Posts related to 'federal government'

Victorian Transport Infrastructure Summit 2008

Published by Alex Makin on Thursday 13th of November, 2008

This afternoon I was invited to participate within a panel discussion for the 2008 Victorian Transport Infrastructure Summit. This year’s summit had an emphasis on sustainable transport and the need for a coordinated approach from all levels of government.

As the Deputy Chair of the Eastern Transport Coalition, I discussed our recent survey results which demonstrated that residents within the eastern suburbs overwhelmingly support the call for better public transport.

In addition over two-thirds of respondents believed that governments were not giving sufficient priority to the provision of public transport. In support of this view, the majority of people stated they would use public transport if it were adequately provided.

The message from Eastern Melbourne is clear - the one million residents of Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs want governments of all levels to work cooperatively to provide better public transport.

• View the slides I presented at the Victorian Transport Infrastructure Summit.

Glen Park Community Centre Financial Briefing

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 1st of October, 2008

Glen Park Community Centre, based in Bayswater North, near the boundary with the City of Knox, differs from most other community houses through its strong emphasis on community development alongside the many courses it runs. The centre provides a community facility and meeting hub within one of the lower socio-economic areas within Maroondah and is a key community meeting point for local residents within Maroondah, Knox and the Yarra Ranges.

Glen Park’s welcoming and friendly atmosphere is due in part to its cafe, which is staffed and managed by volunteers. This friendly atmosphere has been known as the ’spirit of Glen Park’ and reflects the centre’s emphasis in welcoming people with disabilities, as well as communities that are socially isolated.

While community house courses receive State Government funding, community development does not receive similar assistance, despite it having positive benefits through ensuring socially connected communities and providing support networks.

As a result, there is a current financial shortfall which may force Glen Park to close its cafe and reduce a part-time community development position that is provided by the community house. To address this situation, Glen Park Community Centre held an information briefing this evening to identify potential sources of funding.

It was encouraging to see the meeting being attended by Maroondah Councillors, as well as representatives from State and Federal Government and the Department of Planning and Community Development. Glen Park provides a critical service to the Maroondah, Knox and Yarra Ranges community and it is essential that its community development emphasis continues.

Maroondah must assist Glen Park Community Centre in finding a sustainable basis for its community development activities and I offer my support as a local Councillor to assist in achieving this objective.

There is a particular need for Knox Council to take an interest in the community house and provide funding assistance. Almost half of the participants are Knox residents and community facilities such as Glen Park, should not be restricted by arbitrary council boundaries.

All levels of government, including local councils that benefit from such facilities, must work together to encourage social inclusion and civic participation. It would be a shame to diminish the ’spirit of Glen Park’ due to a lack of suitable funding.

For more information on Glen Park Community Centre please visit www.glenparkcc.com.au

Rotary Club of Ringwood - the GROW program

Published by Alex Makin on Wednesday 20th of August, 2008

The Rotary Club of Ringwood is one of the many Rotary clubs that form District 9810 covering Melbourne’s eastern and southeastern suburbs.

Tonight’s Rotary meeting included a speaker from GROW, a peer support program for people with mental illnesses. The organisation was formed in 1957 as a community based mental health movement organised and led by people who have experienced mental health issues. GROW consists of a network of over 300 local groups, including Box Hill, Ringwood and Lilydale. The groups meet on a weekly basis for a two hour duration and provide mutual support for members.

GROW has recently initiated a new project known as GROW - Better Together. This program, which received funding through the Federal Government, provides peer support for Carers of someone with a mental illness. The initiative provides an opportunity for carers to discuss their situations and challenges with other cares and provide mutual support. Like GROW, the GROW - Better Together program meets on a weekly basis for a two hour duration. A GROW - Better Together group has been meeting at Ringwood since February this year at the Eastern Access Community Health (EACH) offices in Warrandyte Road.

GROW is a unique organisation focused on mutual support and self help, for more information on please visit www.grow.net.au.

Eastern Transport Coalition - securing public transport improvements for eastern Melbourne

Published by Alex Makin on Thursday 17th of July, 2008

Tonight’s Eastern Transport Coalition discussed the recently held public transport summit and the State Government’s new transport plan which is due in November of this year.

