www.guidedogswa.com.au
61 Kitchener Ave, Victoria Park WA 6100
Ph:(08) 9311 8202

Your chance to win!

Raise $300 and go in the running to win our incredible prize worth $1,035 from our Campaign Ambassador and generous sponsor, Alex Cearns at Houndstooth Studio!

This prize includes:

• A Houndstooth Studio photo session for up to two pets from the same household, PLUS
  
• $800 in prints (total photo session value $995!), PLUS
• Signed copies of Alex's books: 'JOY' and 'Things Your Dog Wants You To Know'!

For the very first time you can help sponsor a Guide Dog Puppy as part of team Jog 4 A Dog in the HBF Run for a Reason! 

On Sunday 22 May 2016, you can run or walk 4km, 12km and 21km courses starting in the Perth CBD, and finishing at Gloucester Park oval.

Together we hope to raise $35,000 to train one Guide Dog puppy and give a very special West Australian the ability to live with freedom, independence & companionship.

Join team Jog 4 A Dog and receive

• A free Guide Dogs WA T-shirt to wear on the day
• A delicious post-event breakfast in our corporate room at the Gloucester Park finish line
• Meet and greet with ambassadogs Gidgee and Luna (and their puppies-in-training friends!) after completing the race

Join Us - It's Easy!

1. Join our Guide Dogs WA fundraising team
2. Purchase your ticket for the HBF Run for a Reason at www.hbfrun.com.au
3. To get your Guide Dogs WA T-shirt and reserve your place at the brekky, contact Jessica at jessica.bezerra@guidedogswa.com.au
4. Get your mates together and start fundraising! Call 9311 8232 for fundraising tips and advice

Thank you once again for your supPAWt - we hope you can join the Jog 4 A Dog team for this special event!

The Nationals WA will not support sale of Fremantle Port.

The Nationals WA today confirmed their opposition to the sale of the Fremantle Port.

Leader of The Nationals WA Terry Redman MLA and the Parliamentary National Party team stated their position at Parliament House earlier today.

“The Parliamentary team strongly opposes the sale of Fremantle Port and will not
support any legislation to enable the sale of the Fremantle Port,” Mr Redman said.

“The Fremantle Port is a major strategic asset for the people of Western Australia. It plays
an important role in our State’s economy, our agricultural communities and our growing
import and export markets.”

The decision to oppose the sale comes amid a number of concerns raised by The Nationals WA relating to the sale of the Port were ignored by the State Government.

“On Monday, enabling legislation was brought to Cabinet for the sale of the Fremantle
Port,” Mr Redman said.

“The Nationals stepped out of that Cabinet decision and we did not support the process of
that legislation through Cabinet.”

Mr Redman said the proposed legislation lacked transparency and would enable the Treasurer to enter negotiations with potential buyers without disclosing vital details of the sale, such as access and pricing for Fremantle Port users.
.
“The fact that legislation has been brought into Parliament without addressing these
concerns is a breach of good process in our view ,” Mr Redman said.

“If we were to support this legislation, we would have no visibility over the contractual
arrangements that are so critical when making the sale of a major piece of infrastructure.
”

Mr Redman labelled the State Government’s process “fundamentally flawed” and said The
Nationals WA could not see a pathway to support the sale of the Fremantle Port.

“For key stakeholders and users of the Fremantle Port, The Nationals WA lay party
membership, and for ourselves as Members of Parliament, that lack of transparency and
detail is just too high a hurdle to get over.”

Mr Redman said The Nationals opposition to the Bill should not come as a surprise to the
Liberal Party.

“Over recent weeks, we’ve expressed our concerns regarding the level of detail the State
Government has provided us regarding the sale of the Fremantle Port,” Mr Redman said.

“As of today, there is still no detail in the public realm available for us or key stakeholders to
consider.”

Mr Redman said The Nationals WA had sought feedback from the community regarding the Fremantle Port over the past week.

“The vast majority of feedback we have received has expressed hesitance around the sale,
with community concerns echoing our own, particularly around the uncertainty of the terms of the sale; the sale of a monopoly asset; access and user arrangements including access for live export; and the strategic timing of a sale.”


