The Redistribution of Bass, maybe some movement on issues...

Certainly were I live Phillip Island there seems to be two main issues.

• The lack of a 24 hour medical facility
• A secondary college

I've the following letter to both federal and state members of parliament::

 

Dear Mr .....

I'm writing to you to voice my concern with the growth of Phillip Island and the lack of infrastructure to accommodate it. A 24 hour medical facility and a secondary school are the most obvious.

The need for a secondary school. At present we have one daughter at Cowes primary who is in prep, she is one of five classes for that age for this School. There are also prep classes in Newhaven and San Remo. It would appear to me that there is more than enough pupils for a secondary School, possibly more than Wonthaggi.

Secondly a hospital. This was brought to my attention in the local Phillip Island Advertiser this week, with a group letter to the editor by prominent locals to the island. Pointing out the inadequacies and inequality of the health provision in the island. I was shocked to see how many much smaller communities have there own hospitals.

I believe that that this will become a real state election issue for residents on the island. At present pointing at Wonthaggi is a cop out. A one road to Wonthaggi which takes up to 45 minutes for some residents on the island is not the answer.

At this stage Mr Greg Hunt our federal representative, got back to me within an hour! He was encouraging to the causes with suggestions on how to get things going.

Yet Mr Ken Smith, no reply...

On his Summer Community Update 2012, lot of photos of Ken... None addressing the most important issues on the island.

I noticed on Anthony Greens blog that Bass electorate is due for an urgent redistribution . 27.5% over quota. Buy goodness I hope Ken starts addresses local issues, retires or gets booted out. I thought the time when the liberal party assumed a "born to rule" mentality was over. Thank goodness Greg Hunt kicks this trend, Im not so sure about Ken Smith though...

 

Ken Smith vs Greg Hunt

I often read, and I'm amazed at the difference of opinion between Ken Smith State government representative currently in power and the speaker of the house and Greg Hunt Federal representative in opposition; in matters regarding Bass. Amazed because they are both in the liberal party!

The environment::

Ken Smith:: Climate change "agnostic"

Greg Smtih:: "Convinced" of the science.

Development Ventnor::

Ken Smith:: Happy for it to go ahead (ignoring locals)

Greg Hunt:: Actively lobbied against it.

24 Medical clinic::

Ken Smith:: From this weeks Phillip Island advertiser didn't think Phillip island needed it.

Greg Hunt:: From this weeks Phillip Island advertiser, actively meeting with locals and is fighting for a 24hr medical clinic.

It is confusing to say the least. All I can hope for is Ken Smith to retire; It would probably be best for the Liberal Party. Then maybe we can get a representative who "represents" people on Phillip Island.

Watch out for those old Libs

 The reason's for the irratic planning decisions by state planning minister Mr Guy is starting to unravel. The Age has discovered a couple of phone calls by former state liberal member Mr Maclellan to presumably pressure him into allowing the change in zoning and allow building. He did so on behalf of 'family friends'....

Mr Maclellan's approaches to Mr Guy's office on behalf of developer and Liberal Party member Jim Hopkins - a family friend of Mr Maclellan's - raise fresh questions for Mr Guy about possible political influence on his decision-making

The article also for the first time reveals the position on the issue of current state members for Bass Mr Ken Smith. He was supportive of the development! I find this strange for a number of reasons

1. There is ample amount of land already for sale on Phillip Island
2.  The cost of land has not really gone up for the last 2-3 years.
   
3. The majority of residents on the island were against developing that corridor
4. The decision overturned Bass councils development planning, which seems reasonable. 

The only person who made sence in the liberal party was Mr Greg Hunt member for Flinders who actually advoctated on behalf of his constituntes to stop the development.

Even though Mr Hunt is across Western Port Bay, he makes good decisions. It makes me wonder; maybe the other liberals Mr Smith and Mr Maclellan are a little to close.

Ventnor planning and the liberals

 The controversies of the backflip of the State liberal planning minister Mr Guy appears to have taken another twist with the developer claiming political interference in the decision. The interference coming from the Federal liberal opposition Mr Hunt who opposed the decision with the majority of the population on Phillip Island. I applause his decision, from the Sydney Morning Herald ::

My job as the local member is to stand up fearlessly for the local community and the local environment."

