* Restoring Faith in Justice in NSW * Epping Road Chaos and ALP Road Contract * Amulance Response Times: Meagher Failure * Coalition Welcomes Response To Film Industry Crisis * ALP Morgue Failure === Since when did the ALP last represent the worker?
5 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Restoring Faith In Justice Written by Barry O'Farrell MP & Greg Smith SC MP Monday, 10 March 2008 NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and Shadow Attorney General Greg Smith today released a discussion paper to restore faith in the justice process by promoting transparency in judicial appointments in NSW.
"Public confidence in the state's judicial system has been eroded by a series of decisions at odds with community standards," Mr O'Farrell said.
"Attention has often focused on individual judges and whether their decisions reflect community attitudes and expectations, particularly on bail and sentencing," he said.
"The paper recommends NSW establish a Judicial Appointments Commission to ensure a fairer and more transparent appointments process, while safeguarding against politicisation of the courts.
"The Commission would shortlist candidates for appointment to the judiciary for the Attorney General.
"The Commission would take into account a range of qualities including legal skills, professionalism, personal qualities such as integrity, and diversity on the bench ensuring it accurately represents the broader community.
"Unless we start to raise standards, performance is not going to lift.
"This is about getting the best possible people on the bench and restoring faith in the judicial process in NSW," Mr O'Farrell said.
Mr Smith said the Judicial Appointments Commission would also stamp out the perceptions of 'jobs for the boys' and 'it's not what you know, it's who you know.'
"This proposal also provides an arms length process which helps safeguard against politicisation of the courts.
"This proposal should lift public confidence in the Court system, something which has been sadly lacking over the 13 years of Labor Government in NSW.” Mr Smith said.
Epping Road Chaos A Result Of Labor's Toll Road Contract Written by Barry O'Farrell MP & Duncan Gay MP Monday, 10 March 2008 A future NSW Liberal/Nationals Government will restore motorists' right to a un-tolled alternative route to avoid traffic disasters like the so-called Epping Road upgrade, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Minister for Roads Duncan Gay said today.
It comes as much of Epping Road through Lane Cove is reduced to one general traffic lane in each direction – an unwelcome result of the Iemma Government's contract with the owners of the Lane Cove Tunnel.
”Morris Iemma has corrupted the toll road concept that was meant to always provide motorists with a free, alternative route,” Mr O’Farrell said.
"Any toll road projects built under a future Coalition Government will uphold the principle that motorists should have the choice to use a free, alternative route, free of Labor's 'tunnel funnels' and lane closures," he said.
“Tunnel funnels and lane closures and the forcing of cars onto toll roads are Labor's unwelcome gift to motorists already struggling with the city's congested roads.
”Motorists are faced with an unpalatable choice - paying a toll or even longer delays getting to work,” Mr O'Farrell said.
Mr Gay said the introduction of a T2 lane could have delivered benefits to motorists and bus commuters alike – but Morris Iemma and Eric Roozendaal had opted for an unwelcome tunnel funnel instead.
“This traffic chaos is not accidental - this is deliberately organised chaos by a Labor Government which has put the taxpayers last,” Mr Gay said.
“I would have thought the purpose of the Lane Cove Tunnel was to reduce traffic on Epping Road.
“But this Labor government, in all its wisdom has decided to create even more traffic chaos.
“This is yet another bungled project of Eric Roozendaal, of Morris Iemma and of this incompetent Labor government," Mr Gay said.
Ambulance Response Times: Reba Meagher Failing In Yet Another Critical Health Area Written by Jillian Skinner MP Sunday, 09 March 2008 Health Minister Reba Meagher is failing in yet another key area of health, with official figures showing ambulance response times are worse now, than at any other time over the past two years, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today.
"Under Health Minister Reba Meagher, average Ambulance response times have blown out, and are now the worst they've been for more than two years," Mrs Skinner said.
"The latest ambulance response time statistics are higher than at any period over the past two years," she said.
"Reba Meagher is failing to improve the health system, with ambulance response times the latest item to be added to her growing list of failures.
