The Federal Government this week released its Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda as part of the Coalition’s Economic Action Strategy to build a strong, prosperous economy for a safe, secure Australia.

Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said Australia had experienced 23 years of economic growth, but that there would no doubt be some challenges ahead.

“Commodity prices have fallen from their peak in 2011, Government finances have deteriorated significantly since 2008, we have an aging population and productivity has been flat,” Mr Pitt said. 

“This Agenda focuses on Australia’s strengths to tackle these challenges head on. 

“We’ve already scrapped the carbon and mining taxes; cut over 10,000 pieces of unnecessary legislation and regulations; commenced the largest infrastructure construction programme in Australia’s history and signed Free Trade Agreements with Japan and Korea.”

The Agenda sets out four ambitions that will ensure job creation and higher living standards:

1. a lower cost, business friendly environment with less regulation, lower taxes and more competitive markets;

2. a more skilled labour force;

3. better economic infrastructure; and

4. industry policy that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship

Agenda highlights include:

• From 1 July 2015, the Commonwealth Government will invest $200 million each year to establish the new Australian Apprenticeship Support Network to lift apprenticeship completion rates and provide employers with the skilled and productive employees they need to grow their business.
• The Government will invest $38 million to provide 7,500 scholarships in specific regional areas where youth unemployment is high
• The new Youth Employment Pathway will support community programmes for 3000 disengaged 15-18 year olds in regional areas
• The Government will implement new measures to promote science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills in Australian schools
• The Government will improve the integrity of the 457 visa programme to ensure that sponsored workers are a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the local workforce

Mr Pitt said the Government would also allocate $188.5 million to fund Industry Growth Centres in five key sectors:

• food and agribusiness;
• mining equipment, technology and services;
• oil, gas and energy resources;
• medical technologies and pharmaceuticals; and
• advanced manufacturing sectors

“This region is renowned for its seafood, fruit and vegetables and sugarcane and, as such, I will be asking the Minister to consider basing the food and agribusiness centre in the Hinkler electorate,” Mr Pitt said.

The Government will host a series of roundtable meetings around Australia over coming months to consult the business community, industry associations and peak bodies on the policy directions outlined in the Competitiveness Agenda.

Media contact: Larine Statham 0427 653 814

Hinkler residents with ideas for projects that will create jobs and stimulate the local economy are invited to attend community forums in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay next month.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt said applications under Round One of the Australian Government’s landmark $1 billion National Stronger Regions Fund (NSRF) were now open.

“While it is up to Councils, community and not-for-profit groups to apply, I wanted to open the discussion up to all Hinkler residents,” Mr Pitt said.

“I encourage Hinkler residents to come along and have their say.”

The forums will be held at 5pm on Wednesday November 5 at the Bundaberg CWA Hall on Quay Street and at 5pm on Thursday November 6 at the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre on Charles Street.

For more information about NSRF go to www.infrastructure.gov.au/nsrf

Applications close November 23.

Applications for the Federal Government’s Small Business Advisory Services (ASBAS) program opened on October 15.

Already established not-for-profit small business advisory service providers can apply for grants of up to $200,000 per year over three years.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt encouraged local Business Enterprise Centres, Chambers of Commerce and Industry Associations to apply before November 12.

“Small businesses are the backbone of regional Australia and these grants ensure organisations can continue to provide them with valuable services and advice,” Mr Pitt said.

For more information go to www.business.gov.au/asbas or telephone 13 28 46 

The Federal Government has committed $50 million over four years to plant 20 million trees by 2020, to help re-establish green corridors and urban forests.

Individuals, organisations and community groups, including schools and landholders, can apply for grants of up to $100,000 to establish native tree plantings on public and private land.

Applications for round one close on October 30.

For more information go to www.nrm.gov.au/20-million-trees 
 
 

A new headspace centre, providing mental health services for young people, will be established in Hinkler.

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt today announced that Bundaberg will be one of 15 additional communities across Australia to receive a headspace facility.

Mr Pitt said the Bundaberg headspace would provide essential mental health services to young people aged between 12 and 25.

“It is our youth that have greatest prevalence of mental illness – more than any other age group – with three quarters of all mental illness presenting in people aged under 25 years,” Mr Pitt said.

“The onset of mental illness is typically around mid-to-late adolescence and headspace centres provide nationally coordinated support services to youth with mental health, drug or alcohol problems.

“This new headspace site will allow more young people in Hinkler to receive the help they need to fully recover or better manage their conditions and avoid serious and debilitating conditions later in life.

