Ron Hoenig's Heffron Gazette - June 2013

Heffron residents should have received the June 2013 edition of my newsletter called the "Ron Hoenig Heffron Gazette". It is available for download here. 

Redfern Public Housing Forum

Thank you to those many Redfern public housing residents that attended my Public Housing Forum at ‘Our Place’ Community Room Poets Corner, in Redfern this week.

The forum was held to give public housing tenants an opportunity to meet and speak with me, Housing NSW staff and Police about Housing NSW issues and initiatives along with Policing and Crime Prevention. 

I was delighted to see that so many residents attended and that each of them had the chance to speak and ask questions of which included the following topics; anti- social behaviour, building security, the implementation of new alcohol free zones, maintenance and the effects of the clean energy supplement gouge and the new bedroom tax for under occupancy. 

I would like to thank Constable Maria Flood from Redfern Police and Michael Modder & Cheyne Hart from Housing NSW for coming along and being of great assistance to me.

I also wish to thank the radio media for covering the plight of public housing tenants and their real concern about the government's gouging of the clean energy supplement.

What I like most about meeting people face to face, is that I know people are getting the chance to have their say and have their questions or concerns answered. I want the community to know that I am here to listen and enjoy speaking with you all; for I think it’s the best part about my job.

Premier O'Farrell needs to reverse dangerous cuts to offenders supervision program in this years budget

The O’Farrell Liberal Government needs to reverse its dangerous decision to cut $5.7 million and 73 jobs from the program designed to supervise serious sex and violent offenders in the community.

This cut is has been highlighted following a woman being attacked at a bus stop last week, allegedly by a man released on parole only months earlier after being jailed for the murder of a 17 year old woman in 1990.

This year’s budget papers* (budget paper 3, 2-15) reveal:

·       $5.7 million is being cut this year from the Supervision of Offenders in the Community Service Group; and

·       At least 73 full time jobs are being slashed from the offender supervision program.

Following the horrific attack in Hunters Hill only a few days ago, it defies belief the O’Farrell Government would reduce supervision for violent offenders. Our supervision system has failed, so why on earth would the Government seek to further reduce the monitoring of offenders in our community?

These budget and staff cuts mean there will be even less supervision of violent offenders in our community. Cost cutting from offender supervision programs that are designed to protect the community is incredibly dangerous. It neither protect the community or reduces recidivism of offenders.

People across the Eastern Suburbs and Inner Southern region have a right to feel safe regardless of whether they are in their own home, waiting at a bus stop or walking alone down the street. If the O’Farrell Government is serious about protecting the community, they would reverse these dangerous funding cuts to offender supervision programs today.

Mobile Offices – Eastlakes, Alexandria & Erskineville

What a wet weekend it was! But it wasn’t wet enough to deter the locals of Eastlakes, Alexandria and Erskineville as they came along to say hi at our mobile offices that were held on Saturday 22 June across the Heffron Electorate.

Despite the wet weather, the mobile offices were a success with many locals out and about coming along to speak with me. What I like most about mobile offices is that it gives me an opportunity to get out into the community and talk and meet with my constituents; it’s a great way to connect with you and gives you "after hours" access to myself and my staff in addition to the services available at my Heffron Electorate Office.

I was also very appreciative that Peter Garrett, Federal Member for Kingsford-Smith and Councillors, Mark Castle and Stan Kondilios from Botany City Council and attended the Eastlakes mobile office and Councillor Linda Scott from City of Sydney Council attended the Alexandria and Erskineville mobile offices to answer any local government related matters.

Thank you to everyone that came along, I was delighted to meet you and help you with any enquiries and please keep an eye out for my next mobile office near you.

Izabella Shrayer meeting Ron Hoenig MP and Peter Garrett MP at Eastlakes

Ron Hoenig MP,  Judith Rainsbury-Taylor, Deborah Taylor & Cr Linda Scott  at Erskinville

Ron Hoenig MP talking to residents at Eastlakes Shopping Centre

Vince Carnevale of Rosebery with Ron Hoenig MP and Steve Sotiras at Eastlakes Shopping Centre

Kensington West Kingsford Precinct Committee

It was terrific so many people, including Randwick City Councillor Greg Moore, braved a chilly winter’s evening to attend the bimonthly meeting of Kensington West Kingsford Precinct Committee. 

Joy Hruby with Ron Hoenig MP 

I was pleased to accept an invitation by the Committee’s Secretary, Rosemary Mackenzie, to address the meeting and to share my thoughts and views on a range of current issues and discuss their likely impact on the neighbourhoods of Kensington and Kingsford. 