"The first minutes in any emergency are vital, and if response times continue to lengthen, then it's a case of lives being put in danger.
"These figures should act as a wake up call for Morris Iemma and Reba Meagher who have been telling anyone who will listen that the hospital system is in a healthy state.
"Ambulance officers are having to spend increasing amounts of their shift simply waiting at emergency departments because our hospitals don't have the resources to admit their patients.
"An ambulance can't be in two places at once, and response times are suffering as a result.
"The Iemma Government is great at holding reviews and inquiries, but it never follows up and takes action to fix the problems.
"Ambulance officers want someone removed from the Ambulance Service to look at the organisation and provide solutions – an internal inquiry won't do that.
"The current inquiry is akin to putting the fox in charge of the hen house.
"NSW needs a Health Minister who will look seriously at the problems in the Ambulance Service and put the effort into fixing them," Mrs Skinner said.
Coalition Welcomes Morris Iemma's Delayed Response To Film Industry Crisis Written by Jillian Skinner MP Sunday, 09 March 2008 Shadow Minister for Arts Jillian Skinner today welcomed Morris Iemma's delayed reaction to the film and television industry crisis NSW.
"It would be much better if Morris Iemma was pro-active rather reactive on the film industry," Mrs Skinner said.
"The NSW Liberal/Nationals have been calling for increased assistance and cuts to red tape for the film industry for years because of the increased flow of business interstate," she said.
"As usual, Morris Iemma sat back did nothing until the trickle of film investment and jobs moving interstate went from a trickle to a torrent.
"Now he wants to bring it back. It would have been much better if he hadn't let it go in the first place.
"Morris Iemma is just too lazy and disengaged to take preventative action.
"While the Coalition will support any moves to attract more investment to NSW, the reality is Morris Iemma cut the budget for the NSW Film and Investment Office in 2007/08.
"The Victorian and Queensland Governments both invest more than the Iemma Government in their state’s film and television industry. In Victoria the annual budget is more than $20 million and in Queensland the annual budget is nearly $13 million, compared with a paltry $10.7 million in NSW.
"Sydney is clearly the best city in Australia with the most picturesque scenery. We should be leading the country in film and television production, not desperately trying to play catch up.
"Morris Iemma and Arts Minster frank Sartor have dropped the ball and cost the local film and television industry and state’s economy millions of dollars and thousands of jobs," Mrs Skinner said.
Labor's Morgue Failure Putting Grieving Families Through More Heartache Written by Barry O'Farrell MP & Jillian Skinner MP Sunday, 09 March 2008 NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said Labor's ongoing failure to address problems at the Westmead Morgue were putting grieving families through even more heartache.
Leaked letters obtained by the NSW Liberal/Nationals sent to Health Minister Reba Meagher and Attorney General John Hatzistergos show delays in post mortem reports have extended to nearly twelve months.
NSW State Coroner Mary Jerram states in her letter to Mr Hatzistergos the delays are 'causing even more distress to bereaved families'.
Senior Labor Minister Nathan Rees wrote a detailed letter to Reba Meagher on 20 July 2007 outlining several concerns, including 'post mortem reports being delayed' and 'generally a lack of adequate facilities and the need for a complete upgrade'.
Minister Rees states he 'feels very strongly that as these matters are of real concern, they need investigating and addressing as soon as possible.'
Mr O'Farrell said Minister Rees pleas have apparently fallen on deaf ears.
“These latest problems come despite Iemma Government’s claims in September 2006 that Westmead morgue would be redeveloped by the end of that year,” he said.
“Morris Iemma and Reba Meagher must explain why there are continuing and significant delays at the morgue when their own Health Department issued warnings a year ago.
"How can Morris Iemma and Reba Meagher ignore these warnings? Grieving families deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. They are getting neither from the Iemma Government," he said.
Mrs Skinner, who has toured Westmead Morgue, said another memo, dated 18 April 2007, highlighted the ‘inadequacy’ of the Westmead facility and warned of an increasing ‘backlog’ unless action was taken.