For media enquiries contact Terry Redman on terry.redman@nationalswa.com
or phone 0434 026 023.

Member for O’Connor, Rick Wilson MP, has welcomed the Government’s decision to review the proposed Working Holiday Makers tax on the back of concerns the policy could have an adverse effect on Australia’s agriculture and tourism industries.
 
The proposed 32.5 per cent tax rate for foreigners employed in Australia on working holiday visas was due to come into effect on July 1 and would have coincided with the removal of the tax free threshold for backpackers.
 
However, Tourism Minister Richard Colbeck will embark on a further consultation process in relation to the proposed tax to ensure Australia maintains its global competitiveness as a backpacker destination.
 
Mr Wilson, a member of the rural policy committee that recently met with the Prime Minister to raise concerns about the tax, said he was pleased with the decision to hold further discussions and prepare a revenue-neutral proposal.
 
“There was no question the proposed tax would have diminished the availability of labour in the agricultural sector and affected farmers who rely on tourists during busy times of the year,” he said.
 
“Both tourism and agriculture are vital economic drivers in my electorate and I have been working hard to highlight the important role tourists on working visas have here in O’Connor.
 
“I’m keen to see the Government implement a policy that ensures we have a fair and balanced approach when it comes to taxing foreigners on working holiday visas.”
 
Australia is facing a shortage of 127,000 workers in the tourism sector over the next five years and while 90 per cent of the workforce is Australian, the industry relies on overseas workers to make up the numbers.
 
Mr Colbeck will engage in a whole-of-government process as part of the review, consulting a range of portfolios before presenting the review to Treasurer Scott Morrison.
 
Mr Wilson said alternative options to the proposed tax could involve a review of laws requiring employers to pay superannuation for backpackers on working holiday visas.
“Currently, employers pay a flat 10 per cent superannuation rate for tourists working in Australia,” he said.
 
“That money can subsequently be spent once a person on a working holiday visa leaves the country, which is of no benefit to taxpayers.
 
“The Government could consider removing this requirement and increasing the gross wages for tourists to compensate for changes to the tax rate for those on working holiday visas.”

The Commonwealth Government has announced details for the locations and time-frames of the 128 new and upgraded mobile phone towers being delivered across regional WA though the Mobile Black Spot Programme.
 
The $385 million program is a joint initiative between the Commonwealth Government and the Royalties for Regions funded Regional Telecommunications Project.
 
Member for Warren-Blackwood, Terry Redman said The Nationals WA had unveiled the location of the first 10 mobile phone towers under the Programme last month, and welcomed the full schedule’s release today.

 “Information on all 128 phone towers being built in regional WA is now online and easily accessible, so local residents can clearly see when and where mobile coverage will be improved in their area,” Mr Redman said.

 “By the end of July 2016, the first 10 sites in WA will be constructed, with many more to follow over the next three years.”

 Residents of Warren-Blackwood can expect ten new or upgraded towers in the 2016-17 financial year, with more to come.

 Mobile phone towers sites scheduled for completion in 2016-17 include:

• South Coast Highway, Peaceful Bay
• Tindale Raid, Bow Bridge
• Dinninup
• Eastbourne Road, Diamond Tree
• Jalbarragup
• Mount Pingerup
• Mt Burnside
• Mt Frankland West
• Nannup East
  
• South Western Highway, between Broke and Walpole 
  

 Mr Redman said the Mobile Black Spot Site Locator was an important tool in providing accurate information and transparency around the Programme.
 
“Constructing so many mobile towers across WA doesn’t happen overnight, and we understand there is anticipation around when and where these will be built, which is why it’s important to keep communities updated on the project,” Mr Redman said.
 
“The Mobile Black Spot Site Locator is a comprehensive but simple tool allowing communities to follow the rollout. It includes a map to let people search for base stations and information about expected timing, as well as information on the Programme and frequently asked questions. It will be updated on a monthly basis to provide up to date information.”

 Mr Redman said there was significant work going on behind the scenes to help facilitate this major infrastructure rollout.

