In the News
The Coalition will relieve the red tape burden from Australia’s small businesses by giving them the option to remit the compulsory superannuation payments made on behalf of workers directly to the ATO, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke MP.
“Small businesses are vital to our local and national economy, as well as being an enormous source of local employment,” Mr Hawke said. “We must continually be looking for ways to help small business get ahead.
“This practical measure will help to address the increasing red tape burden small businesses are facing.
“For small business men and women, less paperwork means higher profits, boosted sales, and more time with the family.”
Through this measure small businesses will be given the option to remit superannuation payments to the ATO at the same time as they remit their PAYG payments.
This will require only one payment to one agency – rather than multiple cheques to multiple superannuation funds. The ATO will be responsible for sending the money to superannuation funds directly.
This measure will also help to increase compliance with employer superannuation obligations and make it easier for workers to ensure that their retirement money is being paid as it should.
“This initiative builds on the Coalition’s strong track record in supporting small business,” Mr Hawke said.
“We have also committed to reducing the regulatory costs to all businesses by at least $1 billion a year and to not change current laws relating to the treatment of personal services income.”
Mr Hawke said that at last year’s election the Liberal National Coalition promised a fairer deal for small business with initiatives including:
· a separate Minister for Small Business in the Cabinet;
· small business impact statements for proposed new laws;
· extending unfair contract provisions from consumers to small business; and
· the establishment of a special ombudsman to be an advocate for small business inside government and working with regulatory authorities to improve access to small business finance.
“If we want a stronger and more cohesive community, we need stronger and more prosperous small businesses,” Mr Hawke said.
18 May 2011
The Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke, is encouraging voluntary organisations in Hills community to apply for the 2011 round of Volunteer Grants.
Volunteer grants were first introduced by the Howard Government in recognition of the valuable contribution voluntary groups make to the community. 2011 marks the tenth year of their operation. The grants provide funding of between $1,000 and $5,000 to voluntary organisations to:
· Purchase portable, tangible, small equipment items to help volunteers
· Contribute to the reimbursement of fuel costs for their volunteers who use their own car to transport others to activities, deliver food and assist people in need
· Contribute to the reimbursement of transport costs incurred by volunteers with disability who are unable to drive
· Contribute to the costs of training courses and/or undertake background screening checks for volunteers.
“Volunteers and voluntary organisations have helped shape Australia through their work in the community,” Mr Hawke said.
“These grants will provide welcome support to voluntary organisations in the Hills community.”
Applications for the grants close on the 8th June.
For further information on Volunteer Grants, call 1800 183 374 or email vg2011@fahcsia.gov.au
10 May 2011
“This Budget confirms how out of touch Julia Gillard and Wayne Swan are with Australian families. It fails the essential test: to ease the cost of living on Australians who face higher prices every day,” the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke, said today.
“There is nothing in this Budget for Australian families doing it tough. All this Budget delivers is more deficit, more debt and more spin.
“The government’s failure to rein in its wasteful and reckless spending will lead to higher inflation and higher interest rates.
“This Budget is not worth the paper it is written on. There is a hole in its heart. The absence of the carbon tax means the government’s claim to deliver a surplus in 2012/13 can’t be taken seriously.
“The revenue figures for 2012/13 are wrong. The expenditure figures are wrong, as are the forecasts for inflation, economic growth and unemployment.
“Strong leadership provides certainty. This government is weak, unstable and directionless and lacks the leadership to do what’s right for Australian families and businesses.
“This year’s Budget deficit has soared to $49.4 billion and the forecast deficit in 2011/12 has blown out by $9.6 billion to $22.6 billion.
“Net government debt has climbed to a record $107 billion in 2011/12 and is forecast to remain above $100 billion across the forward estimates. This amounts to more than $4700 for every Australian.
“Again we’ve seen a typical, old fashioned Labor Budget that’s big on taxes and big on spending, but fails to help households battling higher costs of living – petrol, electricity and gas, groceries, health costs and home repayments.
“The government is launching a $2 billion assault on families by freezing the indexation of key family tax payments and income thresholds for three years.
“This is the first budget in eight years that has not provided tax cuts for everyday Australians. The government is being tough on families because it’s failed to be tough on itself.
“Labor has lost control of Australia’s borders. Offshore asylum seeker management has blown out by a record $1.75 billion since last year’s budget. Labor’s incompetent approach to border protection is in disarray.
“The new arrangements for taxing company cars will slug small business operators, tradesmen and farmers with increased costs at a time when they’re already doing it tough.
“Regional Australia has again been short changed by a city centric government that’s cut $500 million in regional funding. There is not a single new cent in this Budget for road or rail projects across Australia.
“Since coming to power, Labor has employed 24,000 additional public servants. The Government is asking the Australian people to tighten their belts, but it’s refusing to do the same itself.
“Australians are looking for stability and certainty from their government, not this weak and directionless approach.”
The Coalition has announced initiatives to provide further support to the millions of Australians who suffer from mental illness, said the Federal Member for Mitchell, Alex Hawke.
Mr Hawke said the extra $430 million that a Coalition Government would invest in mental health, is in addition to the $1.5 billion Real Action Plan for Mental Health taken to the 2010 election.
“Mental illness is estimated to comprise thirteen percent of the total burden of disease in Australia but generates just six percent of total health spending,” Mr Hawke said.
“In any one year twenty percent of the population is thought to have a significant episode of mental ill health, but only about one third seek professional treatment.”
Mr Hawke said the additional investment in mental health consists of:
· $180 million to improve existing employment services for people with serious mental health problems.
· $150 million to boost outside services by job agencies could deploy for interventions on behalf of their clients.
· $40 million to establish a National Mental Health Research Centre. It would conduct high quality academic research and related activities to increase the effectiveness of treatment and other intervention responses to mental illness.
· $20 million to establish a National Mental Health Workforce Training Institute. Its role would include improving the quality and take-up of mental health education and training, provide practical workplace training and to engage in course development and accreditation.
· $40 million for a National Mental Health Commission to provide expert advice to the Minister for Mental Health to champion mental health issues and improve outcomes for patients within government. A Commission will strengthen the accountability of government for the delivery of better mental health services.
“The Coalition and the Opposition Leader, the Hon Tony Abbott, has a long established record on mental health, with the $1.9 billion investment back in 2006 when Mr Abbott was the Health Minister. This was the largest single investment in mental health in Australia’s history,” Mr Hawke said.
“The Gillard Government has made hollow promises about mental health and ignored it in the COAG health reforms announced in February. The Coalition will deliver much-needed funds to mental health.”