What I find more interesting is the quietness of Mr Ken Smith who is the liberal state member for Phillip Island. I havn't read anything with his opinion, support of otherwise for the Ventnor development: Maybe I've missed it....

 

Ventnor re-zoning...

Great Article just put up by 'The Age' on the Ventnor re-zone decision by the Balieu government.
It reveals more questions about Mr Mathew Guys initial decision....

On a positive side great that our liberal federal member Greg Hunt lobbied against the decision. Representing people in his electorate.

But what is more of a concern is how quite Ken Smith liberal state member and Speaker of the house has been. I haven't heard him speak at all on the topic.....

Re-zoning, Mily Cyrus and infrastructure....

Phillip island was surprisingly in the international news with Milly Cyrus tweeting her sadness at the liberal planning minister Mathew Guy pushing through re-zoning without community or council consultation. Some of the concerns that I noted from the community and council were that services were already stretched and that there are already multiple new housing estates in production.

It interests me that commercially business know that Phillip Island is a growing area. Dimmy's has opened a shop, Safeway is opening, Target is opening. Yet local, state and federal governments don't seem to see this.

Public infustruture is a real problem. Phillip island is growing faster than the rest of the region yet looses out consistantly to other towns get the projects.

Phillip Island has no public swiming pool: Wonthaggi has a pool and looks like getting a new heated one!
Phillip Island: medical services are horrid; no bulk billing clinics, no 24 hour medical service, no hospital: Wonthaggi has all of these.

Population

Wonthaggi 6529 people in 2006
Phillip Island 7071 people in 2001
 

Yep something is wrong, and I think that it will bite the Liberal party on the bum. So watch out Ken Smith or who ever replaces you when you retire!

Frequency of National Disasters

It seems to me that the frequency of natural disasters is increasing. The last two years we have had bushfires in Victoria and flooding in both Victoria and Queensland. All of these have been reported as up there as the worst.
Today Queensland is facing what looks like the worst cyclone 'Yasi' in history.

I've no doubt that these events have always occurred in history. My concern is the frequency. That if frequency is any indication of climate change, it only going to get worse.

I put a tweet out to the opposition leader Tony Abbot and opposition environment minister if the frequency of natural disaster can be linked to climate change.

@GregHuntMP @TonyAbbottMHR do you think the frequency of natural disasters occurring at the moment can be linked to climate change?

I wonder if I get an answer?

Related articles

• Cyclone Yasi Churns Toward Flood-Ravaged Queensland (ecoworld.com)

Phillip Island hospital

I read in the Phillip Island and San Remo Advertiser December 15th, 2010 our local state MP say

"As far as Warley hospital 'we are not going back'"

Interesting considering I never heard him say this as explicitly during the state election campaign!

It is even stranger just prior to the federal campaign our local federal representative was in front of 'Warley' pledging money to reopen it! This was in his 'Flinders News'

My conclusion is that the liberals have to start working together and getting policy consensus.
The good news is that Mr Smith in the Advertiser is pushing for a 24 hr emergency medical facility on the island. This is a good step. My only concern is that it will be attached to Phillip Island Medical Group. PIMG the  only real option on the island, where even if you are a local, during holiday seasons you can't make an appointment, you have to ring up that morning and there is no bulk billing.

Bass, Ken Smith, Victorian Election 2010

Image via Wikipedia

It was a bit of a surprise to me that our local liberal Ken Smith is going to be the speaker of the next parliament in Victoria.

Although it was a bit a disappointment that he is rather phobic to technology.  From the ABC::

Mr Smith was firm when asked if he would like to see a crackdown on MPs using Facebook and Twitter while in the Parliament.
"Yeah I would," he said.

Com'on Ken, get with it, like you colleagues Greg Hunt who also represents us federally, dripping us with his pearls of wisdom and government stuff ups (A bit predictable really). Occasionaly revealing that he is a human ::

Thank you @latikabourke and others for birthday wishes. Big thank you to my wife for the chocolate cake delivered here. Staff v. happy too!

So Ken, let a few tweets through, just to see that you lot are working and are human....

