Widespread asbestos use in construction materials during the 20th century has left Australia with a deadly legacy. 2013 has seen the establishment of the Asbestos Safety and Eradication Agency which will work with and have representatives from all levels of government as well as unions, industry and support groups to implement a national plan of action to protect Australians from asbestos.

The agency will implement a plan to tackle illegal dumping, to encourage safe disposal across Australia and to develop a strategy for the staged removal of asbestos containing materials from government and commercial buildings.

The Government is working quickly to prevent further Australians from being exposed to deadly asbestos fibres and put in place a plan to address identification of asbestos containing materials in buildings, asbestos removal, handling and storages and asbestos awareness and education.

Schools in Deakin such as Kalinda Primary School have benefited by the program since it began in 2005.

Individual programs provide coaching in more than 70 sports and the research shows that after participating in the program two thirds of kids show an interest in participating in sport and many are encouraged to join their local sporting clubs.

Training for community coaches is also part of the funding program which has seen 53,000 coaches participate since 2005.

Labor’s plan will properly resource teachers, classrooms and kids for generations to come. Sign the petition here to tell Tony Abbott and Denis Napthine to say YES to better schools.

The Gillard Government will invest $2 for dollar that the Victorian Government invests. Which means that schools in Victoria will benefit from an additional $4 billion, along with better indexation.

If Victoria does not sign up to the National Plan there will be more cuts to education services of the kind already seen in the state and as the current National Partnerships expire, Victoria will continue to receive less.

All 13 businesses operate and employ locally, and at the same time, reach out to foreign markets. They also operate in a wide range of industries from manufacturing and goods wholesaling to high-tech computer systems and education providers; and these grants help them expand their markets overseas.

For example, Smash Enterprises produces distinctive lunch boxes and drink bottles, among other products, and in addition to their availability in local supermarkets and department stores, they have also be very successful in distributing their products globally to major retailers such as Tesco and Sainsburys.

Stephen Harrington, General Manager of Smash Enterprises, described how the grant had helped their company attend trade shows, liaise with international agents and establish Smash Enterprises in Europe and the USA.

The staff and students at Norwood were very welcoming and accommodating of all the visitors and the Community Cabinet was very successful.

The Prime Minister, accompanied by Mike and the Honourable Peter Garrett, Minister for Education, also conducted a schools forum at Nunawading Christian College and attended the Maroondah Schools ANZAC Day commemoration at Ringwood Lake.

The PM also was very pleased to visit and have a coffee at Barclays Café in Heathmont over the course of the day.

While the Prime Minister was happy to talk with locals about all issues of concern to them, she was focussing particularly over the course of the day on the release of the National Plan for School Improvement and the schools funding changes announced this week.

The Minister spoke with parents and carers about the work underway to build DisabilityCare Australia and its aim to transform the way we deliver care and support for people with disability, their families and carers, here in Bayswater North and across the country.

Minister Macklin was also able to see in practice the great work that Irabina does in delivering early intervention services for local children living with autism with the support of parents and dedicated staff.

All children with disability should have the opportunity for receiving these kinds of vital support services through DisabilityCare Australia so they can get the best possible start in life.

The Gillard Labor Government is investing $1 billion to deliver the first stage of the national disability insurance scheme, which will begin in five locations across the country from July this year.

About 26,000 people will benefit from the first stage of DisabilityCare Australia, and important lessons learnt will influence the roll out of the scheme across the country, including to Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs.

The Gillard Government has recently changed the processes for inactive bank accounts to help reunite Australians with their own money. Money in inactive bank accounts will now be transferred to ASIC after three years of no activity rather than seven years and the Government will pay interest on the money to ensure it is not eroded by inflation, fees and charges. 

Once funds are transferred to ASIC the details of the accounts will also be added to the Moneysmart.gov.au website to make it easier for people to track down accounts which they may no longer have details for. 

ASIC is currently holding $677 million in unclaimed money belonging to literally hundreds of thousands of Australians. Many people also have money lost in insurance policies and superannuation funds which can also be searched when you go to Moneysmart.gov.au . Log on and check if some of the $$ belong to you.

On 12 December last year it was my great pleasure to host the Deakin National Volunteer Awards 2012. This was a great opportunity to formally recognise the work of some of our community’s greatest contributors across many different and varied community and volunteer services. There are so many people in our community who volunteer their time, energy and expertise to help others, and I am always amazed by the number of groups who provide these services. Volunteers operate in areas such as community welfare, sport, education, recreation, environment, emergency services and health; and, quite simply, without the services of volunteers our country would be a far harsher place for the people who live here.

The Deakin National Volunteer Awards are important because they give the community an opportunity to see what people do—and that is a great thing. The Deakin National Volunteer Awards 2012 were presented to the following volunteers. Jeanette Giles received the MP’s Volunteer of the Year award for her outstanding long term volunteering service of over 30 years. In that time, Jeanette has volunteered for Donwood Day Care Centre, the Cancer Council of Victoria, Sing Australia, Heathmont Ladies Probus Club, Ringwood Calligraphy and Heathmont Uniting Church Community Living Centre and has tutored English to migrants at AMES, to name just a few of her many activities.