“Through this single entry point, young people can receive mental health services or be referred to other appropriate services.”

Each centre employs youth workers and mental health professionals who understand the issues facing young Australians.

“This Government made a commitment to provide more mental health services catering for the needs of young Australians, and we are delivering,” Mr Pitt said.

The headspace programme was established by the former Coalition Government in 2006 and the 15 new sites will bring the total number of headspace locations across Australia to 100, helping more than 80,000 young Australians each year.

The additional 15 centres will be established in stages over the next two years.

Mr Pitt encouraged local organisations to monitor the headspace website for the timing of the Expression of Interest process for the management of the new centre at www.headspace.org.au

Media contact: Larine Statham 0427 653 814

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has welcomed the release of a database of locations, which have been nominated by Australians as having inadequate mobile coverage.

Locations on the database will be eligible for a new or enhanced mobile base station, under the Abbott Government’s $100 million Mobile Black Spot Programme.

Mr Pitt said he first called for local public input in December last year, before hosting a community forum in Hervey Bay in April with Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications, Paul Fletcher.

“I’m delighted so many Hinkler residents have engaged in the process, to nominate 25 local locations for upgrade,” Mr Pitt said.

“The volume of locations nominated is evidence of the strong demand for improved mobile phone coverage in regional Australia.

“Inadequate mobile coverage is a significant concern for regional communities. Lives can literally depend on accessing mobile phone networks in emergencies, so expanding mobile phone coverage clearly has benefits to public safety, as well as to the productive and economic capacity of regional communities like Hinkler.”

Mr Pitt said the $100 million would be allocated nationally through a competitive selection process, under which telecommunications companies will nominate locations – drawn from the 6,000 on the database – where they would build a new or enhanced mobile base station.

The process is expected to leverage at least an additional $100 million in investment from bidding parties, state governments and local councils. The government expects that between 250 and 300 new mobile phone base stations will be built around the country.

The Government expects to announce the locations, which have been selected for funding, in the first half of 2015. The first base stations funded under the Programme are expected to begin to roll out in the second half of 2015.

The database of mobile black spot locations can be viewed at: www.communications.gov.au/mobile_services/mobile_black_spot_programme/map

Locations nominated by the public in the Hinkler Electorate:

· Alloway

· Apple Tree Creek

· Bargara

· Bruce Highway (Between Bundaberg and Maryborough)

· Bruce Highway (Between Childers and Maryborough)

· Bundaberg

· Burnett Heads

· Childers

· Craignish

· Dundowran

· Dundowran Beach

· Elliott

· Elliott Heads

· Eureka

· Goodwood

· Goodwood Road (Between Bundaberg and Maryborough)

· Goodwood Road (Between Childers and Bundaberg)

· Goodwood Road (Foleys Road Intersection)

· Hervey Bay

· Innes Park

· Pacific Haven

· Redridge

· Urangan

· Woodgate

· Woongarra

Media contact: Larine Statham 0427 653 814

Statement from Keith Pitt MP in response to a NewsMail story published on Friday Oct 3, which falsely claimed unemployment recently spiked:

“The local unemployment rate has not spiked. It first increased to 9.6 per cent under the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd Government.

“In the final year of the Howard government, the local unemployment rate was just six per cent. That’s why, since being elected just 12 months ago, we have reinstated a number of the programs and policies first introduced by the Howard Government. Reducing the unemployment rate takes time.

“I fought hard to ensure two of the 18 communities selected nationally for the first phase of Work for the Dole are in the Hinkler electorate. Participants will gain skills and qualifications through the program, as well as meeting their mutual obligations to taxpayers.

“Long term unemployed young people will be eligible for job commitment bonuses when they have held down a job consistently for 12 months and two years.

“We’re providing loans of up to $20,000 to help apprentices complete their trade. And we’ve introduced a scholarship scheme for university students from low socio economic backgrounds and regional communities.

“I recognise that one of the major impediments to people finding work locally is the limited number of job vacancies. And so we’re providing funding to cover the costs associated with relocating to take up a job. We’ve introduced financial incentives for business too, when they hire a job seeker over the age of 50 who has been unemployed for at least six months.

“I’m proud to be part of a team that recognises that Governments don’t create jobs – businesses do!

“That’s why we’re building a strong economy and making it easier, not harder to do business in Australia. We’re cutting red and green tape to save businesses time and money. We’re providing support for businesses that want to start exporting their products to the world. We’re reviewing competition laws and concluding free trade agreements with our major trading partners.  And we’ve repealed the Carbon Tax.

