Website: www.billsykes.com.au                                                                                                    MEDIA RELEASE

Tuesday, 9 October 2007

SYKES:  A BUSY WEEK IN PARLIAMENT

Editors

This week in Parliament I will:-

  • be Lead Speaker for The Nationals on The Emergency Services Amendment Bill during which I will move an amendment to make it a legal requirement that the Government replaces water used to fight fires – ref. separate media release attached;
     
  • be Lead Speaker for The Nationals on the Graffiti Bill during which I will support tougher penalties for graffiti vandals but use the opportunity to highlight the use of bill boards and placards to draw attention to important issues such as Lake Mokoan, The North-South Pipeline and the VEAC Report on River Red Gum Forests;
     
  • speak on Education & Training Reform Bill highlighting issues such as under funding of Non Government schools in Victoria, poor Year 12 completion rates in country areas and challenges facing small country kindergartens eg Euroa;
     
  • speak on the Public Accounts & Estimates Committee Report on the 2007/2008 State Budget – highlighting its lack of critical analysis of key claims such as water savings;
     
  • raise concerns about the drought high rural suicide rates and seek additional assistance – ref attached speaking notes;
     
  • move a series of Notices of Motion in relation to: - Lake Mokoan - North-South Pipeline – ref attached;
     
  • meet with the Minister for Health regarding NE Victoria hospital issue – ref attached media;
     
  • meet with members of the Antique & Historical Arms Collectors Guild to discuss The Nationals amendment to enable more efficient renewal of firearms licences.

Attachments: 

Click here for Notices of Motion in respect to:

  • Planned decommissioning of Lake Mokoan
  • Registered Aboriginal Party status - Lake Mokoan and the planned North-South pipeline route”
  • Flood alert packages

Click here for Notices of Motion in respect to:

  • Food Bowl Modernisation Project Steering Committee provide evidence of claimed water savings,
  • Rejection of the Food Bowl Modernisation Project Steering Committee Draft Report

Bill Sykes MP
Member for Benalla

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989