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Welcome to Autumn E-News

Dear Constituent/Supporter,

As this E-News Update is being compiled, the Federal Parliament is in session in Canberra. The climate is chilly both inside and outside the House, with the Gillard Government lurching from one ill-conceived and poorly prepared policy to another. With one eye on the polls and one eye on the Independents & Greens, Julia Gillard continues to try and shore up her tenuous grasp on leadership.

The electorate at large will not forget the real-Julia’s pronouncement just before the last election that ‘there will be no carbon tax under the government I lead’. Whilst it is generally felt that the government will seek to run its full term, no one can predict what lies ahead for this minority government.

In this issue: I have provided some of my recent press releases and statements on particular issues of interest.

To read recent speeches made in Parliament log on to my website www.ruddockmp.com.au

1. VETERANS’ FORUM WITH PAUL FLETCHER & SENATOR MICHAEL RONALDSON
2. BALANCE MISSING IN LABOR GOVERNMENT’S PLANS TO MEANS TEST PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE REBATE
3. RUDDOCK ACCUSES GILLARD OF BETRAYAL
4. CHANGES TO FAMILY TAX BENEFITS WILL HURT FAMILIES
5. LABOR BUDGET BREAKS KEY PROMISE ON MENTAL HEALTH
6. VISIT TO  CHERRYBROOK PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH STATE MEMBER MATT KEAN MP
7. PRESENTING THE AUSTRALIAN FLAG TO DURAL PUBLIC SCHOOL
8. QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE TO WAYNE SWAN F3-M2
9. BUDGET BAD FOR FAMILIES AT START OF NATIONAL FAMILIES WEEK
10. LABOR ABANDONED NORTHERN DISTRICTS
11. RSL LIFECARE: THE FIRST 100 YEARS CELEBRATION
12. MEDAL PRESENTATION TO MR NEIL PULLEN
13. COUNCIL DECISION ‘A VICTORY FOR COMMON SENSE’
14. THINK TWICE BEFORE INVESTING

1. VETERANS’ FORUM –HORSBY RSL

Local MP Philip Ruddock organised an event at which the Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Senator the Hon Michael Ronaldson was the special guest. Paul Fletcher Member for Bradfield was also in attendance.

The event  provided a forum at which interested locals  put their ideas, concerns and opinions to the Shadow Minister who has the responsibility of formulating and explaining the Coalition’s policy in the important area of veterans’ affairs.’

The Forum was held on Wednesday 8th June in the Boronia Room of the Hornsby RSL, in High Street Hornsby. 

Mr Ruddock pointed out that it was only through the combined efforts of the community and the Coalition that the Gillard Government was forced ‘kicking and screaming into providing additional funding for the Australian War Memorial.

Philip with Senator Michael Ronaldson

The Gillard Government and the Greens have a plan to cut back the 30% rebate which people contributing to private health insurance can access now. According to local MP Philip Ruddock, ‘the potential impact of this plan needs to be understood ‘.

‘There needs to be a good balance between the public and private health systems and this plan threatens to wreak havoc’.

The Government first stated it intended to pull out $1.9 billion over four years by means testing, but projections now say the figure could be something like $3.4 billion. ‘About half the population of this nation, some 10 million people currently have private health insurance.’

‘If the rebate is diminished, this will have drastic implications. For example, Medibank Private – a not-for-profit government owned operation – has revealed that 37,000 of their members will drop their membership if these changes go ahead.’ ‘Just think about what this means. Not only will premiums have to increase significantly for those who remain insured, but our public hospital system will have to struggle even harder to cope with people seeking treatment.’

Mr Ruddock urged ‘vigilance’ as this plan unfolds. ‘I encourage everyone to make their feelings known on this matter. Contact me with your comments and concerns and I will see that they are passed on to the Government. We need you to join with the Coalition in opposing these changes.’

