NSW Labor to rescue TAFE as students hit with prohibitive TAFE fees

Thousands of students in my electorate have been hit by the Liberals’ with massive increases to course fees kick in at the start of the term this year.

Students would benefit from an affordable and well-funded technical and vocational training system under Labor’s $100 million TAFE Rescue Plan if Labor is elected in 3 weeks time.

Within one term, a Labor Government will:

• Abolish the Liberal’s ‘Smart and Skilled’ privatisation program;
• Reverse the Baird Government’s TAFE fee hikes;
• Guarantee funding to TAFE by capping the amount of public funds that can be contestable by private operators at 30 per cent; and
• Commission a landmark review of education and training in NSW after Year 10.

TAFE is critical for people looking to finish high school, get further education or re-train for a new career.

Many people across my electorate who rely on a strong TAFE system to get the skills they need to find a rewarding job.

But since 2011, the Liberal/National Government has cut $1.7 billion from education and training, sacked 1100 TAFE teachers and support staff, cut TAFE courses and slashed class contact times and drastically increased student fees by up to thousands of dollars. 

The Liberals’ damaging reforms have seen courses cut and staff sacked – and as of this week, fees are rising significantly. I know people in ELECTORATE who have had to take hefty loans to complete their courses – or have made the tough choice not to go back to TAFE at all.

Labor knows that quality education is the key to a good job and a fulfilling life – that’s why Labor will invest in training and make TAFE affordable.

Labor will reverse the Liberals’ fee increases, wind back the privatisation of TAFE and stop the course cuts and fee hikes, so TAFE is accessible for all.” 

Key Points: 

• As technology changes, equipping the workforce with the skills required for the jobs of today and those of the future is an urgent challenge for NSW. We need a strong TAFE system to train our young people, to prepare them for fulfilling jobs. 
• Since 2011, the Liberal/National Government has cut $1.7 billion from education and training, sacked 1100 TAFE teachers and support staff, cut TAFE courses, slashed class contact times and drastically increased student fees by up to thousands of dollars. 
• These impacts to TAFE are a result of the ‘Smart and Skilled’ program of market-based vocational education and training where TAFE must compete for students and funding with private providers.Within the first term of government, Labor will abolish the ‘Smart and Skilled’ privatisation program, reverse the Liberals’ TAFE fee hikes, guarantee funding to TAFE by capping the amount of public funds that can be contestable by private operators at 30 per cent; and commission a landmark review of education and training in NSW after Year 10.

Labor to reverse Liberals' retrospective cuts to victims of crime compensation

Today I welcome Labor’s plan to will reverse the Liberals’ retrospective cuts to compensation payments for victims of crime – and review the legislation altogether. 

In Government, Labor implemented laws to give victims of violent crime up to $50,000 in compensation. But in 2013, the Liberals introduced new rules to cut the maximum compensation payment to only $15,000.

The new rules were also retrospective, meaning all claims lodged before 2013 were only eligible for a maximum of $15,000 in compensation. 

As a result of these cruel new rules, more than 20,000 victims have had their compensation retrospectively cut – many of whom are survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. 

Labor will remove the retrospective nature of the Liberals’ legislation and review the law altogether – and will handle all claims arising up until the introduction of the 2013 legislation under the pre-2013 scheme. 

The Liberals’ cuts to compensation exposed their true priorities – a fixation on the budget bottom line with no compassion for victims of violent crime.

This retrospective rule has added a financial burden to the immense physical, emotional and psychological burden victims of violent crime already bear. 

I’m proud to part of a team that will right a wrong and reverse the Liberals’ cruel retrospective cuts to victims of violent crime.

Labor government to recruit 500 new paramedics

I welcome the announcement that a Foley Labor Government will recruit an additional 500 paramedics and increase ambulance resources in its first term.

Across the state, resources are being stretched and paramedics are working on their days off to fill gaps in rosters and working long hours of overtime. 

This investment in our ambulance service will speed up response times and support our dedicated paramedics.

The 500 paramedics will cost $46.6 million over the forward estimates. This includes additional salary and other recurrent costs – such as meal allowances and workers’ compensation – associated with employing new paramedics.

As part of the $46.6 million, there will be $2.1 million to fund capital costs including additional vehicles, defibrillators and stretchers.

The 500 paramedics will be delivered by 2019 - an extra 125 paramedics a year. 

Paramedics are one of the most crucial roles in our health system – they are the first responders to homes, workplaces and other places when someone is in urgent need of medical assistance.

The role of a paramedic is literally life or death – not surprising that they are considered to be one of the most trusted professions in our community.

There are less than 3,500 paramedics attending more than one million call outs a year – and they are being overstretched and under resourced following the Liberals’ $3 billion in cuts to the health system.

A Labor Government will recruit an extra 500 paramedics to relieve the pressure placed on our paramedics and allow them to keep doing their good work – saving lives.

 Foley Labor Government will ensure that patients in NSW receive the best possible care and boost ambulances response times by supporting our paramedics.

Labor has a proud record of investing in our hospitals and health services which is why we will recruit an additional 500 paramedics to strengthen the response to health emergencies. 

