Budget Delivers for Essential Workers

We have scrapped the wages cap to deliver 2,242 local essential workers a pay rise.

The Liberal's wages cap drove down the pay of essential workers and has left us with staffing shortages in our hospitals and schools.

The first Minns Labor Government budget has seen the end of wages cap and a fairer deal for local essential workers.

Out and About in the Community

Great to be out and about in the community attending the Lake Munmorah Netball Club Senior Presentation and presenting Bonnie Dyson-Smith with the Good Sport Award.

It was also wonderful to see such a strong community turnout at the Ready Weekend Bushfire Expo at Murrays Beach. Thanks to the Community Association at Murrays Beach and the Wallarah Rural Fire Brigade for holding the event.

Community Building Partnership 2023 Program

The latest round of the Community Building Partnership Grant Program is now open with $300,000 available for projects in the Swansea electorate.

Grants between $5,000 and $150,000 are available to cover new community infrastructure, refurbishment of existing infrastructure, along with the purchase of freestanding equipment and vehicles.

Applications close at 5pm on 27 October.

For more information or to apply, please visit the website.

Stockton Beach Sand Nourishment

The Minns Labor Government is getting on with the job of delivering much needed mass sand nourishment at Stockton Beach.

In a great result for the community, work to deliver the first 100,000 cubic metres of sand will begin this month. A contract to conduct this dredging has been awarded and the sand will be placed in the surf zone at the southern end of Stockton Beach.

Work on the longer-term plan continues.

Mobile Phone School Ban Comes into Effect

The Government is delivering on our commitment to ban mobile phones in public schools from Term 4.

The ban comes into force after consultation with teachers, students and parents, and will apply during class, recess and at lunch. Students will still be permitted to carry a phone while travelling to and from school. 

The NSW Department of Education offered schools several options for implementing the mobile phone ban, and following consultation with their local communities most have opted for zero or low-cost solutions, such as keeping phones in lockers or off and away.

Options for schools include:

• Off and away: Phones are ‘off and away’ in classrooms (typically kept in the student’s school bag). Phones are not used for the duration of the school day.
• Phones in lockers: Students do not carry the phones with them; they must be kept in a locker for the whole school day.
• Locked phone pouch: Students place their phone in a magnetically locked pouch and are unable to use their phone. Pouches are magnetically unlocked at the end of the school day.
• Phones collected at the front office: Students deposit their phone at the school’s front office at the start of the school day and collect it at the day’s end (or when leaving the school premises).  

Schools will determine how they enforce the ban and respond to any breaches.

Principals and teachers can authorise the use of mobile phones for educational purposes, or as part of a reasonable adjustment for student learning and wellbeing – such as monitoring blood sugar levels for students with diabetes. 

Belmont & District Residents' Action Group

The Belmont & District Residents' Action Group is a local community group that advocates on behalf of Belmont and surrounding suburbs on a range of local issues. The group engages with local, state and federal levels of government. The group is seeking new members and if you would like to join, please contact Robin Gordon on robingordon1942@gmail.com.

Belmont Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary

The Belmont Hospital Volunteer Auxiliary truly are a great help to hospital staff. Beginning 50 years ago with a trolley service to patients and staff, the Auxiliary now has a team of more than 30 volunteers who provide 3 services:

• Patient Care which does administration work for all the departments within the hospital. It also sells craft and personal items to assist our patients and visitors
• Meet & Greet work from the foyer and assist visitors navigate around our hospital
• Kiosk provides food and beverages to staff, visitors and patients

All services run 5 days per week. The Auxiliary are always looking for more volunteers to join their team. They work on a weekly or fortnightly roster (with the option to work full or half days). If you are keen to join this wonderful team call Fay Smith (President) on 0427 488 499.

Savings for Pensioners 

The rise in the cost of living has been hitting many people hard, especially pensioners. Here are 10 ways for NSW pensioners to save:

1. Council rate rebates: Pensioners are entitled to up to $250 a year off their council rates. For more information visit the Lake Macquarie City Council and Central Coast Council websites. 
2. Electricity rebate: The Low Income Household Rebate will shave up to $285 a year off your electricity bill for households with a retail provider.
3. Gas rebate: This rebate will give you a discount of up to $110 a year.
4. Water rates: Eligible pensioners can access a quarterly rebate, shaving hundreds of dollars a year off a typical household bill. 
5. Revenue NSW Unclaimed Money: Find “lost” money waiting to be claimed from inactive bank accounts, shares and investments, insurance policies, unpaid wages, unclaimed super and deceased estates.
6. Travel vouchers: Pensioners are entitled to four Pensioner Travel Vouchers each calendar year. They can be used for two return or four single trips, giving access to free or discounted travel in economy class on NSW TrainLink Regional services within regional NSW.
7. Free car rego: Pensioners in NSW don’t pay registration fees or motor vehicle tax on one of their cars. They also receive free driver’s licences, free driving tests and concessions on the cost of Mobility Parking Scheme permits.
8. Free glasses: You can get yourself one pair of single vision glasses or one pair of bifocal glasses in a two-year period under the NSW Spectacles Program.
9. Seniors Card: The NSW Seniors Card is packed with discounts for thousands of retailers and services across the state from groceries to tradespeople and insurance.

I encourage all seniors to apply for these savings if they haven't already.