3. RUDDOCK ACCUSES GILLARD GOVERNMENT OF BETRAYAL

The recently delivered Federal Budget is ‘a budget of betrayal’. Speaking in Federal Parliament recently local MP Philip Ruddock said the Labor Government had betrayed not only the people of the Berowra electorate, but also surrounding electorates of Mitchell and Robertson by their blatant decision to strip away the $150 million previously confirmed as part of their Nation Building Program and allocated for design work needed to make the M2 – F3 project ‘shovel ready’.

‘Minister Albanese previously confirmed to me that a memorandum of understanding had been signed with the then NSW Labor Government and Federal Labor remained committed to the funding’.

Now however,  they have taken a ‘base political decision’ to strip this money away from the missing link project and use it to expand the Pacific Highway project in an attempt to ‘buy off’ one of the Independents.

Mr Ruddock said he is not the only MP angry about this betrayal.

‘The new (Labor) MP for Robertson knows that her future is very much dependent upon her constituents being able to access Sydney safely.’  Mr Ruddock said he was aware that she ‘peddles around the electorate’ that the Budget decision may be about to be reconsidered. 

‘Yet when I recently asked the Federal Treasurer if this was so, he made it very clear that the Government had “no intention “of doing so.’

‘People need to know something of the history of the M2 – F3 link to fully understand the enormity of the ALP’s current betrayal.’

‘The Labor Party has had their fingerprints on this for a very long time and they play one government off against the other – ensuring nothing is done. Meanwhile ‘heavy transport such as B-doubles and the like are mixing with mums and their bubs’ in what he described as ‘a disaster waiting to happen.’

4. CHANGES TO FAMILY TAX BENEFITS HIT FAMILIES

Labor should focus on being tough on waste rather than adding to the burden of Australian families.

So says local MP Philip Ruddock, speaking specifically on the impact which the Gillard Government’s budget cuts to family benefits.

‘The ALP’s claim that cutting $2 billion from family benefits will only affect the ‘rich’ is clearly wrong’.

Over 2.1 million families will lose some support as a result of the real value of the Family Tax Benefit supplement being cut.’

On top of that, many families with parents earning average wages will lose hundreds of dollars a year through the freezing of the threshold at which families start losing base rate Family Tax Benefit A.

‘Let’s look at some examples which mirror the circumstances of many families in this electorate.  Take a family with a combined income of $110,000. Each parent could be earning $55,000 or maybe Dad earns $65,000 and Mum $40,000 – this family will lose $853.50 a year in 2012-13 if they have 2 children under 13 and $906.75 if they have 3 under 13.’

‘How many families can afford to have this much wiped off their family budget with all the increases in living costs they are trying to cope with?’

Interest rates have increased 7 times since September 2009 ‘increasing average mortgage repayments by some $500 a month in a little over 18 months.  And now we have a carbon tax coming, with all its consequences.’

Mr Ruddock said the Coalition is committed to easing the financial burden of families by rejecting Labor’s new taxes and paying back Labor’s debt as soon as possible.

5. LABOR BUDGET BREAKS KEY PROMISE ON MENTAL HEALTH

The Gillard Government’s new mental health package will mean the Prime Minister will fail to deliver on mental health as a second term priority.

Philip Ruddock, Member for Berowra, said that the Gillard Government has delayed funding for mental health, with majority of funding only to be available in five years time, close to the end of the next term of government.

In addition, hidden in the detail of the Budget is $580 million in cuts to mental health programs coordinated by GPs.

This is hardly the triumph for mental health that Ms Gillard and the Treasurer Mr Swan have claimed.

“The mental health sector will go backwards from day one with these new arrangements.

“The Coalition will be pursuing this through the Senate Estimates process to find out where the money is coming from and where it has been spent.

“The Government was forced to belatedly follow the Coalition’s strong position on mental health, but has failed to provide adequate new funding over the normal four year Budget projection,” Mr Ruddock said.

“In 2011-12, the Gillard Government is only providing $47.3 million in new funding for mental health, but cutting $62.8 million from existing programs.

“The Budget figures show mental health is not genuinely a priority for this Government’s second term and they have only provided a tricky political fix.