The Young Volunteer award, for the 18 to 25 years category, was presented to Catherine Pelling for her voluntary work in addressing climate change, including her attendance at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Doha as a delegate with Global Voices in 2012 and for her work in other volunteer services and her championing of human rights.

The Senior Volunteer award was shared. The first Senior Volunteer award was presented to Trevor Ryan for his service to Life Activities Whitehorse, Uniting Care Strathdon Community, the Stakeholders Advisory Group for the Healesville Freeway Reservation and the Mahoney’s Reserve Pavilion Association. The second Senior Volunteer award was presented to Gary Brooks for his work at the Avenue Neighbourhood House @Eley tutoring students in the Refresh program that provides alternative learning options for disengaged youth, along with his work driving the bus and his organisation of fundraising efforts.

There were three recipients of the Volunteers Education award. Meagan Scotto received a Volunteers Education award for her work at the Heathmont Pre-School and Kindergarten as co-ordinator of the fundraising committee, with the kindergarten raising close to $100,000 in the last seven years. Michelle Arandall also received a Volunteers Education Award for her voluntary work at Whitehorse Primary School, where she supports all members of the school community and is a member of the school council and subcommittees. Michelle also provides tours of the school, organises sausage sizzles and volunteers in the school office every day of the week. The Uniform Shop team at Vermont Primary School, comprising Cris Battaglia, Amanda Berryman, Kylie King, Jess drew and Liz Blair-West, also received a Volunteers Education award for their sterling efforts in providing this much-needed service to the school community.

The Emergency Management Volunteer award was presented to the Fundraising and Transport Group at the Maroondah Unit of the Australian Red Cross, who provide patient transport to take people in need to medical appointments and organise local fundraising.

The Volunteers Environment award was presented to Peter Tatman for his contribution to the establishment and the protection of the Ronald E Gray Reserve in Nunawading, which is recognised for its remnant native vegetation and significant ecological values.

The Innovation in Volunteering award was also shared. The Falls Prevention and Wellbeing Volunteer program at the Peter James Centre received an Innovation in Volunteering award for their support of the clinical staff in caring for frail and elderly patients. The Marlborough Trail Blazers at Marlborough Primary School in Heathmont received an Innovation in Volunteering award for their work in promoting exercise to school students, educating students on preparing for exercise and supervising a before school running club along with organising healthy breakfasts after the run.

Two volunteers received a Long Term Commitment to Community Service award. Rhonda Davis received the award for her voluntary work in the kitchen garden and working with migrant and refugee students at Weeden Heights Primary School. Beryl Bloomcamp received the award for her service to the Mitcham Senior Citizens club. She joined in 1983 and has been serving as the club’s secretary since 1990.

I congratulate each of the Deakin National Volunteer Awards 2012 recipients and thank them on behalf of our community for their outstanding efforts.

Mike visited the bakery on 1 February with Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation, Mark Dreyfus, to announce the grant to staff at the bakery, which is highly regarded for its boutique products such as fresh filled gourmet pies, pasties, sausage rolls and tarts which are supplied to retailers and caterers.

The Pastry Lounge will match the grant for a total investment of $122,000 which will modernise their operations and assist them to become more energy efficient, competitive and sustainable. They will install a 54kW Solar PV system, cutting carbon emissions intensity by 35 per cent.

The Australian Government’s Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program is helping hundreds of manufacturers and food producers invest in energy efficient equipment and clean energy solar systems. This is the carbon price revenue at work.

Mr Dreyfus encouraged other Australian manufacturers to consider applying for grants from the $800 million Clean Technology Investment Program, the $200 million Clean Technology Food and Foundries Investment Program and the $200 million Clean Technology Innovation Program – all funded by carbon price revenue. Companies can contact AusIndustry on 13 28 46 or visit www.ausindustry.gov.au

Mike was delighted to meet many new Australian citizens and to congratulate the recipients of each municipality’s annual Citizen of the Year and other awards.

Mike has also contacted each of the four recipients of Australia Day Honours who live in Deakin to congratulate them on their receipt of Medals of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Mr Phil Asker OAM of Croydon was cited for his service to the tourism industry and the community through his companies Croydon Travel and Captain’s Choice Tours and with the Croydon Rotary Club.

Mr Colin Browne OAM of Mitcham was recognised for his services to the sport of athletics, to education and to the community through his contributions to Victorian Masters Athletics, the Whitehorse Arts Association, Phoenix University Theatre and to teacher training.

Ms Marilyn Dann OAM of Blackburn is the current Deputy Chair of Taralye and was recognised for service to the deaf and hearing impaired. Ms Dann has had a long and successful career in the education of Victoria’s deaf community.

Mr Agostino Puopolo OAM of Vermont South has been recognised for his service to the sport of athletics as an administrator and coach. A successful Hammer Throw competitor in his youth, Mr Puopolo has also coached Throws competitors at 3 recent Olympic Games and a gold medal winner at the 2000 Paralympic Games.