For over an hour we discussed:

• council amalgamations and the creation of “super” councils 
• light rail for Anzac Parade 
• the Planning White Paper 
• the Urban Activation Precincts - and sites chosen for Randwick, Anzac Parade Kingsford and from Maroubra to Phillip Bay and 
• the Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney to 2031.   

Gerard Lore with Ron Hoenig MP

 I commend the Committee’s efforts in providing a regular forum where concerned residents can discuss and respond to planning issues, policies and proposed projects that directly impact their neighbourhood. 

  

Community sees red over State Government rezoning proposal in Randwick City

Randwick Mayor Tony Bowen says the State Government has left the community in the dark about its plans for the two Urban Activation Precincts proposed for Randwick and from Maroubra to La Perouse. 

“Many people are concerned about these proposals. Given the little detail we have seen has included mass rezoning plans for Anzac Parade that could see tens of thousands of new homes built in towers potentially up to 18 storeys, it is no wonder residents are alarmed,” Mayor Bowen said.

“Ever since the Planning Minister’s now infamous ‘blurry maps’ were sent to us in December 2012, we have been asking for more information. The State Government needs to tell us what it is up to.”

“But there’s no information coming and the community is now rightfully demanding answers. The southern urban activation precinct will be the most significant changes in generations to hit the suburbs of Maroubra, Matraville, Malabar, Chifley, Little Bay and Phillip Bay.

“In good faith we have attended some ‘steering groups’ set up by the State Government but when we asked for concrete information we have been stonewalled and even accused of scaremongering. I am concerned these meetings are a “Claytons” approach to consultation, designed to leverage Council’s good reputation and give the community the false impression the project is a joint initiative with Council when in fact the community’s voice has been silenced.

“I’ve sought a meeting with the Minister to discuss my concerns with the process initiated by his department and the lack of information available to us. I am yet to receive a satisfactory response despite filling out a range of meeting request paperwork and red tape that is apparently required to speak with a State Government minister.

“I’m very concerned this Urban Activation process seems to be ploughing ahead without any proper consultation or meaningful information available to residents, especially given this government promised to return planning powers to local government, and has also advocated the community having a greater say in the planning process,” Mayor Bowen said.

Rushed sale of Newcastle Port is just stupid

In an ideological and stupid act the O'Farrell Liberal government has not only announced the sale of the Newcastle Port in its budget, but has also rushed legislation through the parliament to effect its sale.

The sale of Newcastle Port has been announced with no scoping study and no consideration of the consequences. The Government also allocated $340 million from the sale of the port to the revitalisation of Newcastle, the removal of the heavy rail line from Newcastle City and the construction of light rail in its place.

Sounds good doesn't it? Really easy. Just sell a port, remove a train, and build a tram and just like magic a new, revitalised Newcastle.

Gee this sounds easy. Barry O'Farrell is very clever. Must have planned this well.

Played terrific with the media and Liberal MPs.

Only thing is about 3 weeks before this the Ports Minister told parliament he had no plans to sell Newcastle Port. Ports Minister Duncan Gay is an experienced politician who I have found to be a minister of integrity. I accept what he says is accurate. Somewhere between the 28 May and budget day the government decided to sell this port. Not a lot of time for analysis.

Secondly this port is no ordinary port. It is the largest coal export port in the world. Not just NSW, and the nation's economy depends on the efficiency of this port. If one of the large mining companies acquire the port it could control one of the worlds largest minerals export facility on Australia's eastern seaboard, maybe to the exclusion or disadvantage of its competitors. Some consideration of this might have been important.

Thirdly the income from the Newcastle Ports Corporation is only about $20 million, with dividends paid to the NSW government of only about $11 million. A return on assets is only 7.5%. Where does the state get its magic figures from to invest in Newcastle's revitalisation.

Fourthly, where did this Newcastle revitalisation come from. Was there a detailed plan, examination and costing of replacing rail with trams etc. Remember it was only last October when Infrastructure NSW and the Premier released this fantastic report on "First things First" a 20 year plan on making NSW number one again. A plan for Infrastructure for the next 20 years. Was the sale of Newcastle port mentioned? No. Light rail in Newcastle? No. Where did this plan come from. A Barry O'Farrell thought bubble to get a good media run. Get passed the next election.

What about NSW's real future? What about proper analysis? What about some intellectual logic and consideration? No wonder people have had enough of politicians. Heaven help this state.

The video of my speech to parliament on the legislation is here: http://youtu.be/8SnERjwu8p8