New electoral boundary changes announced by the Office of the Electoral Distribution Commissioners today will see the Warren-Blackwood electorate gain some towns and cede others whilst maintaining the name ‘Warren-Blackwood’.
 
The Electoral Act 1907 (WA) requires that WA’s electoral boundaries be reviewed at regular intervals to ensure the number of voters in electoral districts remain within allowable limits.
 
The boundary changes will mean that the Plantagenet Shire alongside part of the Stirling Range National Park locality will re-join the Warren-Blackwood electorate, whilst the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup will become part of the Collie-Preston electorate.  
 
Member for Warren-Blackwood, Terry Redman MLA said, “The boundary changes mean the whole of Margaret River township and the localities of Burnside, Forest Grove and Witchcliffe will be united and included in my Warren-Blackwood Electorate.  I have worked hard for the people in the Margaret River region and I am delighted that I will have the opportunity to continue to represent them.”
 
“It has been my privilege to represent the people of Donnybrook-Balingup, but the shift in electoral boundaries means I will not have that chance beyond the next State general election, expected in March 2017.  I want to assure the residents of Donnybrook-Balingup that I will be working as hard as ever to continue providing them with effective representation in the lead up to the next election.”
 
“I look forward to once again representing the people of Mount Barker, Narrikup, Kendenup and Rocky Gully.  These towns were removed from the electorate in 2013 and it is pleasing to see their return to Warren-Blackwood,” Mr Redman said.
 

Further detail on the boundary changes is available at www.boundaries.wa.gov.au
 

This grant will help purchase Apple iPads to be used for digital training sessions for local seniors to improve their access to important social services.

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RfR provides communities with exciting arts opportunities.
 
Member for Warren-Blackwood, Terry Redman MLA has welcomed another scheme of the $24 million Creative Regions program, which will fund regional touring driven by community demand.

 A total of $3.1 million of Royalties for Regions funding will help increase the number and variety of performing arts touring regional WA through the Regional and Remote Touring Fund.
 
Mr Redman said applications for funding opened today, and encouraged eligible applicants to jump aboard the opportunity to receive financial support.
 
“Eligible applicants include regional local government authorities, Regional Development Commissions and WA performing arts organisations, small or large,” he said.
 
“This fund gives regional communities more influence when it comes to selecting shows to visit and perform in their towns.”
 
The Regional and Remote Touring Fund is one of five schemes being introduced under the Creative Regions program, which was a key Nationals WA election commitment in 2013.
 
Already rolling out is $7.8 million through the Regional Venues Improvement Fund and $5.7 million to assist regional arts organisations through Country Arts WA.
 
Mr Redman said applicants needed to demonstrate their proposed tour was supported by two or more towns or remote communities in WA.
 
“Supporting local decision making will ensure arts and culture activities are aligned with the desires of regional communities, bringing vibrancy, new experiences and audiences along for the ride,” he said.
 
“I look forward to finding out what shows plan to tour Warren-Blackwood as a result of this funding, which will really increase access and enrichment of the arts and culture scene in our towns.”
 
Creative Regions is administered by the Department of Culture and the Arts with support from the State Government’s Royalties for Regions program.
 
For more information, visit http://www.dca.wa.gov.au or Bigger Picture-Regions

Regional families WA to benefit from Youth Allowance changes.
 
Changes to the family assets test and family actual means test set to be introduced on January 1 next year have been welcomed by Nationals WA Member for the South West Colin Holt MLC.
 
The changes to legislation, passed through Federal Parliament yesterday, will offer greater support to regional families with dependent children receiving youth payments under Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY Living Allowance and the Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme.
 
Mr Holt said removing the family assets test would allow eligible families with dependent children in regional and rural WA access average annual payments of more than $7000.
 
“The passing of this legislation has resulted in a much fairer measure of family income than the existing system, including scrapping the family assets test,” he said.
 
“Removal of the family actual means test will also offer increased payments for some WA students by approximately $2000 per year”.
 
“Many remote and regional families live and operate in asset rich environments but generating income and family situations can sometimes be complex, which under the current system can deny or limit access to youth assistance payments.”
 
The changes are part of the Social Security Amendment (More Generous Means Testing for Youth Payments) Bill 2015.
 
