Reviewing the SES funding model, and what it means for Catholic school parents

Below is the letter I sent to all Catholic school parents on the Northern Beaches that have contacted me over the past year to discuss the Federal Government;s school funding reforms. 

As promised, I endeavour to keep you up to date with the latest, and explain how you can get involved, so we can secure better outcomes for our local schools and your kids. 

I encourage you to share this link with anyone you think will benefit from the information.  

Jason

Today, I have called for the Northern Beaches Council to delay any further rezonings or developments until the transport situation on the Northern Beaches becomes clearer. 

Over the weekend we saw yet another example of how transport planning in our area is the proverbial cart before the horse.  Before transport projects are even started, they are already planning on how to fill up our suburbs with more people and more cars.  

The out of touch bureaucrats who run our transport and road systems have outdone themselves this time.

The Clean Energy Regulator (CER) has today announced that there will be enough renewable energy projects built over the next three years to meet the Renewable Energy Target in 2020.

The CER has previously said that to meet the Renewable Energy Target approximately 6000 megawatts of capacity would need to be announced and built between 2016 and 2019.

The Coalition Government is undertaking the first review of the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 (GEMS Act) which allows the Commonwealth to set uniform, national energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment.

The Act has driven significant improvements in energy efficiency, contributing to reduced energy consumption, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

The Turnbull Government is continuing to take action to combat the scourge of ice and other illicit drugs with more Local Drug Action Teams set to rollout across Australia.

Applications are now open for the third round of the Local Drug Action Team (LDAT) program, which helps to bring the community together to develop local plans and activities to prevent and reduce the harm being caused by drugs and alcohol in their regions.

LDAT members could include representatives from local councils, schools, police, youth services, primary health services and treatment services, community groups, non-government organisations. 

The Turnbull Government has today released for public consultation exposure draft legislation to establish a new corporate Commonwealth entity, the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC), to improve housing outcomes for Australians.

The NHFIC, which is due to commence operations on 1 July 2018, is an important part of the Government’s Reducing Pressure on Housing Affordability plan announced in the 2017-18 Budget.

The Turnbull Government has for the first time published the details of child care services that have been the subject of enforcement action as it continues its crackdown on dodgy providers.

The publication of the Child Care Enforcement Action Register means providers who rort the system no longer have anywhere to hide. The register should serve as a warning to providers that if you’re non-compliant and do the wrong thing you will be hung out to dry.

Whilst the overwhelming majority providers are legitimate and provide high quality care, those who go down the wrong path should be held to account for their actions.

In an important step for the development of the medicinal cannabis sector and to secure long-term supplies for Australian patients, the Federal Government will permit the export of medicinal cannabis products.

This follows extensive consultation that was undertaken last year.

Our top priority is to ensure a safe quality supply of medicinal cannabis for Australian patients.

This decision will help both the domestic supply and Australian producers by strengthening the opportunities for domestic manufacturers.

The Turnbull Government is continuing to build on record levels of investment in mental health services with an additional $110 million to extend and expand mental health programs for young Australians.

We know that around four million Australians experience a mental health condition every year.

And people of all ages can be affected – either directly themselves or because someone close to them might be suffering. Even young children can be deeply affected.

As part of the funding announced today, beyondblue will receive up to $46 million for its integrated school-based Mental Health in Education initiative.

The Turnbull Government is today releasing an options paper considering how the native title system could be improved to better support all stakeholders involved with native title. 

The options paper considers reforms to the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) to make the native title system operate more effectively for all Australians. It includes recommendations from a range of reviews, including the:

• Australian Law Reform Commission’s report on Connection to Country: Review of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth),
• Council of Australian Government’s Investigation into Land Administration and Use, and
• Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations’ Technical Review of the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

In developing the options paper, the Government has engaged extensively with key stakeholders, including the states and territories at a Native Title Ministers’ Meeting on 13 October this year.