 “There are many factors affecting when a site can be completed, including relevant Federal, State and Local government approvals, the scale and complexity of construction required, and whether or not new structures need to be built or existing infrastructure can be used.

 “Due to these factors, the website will initially show the expected year of delivery for individual mobile towers, with more detailed information being added as the rollout date draws closer.”

 “Royalties for Regions is playing a significant role in transforming regional WA and I look forward to seeing the digital divide in our regions being further reduced.”
In total, Royalties for Regions has contributed $85 million to improving mobile communications across regional WA since 2012, supporting the rollout of 266 new phone towers.

 
Visit the new Mobile Black Spot Site Locator at www.telstra.com/blackspots and enter your postcode to see towers in your area.

WA Open for Business: A game changing policy from The Nationals WA

The Nationals in Government have delivered a “game changing” strategy to increase international investment in agrifood in the form of the $20 million WA Open for Business program, funded by Royalties for Regions.

Nationals Member for the South West Region, Colin Holt MLC, said WA Open for Business was a key election commitment by The Nationals WA to increase investment in agrifood and agribusiness.

“WA open for business will establish a local trade office in WA to promote WA agribusiness, and improve the alignment of various agencies working in the industry, such as the Department of Agriculture and Food, Austrade and private industry,” he said.

“The office will act as a shop-front with advice on investment opportunities and coordination across government agencies, while also helping local agriculture and food businesses to become investment ready and link them with potential investors.”

Mr Holt says the program is vital to growing WA’s agrifood exports, and the WA Open for Business program will eliminate a key barrier-to-entry for international investors.

“WA has a reputation around the world for delivering healthy, safe, high quality food.
WA Open for Business will help us capitalise on our strong reputation by building on our existing markets and expanding into new ones.”

Mr Holt said the lack of a local trade office meant WA was losing out on potential markets, while similar markets, such as New Zealand, were capitalising.

“WA Open for Business will address this missed opportunity and allow us to gain new ground, keeping WA agrifood competitive in the global market.”

Minister for Regional Development, Terry Redman MLA, launched WA Open for Business this week.

“WA Open for Business will be a game changer for the State’s agribusiness sector and will have synergy with the Government’s planned reforms to the Rangelands, the Ord
-East Kimberley Expansion, Water for Food projects and many more projects being developed through the Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture initiative,” Mr Redman said.

The WA Open for Business trade office is expected to be established in the next few months and will be based in Perth. The office will be managed by the Department of Regional Development. WA Open for Business is part of the $300 million Royalties for Regions funded Seizing the Opportunity Agriculture initiative.


For media enquiries please contact Office of Colin Holt MLC on (08) 9724 1181

1 March 2016:

Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson MP has welcomed the announcement that
Mobile Network Operators can now nominate locations to build new or upgraded mobile base stations.

Mr Wilson said 4,400 new locations were nominated across Australia under round two
of the programme. He said he was hopeful the Minister for Communications, Mitch Fifield
would find the much needed funding under the programme for regional Western Australia, particularly in the O’Connor electorate.

“Being from Katanning, I understand how important mobile phone coverage is to
Australians who live in country areas,” Mr Wilson said.
“The O’Connor electorate received a $53.84 million funding package in round
one, including $14.15 million from the Federal Government for 60 new towers."

“However, I realise there is more to be done and that is why I will be pushing for more
funding under round two of the programme.”

The mobile blackspot locations nominated by the public in round two have been added to
the mobile black spot database, which includes more than 10,600 locations in Australia.

A competitive selection process for Mobile Network Operators to nominate preferred
locations for new or upgraded mobile phone towers is now open.

The operators will be required to nominate the amount of Commonwealth funding sought,
their own proposed co-contribution, funding provided from state and local governments
and other sources and data on the coverage benefits the proposed base station will provide.

The Government will then select the successful locations in accordance with the ranking
process set out in the programme guidelines, available for download at www.communications.gov.au/mobile_coverage
.

Media contact
Monica O’Shea | 08 9842 2777 | monica.o’shea@aph.gov.au