Victoiran Election:: Bass a political backwater

I've never lived in an area where services and infrastructure are so poor. I've written about the health issues on Phillip Island before::

It would be the largest town in the state without a proper medial coverage.
(Phillip Island has a population 7000,  in 2001, Wanthaggi has a hospital 6500 in 2001, Koorumbura a population 4500 has a hospital. In summer the population can be 50000 with all the tourists).

It makes me wonder why this is the case and one of the answers that seems to come up is that we live in a liberal strong hold. The liberals are the only one who make any promises of any infrastructure because labour has given up on these sort of seats.  I don't blame labour either. Why would you set aside any money for a region if you don't get any return.
When I lived in Bendigo,  a swinging seat, there where always new things on the go. A new police station, a new hospital. Money was promised everywhere from both sides of politics.

The other odd thing about Phillip Island is that the population estimates are 40,000 to 60,000 in Summer. Been conservative the council rates would be for 30,000 people. Yet the infrastructure is on barely for 10,000 people.

So In many ways I see the only way to get out of the rut that the electorates of Bass and Flinders is in is to get an independent or at least for the Labour vote to get to a whisker of winning.

Here is my short list of infurstucture which needs to take place::

Better medical system::
Hospital with at least a medical/surgical emergency ward
A bulk billing GP clinic that is opened at least 5 days a week
Secondary College
Gass on the island
Swimming pool. (We have the Ocean but no where to teach kids to swim)

Related articles

• Vic opposition outbids govt on hospital (news.theage.com.au)

Greg Hunt should shout me beer!

Just had my first editing experience with the wikipedia fixing up Greg Hunts entry. Very easy!

Changed the reference http://greghunt.org, which appeared to be a domain squatter or something, to what I think is the proper reference http://greghunt.com.au/Pages/AboutGreg/biography.aspx.

I think Greg should shout me a beer next time he is in Cowes for that!

Greg Hunt and Wiki references

Interestingly doing a bit of googling for our local member in Flinders 'Greg Hunt' and checked out his wiki page. He only had two reference ::

1. ^ http://www.greghunt.org/
2. ^ http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/parl/43/Shadow/index.htm

the greghunt.org was a bit of a doozy
Here's a bit of a sample of its content:: "Rabbit Vibrators Still In Vogue"

Oh dear...

Related articles by Zemanta

• Joining climate committe 'repugnant' (news.theage.com.au)

politics and compromise

The government started the ball rolling with starting a committee on Climate change. The coalition where given a spot and the the shadow environment minisiter, my representative in Flinders Greg Hunt ruled it out:: From the SMH

The federal opposition has ruled out joining Prime Minister Julia Gillard's climate change committee, calling the idea "repugnant" and possibly in breach of the parliamentary committee act.
Coalition climate action spokesman Greg Hunt rejected yesterday's offer by Ms Gillard to join the multi-party committee because, he said, it required a preordained belief in carbon trading and would cause electricity prices to rise.
"The Australian Labor Party went to this election with the bedrock, fundamental pledge to the Australian people that they would not have a carbon tax," Mr Hunt told reporters yesterday.
"This committee is repugnant because it has a test that someone must sign up to a preordained outcome.
"I am not aware, and we are not aware, of any such belief-test on a parliamentary committee in the past 110 years.
"That appears to be in breach of the Parliamentary Committee Act."
One of the committee's terms of reference is to consider mechanisms for introducing a carbon price, either through a broadly based emissions trading scheme, a carbon levy or a mixture of both.

What I find frustrating in politics is opposition for oppositions sake. Hunt just seems to be toeing Tony Abbotts line.


The ABC 's"The Drum" pointed this about Hunt::

Hunt himself has bitten the bullet. His intellectual position is in favour of a carbon tax. We know this because he was one of the fiercest advocates of Turnbull's position when Malcolm was Liberal leader.