Following from the public transport summit, The Eastern Transport Coalition recently presented its priorities to the Premier John Brumby and the Minister for Public Transport, Lynne Kosky. This briefing reinforced the need for new rail extensions, upgraded public transport interchanges, such as the redevelopment of Ringwood Station, and vastly improved bus services.

The Government is now seeking a list of projects from the Eastern Transport Coalition which will hopefully form part of the State Government’s new transport plan. The Eastern Transport Coalition is calling on the State Government to invest heavily in public transport so as to provide relief for rising petrol prices and mitigate worsening traffic congestion. It is critical that the State Government delivers a plan that commits to the target of improving public transport patronage and delivering a level of service that meets the needs of Melbourne.

The recently released Emissions Trading Scheme green paper was also discussed, with the Eastern Transport Coalition calling on the Federal and State Governments to work together over the next five years to ensure that public transport services are improved. Federal leadership is required to reduce car dependency and to tackle the rising levels of greenhouse emissions that are caused by the transport sector.

The Eastern Transport Coalition’s public transport summit served as a call to action to State and Federal Governments. It is imperative that governments listen to this message and deliver the public transport improvements demanded by the community.

Maroondah acknowledges Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day

Published by Alex Makin on Monday 26th of May, 2008

National Sorry Day, which is part of Reconciliation Week, is held on the 26th of May to acknowledge and learn from the mistreatment experienced towards indigenous Australians. National Sorry Day was first convened in 1997 in recognition of the Bringing Them Home Report, which investigated the Stolen Generation and the forced removal of Indigenous children.

Reconciliation, which is held between the 27th of May and the 3rd of June, follows National Sorry Day and provides an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the culture of Indigenous Australians and to discuss how to further the cause of reconciliation within Australia.

The dates of Reconciliation Week coincide with two significant events in relation to Indigenous Australia. The 27th of May marks the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum where over 90% of Australians voted to remove discriminatory clauses from the Australian Constitution against Indigenous Australians. The 3rd of June is the anniversary of the 1992 High Court of Australia’s judgement in the Mabo Case, where native title was recognised thus reversing the concept of terra nullius, where the it was claimed that Australia was unoccupied at the time of first settlement in 1788.

The theme for the 2008 Reconciliation Week is Reconciliation: it’s all our story. This reflects that reconciliation is shared between all Australians and all levels of government. The Federal Government recently delivered an apology on behalf of the Parliament of Australia in recognition of the mistreatment towards Indigenous Australians and Maroondah, as the form of government closest to the community needs to follow this leadership in progressing reconciliation.

Maroondah is now flying the Aboriginal Flag at both its Ringwood and Croydon Civic Centres and has a draft Reconciliation Policy, which was recently out for public comment and exhibition. The Policy aims to reaffirm council’s commitment to reconciliation and will need to demonstrate council leadership.

Local government has a key role to play in educating the community and assisting in reducing the gaps in life expectancy, health and educational opportunities between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. We should congratulate the many individuals and community groups, such as the Maroondah Movement for Reconciliation, Learning and Reconciliation Maroondah and the Mullum-Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, which have worked with council and the community to advance the cause of reconciliation.

The national emblem for National Sorry Day is the Native Hibiscus flower, which is found widely across Australia, and is available from the Kimberley Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation as a silk commemorative flower. Today’s proceedings included the welcome to country by Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Doreen Garvey-Wandin who spoke about her passion for the land, the history of family and the need to continue towards reconciliation.

Many schools and community groups participated in today’s commemoration of National Sorry Day and the proceedings included the hip hop talents of Tjimba and the Yung Warriors whose songs referred to the challenges facing indigenous Australians. It was great to see the many school students partaking the festivities by dancing to the hip hop beat.

It is critical that our community continues to demonstrate its expectation that Maroondah strengthen and further its commitment towards reconciliation. All Australians have the right to expect an equitable society that is free of discrimination and provides opportunities for all and local government has a key role to play in furthering this cause.