From July 1, 2016 they also include altering Youth Allowance parental income testing arrangements to all Family Tax Benefit (FTB) eligible children, not only those over 16.
 
Working families with dependent children in both the FTB and youth payment schemes may be eligible for an increase in fortnightly payments by more than $40 and those who currently miss out on youth payments due to higher taper rates may be eligible for fortnightly payment increases up to $50.
 
Mr Holt singled out the hard work of Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie for her advocacy of the upcoming social services changes.
 
“Senator McKenzie was instrumental in urging the Interdepartmental Committee on Access to Higher Education for Regional and Remote Students to examine issues and ways to improve access to education for regional and remote students,” he said.
 
“These changes are great news for regional families in WA, boosting the number of families able to access assistance, increasing the level of assistance and encouraging more young people to pursue study options to build their careers.”

For media enquiries please contact the office of Colin Holt MLC on (08) 9724 1181. 

 Emergency Services Volunteer Fuel Card to help volunteer groups by February.
 The Royalties for Regions Emergency Service Volunteer Fuel Card (ESVFC) will be rolled out in February next year, after a recent announcement of the application process timeline.
 
The Fuel Card, a Nationals WA election commitment, was announced earlier this year and will provide eligible brigades, groups and units (BGUs) with a $2000 fuel card each year to support their services and volunteers.
 
Applications open on Monday November 23 and will need to be submitted by Sunday January 10 2016, with the first fuel cards to be sent out in February next year.
 
Local Member, Terry Redman MLA, said the announcement came just in time for BGUs and residents preparing for the rapidly approaching fire season.
 “This announcement is timely given summer is a particularly busy period for many of our regional volunteers.”
  “The ESVFC is about providing emergency service volunteers, who often dip into their own pockets to help others, with a bit of support,” Mr Redman said.
 
He said the parameters around provision of the card would ensure the benefits ended up with volunteers.
 “Responsibility for distributing the ESVFC amongst active, registered volunteers of the BGU will fall with the officer-in-charge,” Mr Redman said.
 “This ensures the fuel card will be fairly distributed to contributing volunteers.”
 
The ESVFC is restricted to private or recreational fuel purchases only and must not be used to purchase fuel for an operational vehicle or vessel.
 

 For more information visit
 http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/volunteers/pages/fuelcards.aspx
 

For more information on CSES: www.dsr.wa.gov.au/funding/regional/country-sport-enrichment-scheme
For more information on the Tour of Margaret River: www.tourofmargaretriver.com  
 

Funding spins wheels of cycling community
The Department of Sport and Recreation’s latest round of funding is helping regional areas enjoy world-class sporting events and increase local participation.
Local MP Terry Redman said that included $11,000 in funding support for the Satalyst Tour of Margaret River, which starts today.
 
“Regional West Australians have limited opportunities to experience major, high level sporting competitions because they are often in Perth,” Mr Redman said.
“The Country Sport Enrichment Scheme (CSES) offers support and assistance to take international, national and approved state league competitions and contests to regional Western Australia.”

The CSES funded WestCycle $11,000 to carry out a series of community engagement activities around the Satalyst Tour of Margaret River cycling event from November 5 to 7.
One of largest road racing events in Australia, the Satalyst Tour has a unique professional and amateur format that gives club riders a chance to compete alongside riders from professional international tours.
 
“Not only do locals get to see top flight sporting events, there’s also the chance for sport development and community engagement around these events,” Mr Redman said.
“A young cyclist going to a workshop and getting tips from a professional athlete might just be what they need to put them on the path to something bigger.
“Someone trying a sport for the first time through the CSES community programs might foster a life-long love for that sport and they might contribute to it as an athlete or an official.”
 
The CSES money is going towards public events – called Chase Your Dreams – which includes a club ride and coaching session with former professional cyclist Scott Sunderland, a presentation from Sunderland and young Orica Green Edge cyclist Damien Howson and community presentations in Bunbury, Margaret River, Augusta and Nannup from triathletes Ryan Baillie and Katie Duffield on goal setting and the Road to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
 
Sport and Recreation Minister Mia Davies said the funding was also a unique opportunity to utilise influential elite sportspeople to help develop sports in country centres and increase participation.
 
“That goes for those who aspire to become elite athletes through to parents and their kids getting out and riding on the weekends together,” she said.