"The conditions at the morgue are third world and it's simply not fair on distressed families or the staff who work at the rundown facility," she said.
5 comments:
Restoring Faith In Justice
Written by Barry O'Farrell MP & Greg Smith SC MP
Monday, 10 March 2008
NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and Shadow Attorney General Greg Smith today released a discussion paper to restore faith in the justice process by promoting transparency in judicial appointments in NSW.
"Public confidence in the state's judicial system has been eroded by a series of decisions at odds with community standards," Mr O'Farrell said.
"Attention has often focused on individual judges and whether their decisions reflect community attitudes and expectations, particularly on bail and sentencing," he said.
"The paper recommends NSW establish a Judicial Appointments Commission to ensure a fairer and more transparent appointments process, while safeguarding against politicisation of the courts.
"The Commission would shortlist candidates for appointment to the judiciary for the Attorney General.
"The Commission would take into account a range of qualities including legal skills, professionalism, personal qualities such as integrity, and diversity on the bench ensuring it accurately represents the broader community.
"Unless we start to raise standards, performance is not going to lift.
"This is about getting the best possible people on the bench and restoring faith in the judicial process in NSW," Mr O'Farrell said.
Mr Smith said the Judicial Appointments Commission would also stamp out the perceptions of 'jobs for the boys' and 'it's not what you know, it's who you know.'
"This proposal also provides an arms length process which helps safeguard against politicisation of the courts.
"This proposal should lift public confidence in the Court system, something which has been sadly lacking over the 13 years of Labor Government in NSW.” Mr Smith said.
Epping Road Chaos A Result Of Labor's Toll Road Contract
Written by Barry O'Farrell MP & Duncan Gay MP
Monday, 10 March 2008
A future NSW Liberal/Nationals Government will restore motorists' right to a un-tolled alternative route to avoid traffic disasters like the so-called Epping Road upgrade, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell and Shadow Minister for Roads Duncan Gay said today.
It comes as much of Epping Road through Lane Cove is reduced to one general traffic lane in each direction – an unwelcome result of the Iemma Government's contract with the owners of the Lane Cove Tunnel.
”Morris Iemma has corrupted the toll road concept that was meant to always provide motorists with a free, alternative route,” Mr O’Farrell said.
"Any toll road projects built under a future Coalition Government will uphold the principle that motorists should have the choice to use a free, alternative route, free of Labor's 'tunnel funnels' and lane closures," he said.
“Tunnel funnels and lane closures and the forcing of cars onto toll roads are Labor's unwelcome gift to motorists already struggling with the city's congested roads.
”Motorists are faced with an unpalatable choice - paying a toll or even longer delays getting to work,” Mr O'Farrell said.
Mr Gay said the introduction of a T2 lane could have delivered benefits to motorists and bus commuters alike – but Morris Iemma and Eric Roozendaal had opted for an unwelcome tunnel funnel instead.
“This traffic chaos is not accidental - this is deliberately organised chaos by a Labor Government which has put the taxpayers last,” Mr Gay said.
“I would have thought the purpose of the Lane Cove Tunnel was to reduce traffic on Epping Road.
“But this Labor government, in all its wisdom has decided to create even more traffic chaos.
“This is yet another bungled project of Eric Roozendaal, of Morris Iemma and of this incompetent Labor government," Mr Gay said.
Ambulance Response Times: Reba Meagher Failing In Yet Another Critical Health Area
Written by Jillian Skinner MP
Sunday, 09 March 2008
Health Minister Reba Meagher is failing in yet another key area of health, with official figures showing ambulance response times are worse now, than at any other time over the past two years, Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner today.
"Under Health Minister Reba Meagher, average Ambulance response times have blown out, and are now the worst they've been for more than two years," Mrs Skinner said.
"The latest ambulance response time statistics are higher than at any period over the past two years," she said.
"Reba Meagher is failing to improve the health system, with ambulance response times the latest item to be added to her growing list of failures.
"The first minutes in any emergency are vital, and if response times continue to lengthen, then it's a case of lives being put in danger.
