melbourne is now a contest between the Greens and the conservatives, so if voters want to change the government and get real action on climate change, they need to vote Greens.”
“I won’t take this seat for granted. I will continue to campaign hard, talking to voters and seeking their support for my re-election right up to 6pm on election day.”

The Liberal Party’s piecemeal promises on the environment will not undo the damage their billions of dollars in fossil fuel subsidies have done to our natural world, the Greens say.
“This is way too little, way too late from the Liberal Government. Today’s offering is a drop in the ocean to try and appease voters in Victoria rather than properly investing in environmental restoration and tackling dangerous climate change,” Greens environment and water spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said.
“Melissa Price has been Australia’s worst Environment Minister. She’s overseen cuts to her department and ticked off on shonky approvals for her mining mates on the eve of the election.  Today’s she was kept away from Prime Minister’s key environment announcement, keeping her from stuffing up another interview.
“It’s clear the Liberals will never do right by the environment. When they’re handing $20 billion out in subsidies for fossil fuels, they are funding the destruction of our environment.
“Under the Greens plan for the environment, the big polluters would pay for the restoration of the environment and protecting our native species.
“With Adani facing another setback because of its inadequate plan for the black-throated finch, voters are faced with a clear choice this election. A vote for the Liberals is a vote for the big miners over the environment.
“Under our plan projects like drilling in the Great Australia Bight would never go ahead, and the animals that depend on the Bight – like the Australian sea lion – would be fully protected.
“Australians have a clear choice. If they want real action on climate change, the protection, and restoration of our environment, and a plan to save our threatened species, they have to vote Green on May 18.”

South Australia’s 100-year-old Dog Fence will receive a $25 million upgrade under a re-elected Morrison Coalition Government with joint funding from the South Australian Government and industry.
The $25 million will be made up of $10 million of Commonwealth funding if the Coalition is re-elected with a matching contribution from the Marshall Liberal Government and $5 million from industry.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey and South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone made the election commitment today to replace 1,600 kilometres of the ageing 2,150 kilometre-long South Australian Dog Fence.
Mr Ramsey said the Morrison Government’s commitment to renewing the fence was an absolute game changer for the state’s livestock industries.
“Investing in the Dog Fence is a multi-generational investment in our livestock industry,” said Mr Ramsey.
“The current fence is 100 years old and in desperate need of renewal and an upgrade will serve the industry well into the future.
“The election last year of the Marshall Government has provided a new era of co-operation between the Federal and State Governments.
“At last we have a government in South Australia as keen on investing in the regions as we are.
“Wild dogs have been tearing thousands of sheep to pieces in the areas to the south of the leaking fence.
“Increasingly the dogs are finding their way further and further south. Now is the time to act and I am pleased we are stepping up to do that job.
“Federally we will front-load the investment by making $1 million available now and the balance will be one of the first projects delivered from the $3.6bn Drought Future Fund, which kicks in on 1 July.
“The fund will provide $100 million a year to assist Australian farmers to prepare and deal with drought. This investment is just the first example of the benefits of this new fund.”
Mr Ramsey said he would also like to thank Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud for his strong support.
“Last October I invited the Minister to a meeting in Jamestown with a group of affected South Australian producers from across several areas of the state and he was quick to grasp the enormity of the problem and has been very supportive in my quest to get things moving on the renewal of the fence,” said Mr Ramsey.
Minister Whetstone said the South Australian Government is committed to partnering with the Morrison Government and industry to renew the state’s Dog Fence.
“The Marshall Liberal Government will provide $10 million towards the required works if $10 million of Commonwealth funding and $5 million of industry sector funding is secured,” said Minister Whetstone.
“The South Australian Government looks forward to working with both the Morrison Government and industry to finalise arrangements to renew this very important asset.
“It is the longest continuous fence in the world, and a crucial part of supporting and protecting the South Australian sheep industry.
“South Australia’s component of the 5,400 kilometre Dog Fence is approximately 2,150 kilometres, with approximately 1,600km being more than 100 years of age.
“The $25 million announcement today to replace 1,600 kilometres of ageing fencing will ensure its continued effectiveness and support pastoralists from the ongoing threat of wild dogs.”