“After taking the cuts into account, Labor is only providing $583 million in new funding over the forward estimates, about a third of what the Coalition had proposed over the same period.

“The Coalition committed $1.5 billion at the 2010 election and recently announced another $430 million as part of a package of real reform in mental health,” Philip Ruddock said.

6. RECENT VISIT TO CHERRYBROOK PUBLIC SCHOOL WITH STATE MEMBER FOR HORNSBY MATT KEAN MP.

7. PRESENTING THE AUSTRALIAN FLAG TO DURAL PUBLIC SCHOOL

8. QUESTION WITHOUT NOTICE TO WAYNE SWAN

Federal Member for Berowra, the Hon Philip Ruddock MP, recently asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan MP, in Question Time: “Is the government considering changes to the two-week-old budget to restore funding to the M2-F3 design works in this financial year?”

In his answer the Treasurer made it clear that the much needed funding for the M2 –F3 link would not be restored.  He said “there is absolutely no need for any changes to our budget”.

This is notwithstanding the very considerable public anger at the decision to put even preliminary design work outside the present forward estimates of the Labor Government in the 2011 Budget.

Mr Ruddock said this issue is urgent, pressing and life threatening.  He drew attention to the closure of the F3 freeway link for hours this week after a semi-trailer carrying flammable liquids crashed.

Mr Ruddock asked how much more disastrous this would have been if it had occurred on Pennant Hills Road.  In this case there does not even exist an alternative Pacific Highway to ameliorate the harm of such an emergency.

9. GOVERNMENT FORCED TO ADMIT BUDGET BAD FOR FAMILIES AT START OF NATIONAL FAMILIES WEEK

“The Government has recently finally admitted what the Coalition has been saying since the budget – the Government’s self-described ‘Labor Budget’ is bad for families” said Philip Ruddock, Federal Member for Berowra.

“The Government’s budget, which will freeze the indexation of the Family Tax Benefit (FTB) Part A and B supplements for three years, will see a quarter of a million families worse off. Even families struggling to make ends meet on incomes of $45,000 will be hit.

“Labor has turned its back on families, who will either have their payments eroded or cancelled.

“The freezing of indexation will mean inflation and the rising cost of living will erode the non-indexed payments. At the same time, the new income limit of $150,000, means those families will miss out altogether.

“Measures such as FTB-A and FTB-B, as well as the Baby Bonus and Paid Parental Leave are important measures designed to support families; they shouldn’t be used to generate savings to sort out the financial recklessness that we are so used to seeing from this weak government.

“The admission by the Gillard Labor Government tells the real story of this Budget; it’s all bad news for Australian families” Mr. Ruddock said.

10. Labor Abandoned Northern District F3 to Sydney Orbital Feasibility Study – Deferred!!!!

Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP, says he is bitterly disappointed that the Federal Labor Government will defer its contribution to a feasibility study into the F3 to Sydney Orbital project until 2015-16 at best.

“Labor has abandoned the Northern District entirely; even the fig leaf has been incinerated in the budget!” Philip Ruddock said. Mr Ruddock said “the Labor Federal Government in its last two budgets committed a mere $150 million for approval and planning to get started on connecting the F3 to the Sydney Orbital with further funding to be determined once these processes were completed”.

Philip Ruddock said “It would now appear the Gillard Government has no intention of attempting to address the current problems on Pennant Hills Rd, the major and only route from Sydney to the Central Coast”. “This grant was initially subject to the NSW Government matching the funding with $30 million, which never came and now unfortunately, the project has effectively been abandoned by the Labor Federal Government” Mr Ruddock said.

I am deeply disappointed that once again the Northern districts of Sydney have been ignored and I will continue to push for a resolution to the serious problem of the F3-M2 Link.”

Philip Ruddock MP & State Member for Hornsby Matt Kean discussing traffic congestion on Pennant Hills Road

11. RSL LIFECARE: THE FIRST 100 YEARS

A commemorative plaque was unveiled during the ceremony held recently at the Rowland Village at Galston to commemorate RSL LifeCare’s ‘First 100 Years’ of service.

