DICKSON NEWS Dec2009
From your Federal Member for Dickson
PETER DUTTON
Congratulations to all the students, teachers and parents on the completion of another school year.
I particularly congratulate those students who have finished their final year of formal education and wish you all well in your future endeavours.
Rudd Government wants to cut funding for cataract surgery by almost 50%
Just like Anna Bligh, Kevin Rudd is once again playing with the health of 120,000 Australians, mostly seniors, who require cataract surgery each year. The Labor Government wants to cut funding for cataract surgery by almost 50% so that patients will be further out of pocket by $283 (most common procedure).
This surgery is a vital, life–changing treatment preventing blindness and giving back independence to sufferers who under the Government changes may be unable to afford treatment.
As Shadow Health Minister I am not going to stand by and let Kevin Rudd manage our health system like Anna Bligh and Labor have at a State Level.
The Coalition introduced a private members bill which would revert the Medicare rebates to the previous amounts (making patients better off by about $300), and on 28 October the cataract rebate cut was disallowed.
Both the Bill and disallowance were passed by the Coalition with the support of all crossbench Senators including Senator Xenophon, Senator Fielding and the Greens. The Government has refused to consider the Coalition’s sensible legislative solution, and as a result, thousands, mostly senior Australians, could be hurt.
Yet again we see a Labor Government who promised to fix hospitals by mid 2009, making bad decision after bad decision that will actually see waiting lists in our public hospitals increase.
Save the National School Chaplaincy Program
The Rudd Government has refused to provide certainty to continue funding our National School Chaplaincy Program beyond mid 2010.
I have been a strong supporter of this program and I urge you to help me make the Government realise how important it is to ensure our Chaplains can continue their great work in our community.
I am collecting signatures on a petition to present to the House of Representatives. Please contact my office on 3205 9977 to request a petition or download a copy from my website www.peterdutton.com.au and return to my office at PO Box 2012, Strathpine, QLD 4500.
Dickson Pine Rivers Community Awards
Every year on Australia Day I present the Dickson Pine Rivers Community Awards to individuals and groups in Dickson who have achieved in the areas of volunteer work, environmental work, youth achievement or sport.
If you know a group or member of the community who you believe deserves to be recognised for community service or achievement please feel free to nominate them for one of these awards. The person you nominate must live in Dickson and nomination forms can be found on my website at www.peterdutton.com.au or by calling my office on 3204 9977. Nominations close on Friday 15 January 2010.
2010 Year of the Girl Guide
2010 is the centenary of the Girl Guides movement in Australia.
To mark the centenary, a Commemorative Centenary of Guiding coin will be produced by the Royal Australian Mint and a set of Commemorative Centenary stamps issued by Australia Post.
To find out activities Girl Guides Australia has planned to celebrate this occasion go to www.girlguides.org.au.
Mobile Office
I have conducted over 1000 mobile office visits with my caravan, and will be out again in areas including Arana Hills, Ferny Hills, Albany Creek, Kallangur, Toogoolawah, Fernvale, Samford, Bray Park, Murrumba Downs, Dayboro and Esk. Please drop in to say hello.
Finally I wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and holiday season and wish you all the best for 2010.
Rudd Government wants to cut funding for cataract surgery by almost 50%
Just like Anna Bligh, Kevin Rudd is once again playing with the health of 120,000 Australians, mostly seniors, who require cataract surgery each year. The Labor Government wants to cut funding for cataract surgery by almost 50% so that patients will be further out of pocket by $283 (most common procedure).
This surgery is a vital, life–changing treatment preventing blindness and giving back independence to sufferers who under the Government changes may be unable to afford treatment.
As Shadow Health Minister I am not going to stand by and let Kevin Rudd manage our health system like Anna Bligh and Labor have at a State Level.
The Coalition introduced a private members bill which would revert the Medicare rebates to the previous amounts (making patients better off by about $300), and on 28 October the cataract rebate cut was disallowed.
Both the Bill and disallowance were passed by the Coalition with the support of all crossbench Senators including Senator Xenophon, Senator Fielding and the Greens. The Government has refused to consider the Coalition’s sensible legislative solution, and as a result, thousands, mostly senior Australians, could be hurt.
Yet again we see a Labor Government who promised to fix hospitals by mid 2009, making bad decision after bad decision that will actually see waiting lists in our public hospitals increase.
Save the National School Chaplaincy Program
The Rudd Government has refused to provide certainty to continue funding our National School Chaplaincy Program beyond mid 2010.
I have been a strong supporter of this program and I urge you to help me make the Government realise how important it is to ensure our Chaplains can continue their great work in our community.
I am collecting signatures on a petition to present to the House of Representatives. Please contact my office on 3205 9977 to request a petition or download a copy from my website www.peterdutton.com.au and return to my office at PO Box 2012, Strathpine, QLD 4500.
Dickson Pine Rivers Community Awards
Every year on Australia Day I present the Dickson Pine Rivers Community Awards to individuals and groups in Dickson who have achieved in the areas of volunteer work, environmental work, youth achievement or sport.
If you know a group or member of the community who you believe deserves to be recognised for community service or achievement please feel free to nominate them for one of these awards. The person you nominate must live in Dickson and nomination forms can be found on my website at www.peterdutton.com.au or by calling my office on 3204 9977. Nominations close on Friday 15 January 2010.
2010 Year of the Girl Guide
2010 is the centenary of the Girl Guides movement in Australia.
To mark the centenary, a Commemorative Centenary of Guiding coin will be produced by the Royal Australian Mint and a set of Commemorative Centenary stamps issued by Australia Post.
To find out activities Girl Guides Australia has planned to celebrate this occasion go to www.girlguides.org.au.
Mobile Office
I have conducted over 1000 mobile office visits with my caravan, and will be out again in areas including Arana Hills, Ferny Hills, Albany Creek, Kallangur, Toogoolawah, Fernvale, Samford, Bray Park, Murrumba Downs, Dayboro and Esk. Please drop in to say hello.
Finally I wish everyone a safe and happy Christmas and holiday season and wish you all the best for 2010.
Peter Dutton