What I find frustrating about Hunt is that he is a smart. I actually think out of all the heads in government he probably is the best environmental minister there could be. My issues is he is going to play the Tony Abbott line.
So what is the best for Australia? Putting the best man for the job into power only to be muzzeled by Tony Abbott?
Politics and compromises. Maybe ever moral compromises...

election 2010 :: roundup

Well exciting times, just a brief summary of my thoughts::


-The sex party polled better than family first! (What does this say?)
-A hung parliament, no political party gets to push their legislation down our throats without proper review.
-Flinders: for the locals Greg Hunt gave young Francis Ventura a flogging. The Greens like most seats increased their percentage at the expencsive of Labor
-Broadband is still an issue with the independents who hold the balance of power. There is hope for an NBN.

Related articles by Zemanta

• "Hung Parliament in Australian Election" and related posts (rogerpielkejr.blogspot.com)
• 80,000 uncounted votes in four doubtful seats (theage.com.au)
• Hung parliament looking likely (news.theage.com.au)

Election 2010:: leaflets

It seems that labor has forgoten us in Flinders::

no leaflets at all from labor in Cowes
1 leaflets from 'The other' Bob Brown, Greens
4 leaflets from Liberal Greg Hunt

Related articles by Zemanta

• Bob Brown is feeling lucky (thepunch.com.au)

Election 2010:: Broadband policy

Steven Conroy and Tony Smith both debated the broadband policy yesterday. The Transcript can be seen on the ABC.

After reading it all I can write is that I feel sorry for Tony Smith. He's trying to sell a lemon why Conroy has got the juicy juicy mango. Obviously the only thing Smith can say is that it is cheaper.

I got my hands on the Coalitions broadband policy (Thanks to Greg Hunt who got back me, three cheers!) 
My main concern is that I don't actually know how this Coalition policy will affect me.
While in the Labours policy Bass has already been identified and will be one of the first to get in Victoria to get the NBN.

I'm actually not all that concerned by the money. Sometimes I believe the government needs to invest where the private sector wont. I also believe that the government when it get around to selling it will make a handsome profit.

The other thing is that I actually believe that it will benefit Australia having this infrastructure.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Abbott struggles with broadband basics (news.theage.com.au)
• Conroy, Smith And Ludlam Debating ICT Policy August 10 (gizmodo.com.au)

Election 2010 :: Greg Hunt, down....

I took this picture on the corner of Church St and Thompson Avenue in Cowes. The sign is a picture of Greg Hunt the local liberal representative, fallen down with a bit of excrement on it (Bottom left).

It now blends in well with the empty block of land, fallen, wrecked: that block has been an eye sore for years.

When I first saw it I wondered how long it would be standing, considering it's prominence.

Not that long.

By the way no reply to my email from Greg...

Election 2010 :: electionleaflet

Great tip for the upcoming election from Antony Green on the ABC::

Electionleaflets.org.au

Leaflets from electorates are uploaded so you can get a bit of a glimps at what the candidates and parties are up to, as well for a historical record.

For my electorate of Flinders ::

Greg Hunt is the only person with any material

"Working hard for our coasts"
and
"Greg Hunt MP"

Good to see local issues are addressed :: Hospital at Phillip Island, aquatic center at Phillip Island, and the Car Ferry at Cowes front beach.

Now where are the Greens or Labor's local policies???

Related articles by Zemanta

• Garrett should go over LNG delays: Hunt (news.theage.com.au)

Election 2010 :: Labours Enviromental policy

Rumours today of Labours environmental policy,  as reported by the ABC

A re-elected Labor government would ask a new "citizens' assembly" for climate change advice, under a key part of the ALP's new climate change policy set to be launched by Prime Minister Julia Gillard today.

I cannot but agree with Mr Greg Hunt our local man at Flinders who said

 Julia Gillard's proposed "citizens assembly" will fail to produce action.

The problem I see with it is that their is no actual leadership in a citizens assembly. I would rather vote for an environmental plan than somthing that 'might' happen. It's just to wishy washy for me.

The only person talking any sence in Malcolm Turnbull

"The Coalition's policy is not the ideal from my point of view I grant you that, I'd like to see a market-based solution, but I'll tell you this, it does have the potential to meet the emissions reductions targets by 2020," he said.
"The real question is the policy. Everyone knows where I stand, I've stuck to my principles on it. But the fact is, we have got a policy, Labor has nothing."

I think he is right. Labor has nothing!