The health system under the Liberals is at breaking point – hospitals failing to meet emergency room targets, slowing ambulance response times and placing doctors and nurses under enormous pressure.

Labor's comprehensive approach to ending violence against women

A Foley Labor Government will take a whole-of-Government approach to ending the scourge of violence against women in our community.

Labor’s comprehensive package to tackle domestic violence and sexual assault offers new and practical ideas to end the violence and better support victims. 

Under Labor’s plan, we will: 

• Provide a $14.5 million funding boost to support women’s refuges, counselling services, prevention programs and men’s behaviour change programs
• Establish new specialist courts for domestic violence and sexual assault – to streamline the criminal justice system and provide better support to the victims of these horrendous crimes. Trial courts will be located in Sydney, the Illawarra and the Hunter
• Establish a new Premier’s Council for Women, to provide expertise into how the NSW Government can best support women, and Labor will restore the Office for Women as an agency within the Department of Premier and Cabinet, returning women’s issues to their rightful place at the heart of government
• Strengthen penalties for breaches of Apprehended Violence Orders, providing additional assurance to victims of domestic violence, deterring perpetrators from breaching AVOs and ensuring those who break the law face tough penalties. Labor will put the establishment of a national register of domestic violence offenders on the COAG agenda
•  Expand access to paid domestic violence leave – doubling the existing entitlement
• Extend protections under the Anti-Discrimination Act to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault

Ending violence against women is one of the most important issues facing our society and Labor is determined to making this a priority across government.

One woman dies each week as a result of domestic violence in this country – and this issue impacts families in my electorate.

I am proud of Labor’s commitment to prioritising ending violence against women. 

A Foley Labor Government will take a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach to put an end to domestic violence and sexual assault. 

Labor will invest in support services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, prevention and specialist courts.

Ron Hoenig Heffron Gazette

Residents should have received their copy of the January 2015 edition of my newsletter called the "Ron Hoenig Heffron Gazette". It is available for download here.

Heffron local Massimo Luongo stars in Australia's Asian Cup football victory

Massimo Luongo (courtesy ABC)

Local lad Massimo Luongo, the player of the series in Australia's Asian Cup victory has done his local community proud.

Massimo, a 22 year old local from Waterloo went to the UK to try his luck with Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and is now playing with Swindon Town.

I have known Massimo and his family since he was 8 years old. He played representative football with my youngest son, playing locally at Hensley Athletic Field, Jellicoe Park and other local venues. He was always such a talented young player. Now he shown in his home town what an outstanding talent he has become.

I told the NSW Parliament only in August last year, when I congratulated Massimo for making the Socceroos squad; "It is clear that Massimo is exceptionally talented and will be an exciting player to watch as Australia prepares for future international games " See my speech Parliament here. Wasn't that an understatement?

I know Massimo has now not only made made his family—father Mario, mother Ira, brother Titsiano and sister Angela proud, and his local community proud, but all of Australia.

I know this wonderful young man has a great future in front of him. He will make an important contribution to Australia's preparation for the World Cup in Russia. I wish him well in the future. He is such a great role model for other young footballers right throughout Australia.

Labor to allow trained Pharmacists to administer Flu Vaccine

Allowing trained pharmacists to administer flu vaccines was a visionary idea that would boost local vaccination rates and general community health Labor Leader Luke Foley announced on Sunday.

Under the policy healthy adults aged between 18 and 65 in my electorate would be able to obtain a flu vaccine at the local pharmacist for a standard charge.

Participating pharmacists would be required to complete a two-day training course accredited by NSW Health. They would also need appropriate professional indemnity insurance and a private consultation area on their premises.

Labor’s policy will complement the free flu vaccines that already exist under the National Immunisation Program and are provided by GPs to high-risk groups including all people 65 and older, pregnant women, people with chronic conditions and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders aged 15 and older. 

Influenza is a public health risk – and we need to get more people in electorate vaccinated. Trained pharmacists offer a safe, convenient and cost-effective way to achieve that outcome.

Everybody knows their local pharmacist. They are highly skilled and trusted professionals. If in rural/regional/coastal area Particularly in our area where there is a shortage of doctors – pharmacists are a vital part of the healthcare system.

This is a sensible new approach from Labor and Luke Foley to improving vaccination rates here in NSW. It is based on research and sound science.

And if you’re looking at the big picture, it’s a much smarter way to reduce doctor visits and control public health expenditure than the Tony Abbott GP tax.

Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia allow varying dispensing rights to pharmacists. Several other countries including the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and the United States allow pharmacists to provide vaccinations.

Overseas studies have shown that pharmacy-administered vaccines are especially effective in targeting young and middle-aged men. A Queensland trial found that one-in-four people immunised at pharmacies are walk-ins who had not planned on getting a vaccination.

In December 2013, the Pharmacy Board of Australia affirmed the administration of vaccines to be within the scope of pharmacy practice. The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia has also developed practice guidelines.

Last year, NSW Health reported 15,700 cases of influenza strain A and 2,500 cases of influenza strain B.

Labor in Government would examine extending pharmacist-delivered vaccines to adult measles and whooping cough.