The Morrison Government is backing Australians with disability, their families and carers.
We understand that people with disability want to participate fully in the social and economic life of our community. We recognise that such participation is good for them, good for their families and good for the nation.
If people with disability want to work, we will support them to find and keep a job. Keeping the economy strong is vital. It is only by building a stronger economy that we can guarantee the essential services that people with disability, their families and carers rely on and deliver them the jobs they deserve.
The Morrison Government proudly supports the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which is transforming the lives of people with disability, their families and carers. It is important we get it right.
In the next term of a Morrison Government we must finalise the rollout of the NDIS and set it up for long term success. A re-elected Morrison Government will:

• Continue to ensure the NDIS is fully funded by building a stronger economy and keeping the budget in the black.
• Rollout new NDIS participant planning pathways – making sure people with disability have a single point of contact with the NDIS, and can choose to be on a longer NDIS plan of up to 3 years if their disability is stable.
• Expand the NDIS community connectors program to support and assist hard to reach communities – including Indigenous Australians, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities and ageing parents of children with disability – to navigate the NDIS and get the services they or their children need.
• Introduce a new NDIS Participant Service Guarantee from 1 July 2020 – setting new standards for shorter timeframes for people with disability to get an NDIS plan and to have their plan reviewed, with a particular focus on children, and participants requiring specialist disability accommodation and assistive technology.

We recognise that the NDIS was never intended to be the only support provided to people with disability, their families or carers. A re-elected Morrison Government will:

• Commit $45 million to develop a national disability information gateway, including a website and 1800 number, to assist all people with disability and their families to locate and access services in their communities.
• Introduce a new 7 per cent employment target for people with disability across the Australian Public Service (APS) by 2025.
• Provide $2 million to support people with autism to find and keep a job, including a $1.5 million national expansion of the successful Dandelion Program in partnership with DXC Technology.

We will be implementing these initiatives in close consultation with people with disability, their families, carers and supporters.

A Shorten Labor Government will ramp up support for the recreational fishing industry with a $55.5 million investment to renew ageing infrastructure, replenish native fish stocks in our rivers and create the first ever Prime Ministerial Roundtable on Recreational Fishing.
Around 3.4 million Australians engage in recreational fishing each year, directly contributing an estimated $1.8 billion to the economy and supporting around 90,000 Australian jobs.
Labor will provide a $45 million boost to improve recreational fishing infrastructure all across Australia. This new investment builds on our previously announced $10 million commitment.
We will focus on upgrading existing and building new boat ramps, pontoons and jetties to help improve safety and amenity for people launching their vessels.
Many existing boat ramps are in bad need of an upgrade – they are often single lane, resulting in long queues and often dangerous competition for spots on the launches.
Labor will invest $10 million into native fish breeding and stocking across Australia, replenishing 10 million native fish a year into Australia’s rivers.
We will work closely with similar state programs and in consultation with recreational fishing groups to determine which species and breeds should be priorities.
A further $500,000 grant will be provided to the Give Back to Habitat campaign to support on the ground efforts to protect and restore fish habitats. Recreational fishers are some of Australia’s most committed conservationists, and Labor wants to offer practical help.
In addition to this funding, a Shorten Labor Government will establish the first Prime Ministerial Roundtable on Recreational Fishing.
Industry leaders and recreational fishing groups will be invited to meet annually and discuss issues with the prime minister, and minister responsible for fisheries.
The annual roundtable will be held in regional Australia – for example North West Tasmania, the North Coast of New South Wales, or Central or North Queensland: areas in Australia where recreational fishing is a major pastime. For the first time, recreational fishing groups will be able to take issues directly to the prime minister.
A Shorten Labor Government will also:

• Ensure the small pelagic fishery is protected from large-capacity factory freezer trawlers, preventing the use of super trawlers
• Continue to support the national Recreational Fishing Council and give our recreational fishers a seat at the decision-making table

This election is a choice between Labor’s plan to invest in communities around Australia, or bigger tax loopholes for the top end of town under the Liberals.
After six years of Liberal cuts and chaos, our united Labor team is ready.