“We’re giving business the confidence and stability they need to invest and employ.”

Statement from Keith Pitt MP, sent to Hinkler media:

“The Productivity Commission is an independent body.

“This report is a draft only.

“I received a briefing from the Commission earlier this week in Canberra and expressed my deep concern that they do not intend to hold hearings outside the capital cities, in disaster-affected regions like Bundaberg.

“Hinkler residents who are concerned, and wish to be well-informed on the matter, should not rely solely on views of commentators shared via the media.

“I encourage Hinkler residents to read the draft report for themselves and make submissions.”

Submissions close on October 21 and can be sent via email and post:

disaster.funding@pc.gov.au

Natural Disaster Funding Arrangements

Productivity Commission

Locked Bag 2

Collins St East

Melbourne Vic 8003

For more information go to: http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disaster-funding/make-submission

Statement from Keith Pitt MP re Productivity Commission Inquiry into Natural Disaster Funding:

“The Productivity Commission is an independent body.
“This report is a draft only.
“I received a briefing from the Commission earlier this week in Canberra and expressed my deep concern that they do not intend to hold hearings outside the capital cities, in disaster-affected regions like Bundaberg.
“Hinkler residents who are concerned, and wish to be well-informed on the matter, should not rely solely on views of commentators shared via the media.
“I encourage Hinkler residents to read the draft report for themselves and make submissions.” 

Submissions close on October 21 and can be sent via email and post:

disaster.funding@pc.gov.au

Natural Disaster Funding Arrangements
Productivity Commission
Locked Bag 2
Collins St East
Melbourne Vic 8003

For more information go to: http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disaster-funding/make-submission

The SPEAKER: I call the honourable member for Pitt—sorry, for Hinkler. I beg your pardon for calling you by your surname instead of your seat.

Mr PITT  (Hinkler) (14:40): That is quite all right, if that is the worst thing that happens today. My question is to the Minister for the Environment. Will the minister update the House on savings to Hinkler householders and businesses thanks to the repeal of the carbon tax?

Mr HUNT  (Flinders—Minister for the Environment) (14:41): I want to thank the member for Hinkler. He represents 96,000 constituents who are benefiting from the repeal of the carbon tax—at least four of whom are in the gallery today with his wife and children. He represents not just the constituents that benefit but also one of Australia’s finest food-processing areas—businesses such as Hervey Bay Scallops and Avocado Fresh. We also have Ocean King Prawn.

Mr Joyce:  Bundaberg Rum!

Mr HUNT:  And, of course, Bundaberg rum, so the Minister for Agriculture tells me. It is very interesting that all of these businesses stood to benefit in their food-processing capabilities by the removal of the carbon tax. We were told on 17 July by none other than the Leader of the Opposition—who was asked whether or not the carbon tax, when it was repealed, would lead to lower prices—that:

Do Australians really believe they’re going to see back all the money which Tony Abbott alleged the carbon price cost them?

Well, I am sorry to say to the Leader of the Opposition that the price reductions are flowing through. In the member for Hinkler’s own electorate, the latest figures are these for electricity price savings: Simply Energy is delivering a nine per cent reduction to Hinkler residents; Power Direct customers in Hinkler are receiving a 9.2 per cent reduction; Ergon Energy customers are receiving a 9.4 per cent reduction. And, for small business owners, EnergyAustralia customers are receiving a 9.1 per cent reduction. But I also have—

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

The SPEAKER: The member for Kingsford Smith has been warned.

Mr HUNT:  the EnergyAustralia estimates for medium and large businesses, because there are large food-processing businesses in his electorate. If you are, for example, an IGA of a reasonable size, you will save about $11,000 on your electricity costs. If, however, you have large coolrooms, just on your electricity cost—because you are a major food-processing business—it will be somewhere between $21,000 and $43,000. So there are real savings for the businesses in Hinkler which can compete, which can perform and which can employ more people.

But these same businesses also have refrigerant costs, and some of the refrigerant costs which are flowing through are very, very significant indeed. For a convenience store operator, the refrigerant savings are $3,000. For a medium-sized supermarket coolroom, $1,000. He has one of the largest fishing fleets in Australia, and, for a fishing vessel operator, we are looking at a carbon tax saving of $16½ thousand a year. On top of that, if you have a beer cooling system, it is $3½ thousand a year. So what we see are real savings—contrary to what the Leader of the Opposition says. And he wants to take them away.