"These figures should act as a wake up call for Morris Iemma and Reba Meagher who have been telling anyone who will listen that the hospital system is in a healthy state.
"Ambulance officers are having to spend increasing amounts of their shift simply waiting at emergency departments because our hospitals don't have the resources to admit their patients.
"An ambulance can't be in two places at once, and response times are suffering as a result.
"The Iemma Government is great at holding reviews and inquiries, but it never follows up and takes action to fix the problems.
"Ambulance officers want someone removed from the Ambulance Service to look at the organisation and provide solutions – an internal inquiry won't do that.
"The current inquiry is akin to putting the fox in charge of the hen house.
"NSW needs a Health Minister who will look seriously at the problems in the Ambulance Service and put the effort into fixing them," Mrs Skinner said.
Coalition Welcomes Morris Iemma's Delayed Response To Film Industry Crisis
Written by Jillian Skinner MP
Sunday, 09 March 2008
Shadow Minister for Arts Jillian Skinner today welcomed Morris Iemma's delayed reaction to the film and television industry crisis NSW.
"It would be much better if Morris Iemma was pro-active rather reactive on the film industry," Mrs Skinner said.
"The NSW Liberal/Nationals have been calling for increased assistance and cuts to red tape for the film industry for years because of the increased flow of business interstate," she said.
"As usual, Morris Iemma sat back did nothing until the trickle of film investment and jobs moving interstate went from a trickle to a torrent.
"Now he wants to bring it back. It would have been much better if he hadn't let it go in the first place.
"Morris Iemma is just too lazy and disengaged to take preventative action.
"While the Coalition will support any moves to attract more investment to NSW, the reality is Morris Iemma cut the budget for the NSW Film and Investment Office in 2007/08.
"The Victorian and Queensland Governments both invest more than the Iemma Government in their state’s film and television industry. In Victoria the annual budget is more than $20 million and in Queensland the annual budget is nearly $13 million, compared with a paltry $10.7 million in NSW.
"Sydney is clearly the best city in Australia with the most picturesque scenery. We should be leading the country in film and television production, not desperately trying to play catch up.
"Morris Iemma and Arts Minster frank Sartor have dropped the ball and cost the local film and television industry and state’s economy millions of dollars and thousands of jobs," Mrs Skinner said.
Labor's Morgue Failure Putting Grieving Families Through More Heartache
Written by Barry O'Farrell MP & Jillian Skinner MP
Sunday, 09 March 2008
NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell and Shadow Minister for Health Jillian Skinner said Labor's ongoing failure to address problems at the Westmead Morgue were putting grieving families through even more heartache.
Leaked letters obtained by the NSW Liberal/Nationals sent to Health Minister Reba Meagher and Attorney General John Hatzistergos show delays in post mortem reports have extended to nearly twelve months.
NSW State Coroner Mary Jerram states in her letter to Mr Hatzistergos the delays are 'causing even more distress to bereaved families'.
Senior Labor Minister Nathan Rees wrote a detailed letter to Reba Meagher on 20 July 2007 outlining several concerns, including 'post mortem reports being delayed' and 'generally a lack of adequate facilities and the need for a complete upgrade'.
Minister Rees states he 'feels very strongly that as these matters are of real concern, they need investigating and addressing as soon as possible.'
Mr O'Farrell said Minister Rees pleas have apparently fallen on deaf ears.
“These latest problems come despite Iemma Government’s claims in September 2006 that Westmead morgue would be redeveloped by the end of that year,” he said.
“Morris Iemma and Reba Meagher must explain why there are continuing and significant delays at the morgue when their own Health Department issued warnings a year ago.
"How can Morris Iemma and Reba Meagher ignore these warnings? Grieving families deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. They are getting neither from the Iemma Government," he said.
Mrs Skinner, who has toured Westmead Morgue, said another memo, dated 18 April 2007, highlighted the ‘inadequacy’ of the Westmead facility and warned of an increasing ‘backlog’ unless action was taken.
"The conditions at the morgue are third world and it's simply not fair on distressed families or the staff who work at the rundown facility," she said.
Post a Comment