Federal Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock joined officials and guests to enjoy the range of guests speakers and music from the Hills District Pipe Band and singer, Judith Fay Taylor.

RSL LifeCare began on 18th October 1911 with a meeting of men and women at Victoria Barracks in Sydney.  A Committee was formed to organise a home for ageing ex-soldiers of the British Empire who were living in poverty. The facility, an old fort on Bare Island was known as ‘The Veterans’ Home’.

Today, RSL LifeCare has responsibility for more than 4,500 residents and clients and the event at Rowland Village was a fitting celebration to mark the occasion.

PHILIP WITH GENERAL MANAGER RSL LIVECARE, MR MARK BROADHEAD & MRS BROADHEAD

12. AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MEDAL PRESENTATION

The Pennant Hills Electorate Office of Philip Ruddock, Federal Member for Berowra was the venue for local resident Neil Pullen to receive his Australian Defence Medal.

Army Major Graham Hales joined Mr Pullen and Mr Ruddock for the presentation.

The Australian Defence Medal recognises the service of more than one million members of the Australian Defence Force, past and present, who have made a valuable commitment to this nation’s security.

Army Major Graham Hales joined Mr Pullen and Mr Ruddock for the presentation.

13. COUNCIL DECISION  ‘A VICTORY FOR COMMON SENSE’

The recent decision taken by Hornsby Shire Council to unanimously reject the application for a McDonald’s restaurant to be located on Pennant Hills Road at Pennant Hills was ‘both a win for people power and a victory for common sense’ according to local resident and Federal MP Philip Ruddock.

‘Clearly, the site on which McDonald’s was seeking to build was inappropriate for a whole range of reasons, including traffic congestion and noise concerns.’

‘I commend all those within the local community who felt strongly about the impact this development would have on our area and were prepared to raise their voices in protest.’

14. THINK TWICE BEFORE INVESTING

Everyone wants the best return possible for each dollar they invest and, with living costs rising alarmingly; it might be tempting to consider schemes advertising particularly attractive results and tax avoidance benefits.

But, as Federal Member for Berowra Philip Ruddock reminds us ‘if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true.’

‘With tax time looming, many people may be making their annual review of their finances, looking at ways to minimise tax and if fortunate enough to have some dollars to invest, may be considering their options.’

Before deciding on any investment scheme, Mr Ruddock suggests a visit to the Australian Tax Office website as a first exercise.

‘There is information available on www.ato.gov.au which provides an excellent starting point for investment investigations.’

‘In particular, the 2 page “Tax Planning – Investigate before Investing” fact sheet and the more detailed 25 page “Understanding tax-effective investments’ brochure are good starting points.’

Mr Ruddock offered to forward a copy of both publications to any constituent who did not have access to the internet but would like to read this material. “Just call my Electorate Office on 99801822 and request a copy.’

‘Getting involved with a “dodgy” tax scheme can not only risk your capital investment, but could ultimately have you needing to pay back any missed tax with interest and penalties.’

‘It’s not worth the risk. Before you invest in any tax scheme I suggest you investigate it carefully, seek independent advice from a professional advisor and the ATO and check information and warnings available from the Australian Securities & Investments Commission and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission.’

As you are aware, the Federal government has responsibility for many important policy areas and in my capacity as your parliamentary representative I can make representations on your behalf in areas such as:  Centrelink, Child Support, Defence, and Veterans’ Affairs to name a few. My electorate office staff can also help organise congratulatory messages for 50th & 60th Wedding Anniversaries and 90th and 100th birthdays.

Please feel free to contact my electorate office if I can assist you in any way or go to the website for news, media releases, speeches plus a photo gallery of community events.

Remember to please inform the electorate office of your change of email and you are most welcome to forward the E-News to anyone that you think may find this publication of interest.

Visit Philip Ruddock's website at www.ruddockmp.com.au