Free financial information seminar in Belconnen

Some of the terrific work undertaken by the Department of Human Services includes free financial information sessions. There's one coming up next week in Belconnen.
MEDIA RELEASE

Andrew Leigh MP

Member for Fraser

INFORMATION TO SECURE YOUR FUTURE

People of Canberra are encouraged to learn how to secure their future by attending free financial information sessions this month.

Dr Andrew Leigh, Member for Fraser, said the Financial Information Service seminars are a regular, local, practical avenue for people of all ages to gain information on a range of important topics.

“The Australian Government has offered the Financial Information Service for over 20 years, educating millions of people by providing information to help them plan for their future security,” Dr Leigh said.

“The experienced Financial Information Service Officers can show you how to make informed financial decisions and help you understand the consequences of those decisions in the short, medium and long term.

“These seminars are designed to help you understand the basics around shares, investment, property and superannuation as well as options in retirement.

“If you are considering investing in property or shares, changing jobs or superannuation accounts, preparing for retirement or moving into residential care – come along to understand all the financial options available to you.”

Upcoming local seminars at Belconnen Premier Inn, 110 Benjamin Way Belconnen:

Financial Planning and Choosing a Financial Planner

Thursday 1 November

6pm to 8.30pm

“These seminars are not just for people receiving Centrelink payments ­– they are open to anyone interested, and they are popular so bookings are essential,” Dr Leigh said.

“Last financial year, over 80,000 people attended 2,700 seminars held across the country.

“Come along to take advantage of this free service and learn valuable savings steps so you can have more lifestyle choices in the future.”

To find out more about Human Services free Financial Information Service seminars visit humanservices.gov.au/fis.

For FIS seminar bookings call 13 6357 or email fis.seminar.bookings {at} humanservices.gov.au
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Lex Luther strikes again

Yet more misleading information from Joe Hockey today on economics. I've done a substantial amount of work helping my constituents find their lost super using the SuperSeeker website and it's a shame that Hockey is engaging in misleading statements on this important topic. My media release on the changes is below.
MEDIA RELEASE

Andrew Leigh MP

Member for Fraser

HOCKEY GETS THE FACTS WRONG AGAIN – THIS TIME ON LOST SUPER

Joe Hockey’s statements over the past 24 hours show that either he hasn’t read any of the MYEFO documents explaining the Government’s changes to lost superannuation – or he is deliberately misrepresenting the facts.

Yesterday he made numerous statements trying to scare Australians into thinking that their superannuation will be transferred to the ATO if they don’t make a contribution for 12 months.

These assertions by Mr Hockey are completely wrong as super accounts will only be transferred to the ATO if they have been inactive for a period of five years, and only if the balance is under $2,000.

Mr Hockey should retract these incorrect comments and apologise for misleading Australian superannuants.

My Hockey made his false claims repeatedly yesterday:

“After 12 months of a dormant account, your superannuation will be transferred to the Australian Taxation Office. This year alone it’s worth $555 million – this year alone, in six months. So, don’t go overseas for 12 months to work. Journalists get postings overseas, Wayne Swan’s going to take your super which I’m expecting would be very generous.”

(Joint press conference with Tony Abbott, 22 October 2012)

“They’re changing the treatment of superannuation that isn’t accessed for 12 months to deliver $555 million this current financial year. So if you go overseas for 12 months working or something, Wayne Swan’s got his hand in your pocket.”

(Sky interview with Kieran Gilbert, 22 October 2012)

“If you don’t access your superannuation for a year, the Government will take it and put it in the Australian Taxation Office and that alone is delivering $555 million this year.”

(Lateline interview with Emma Alberici, 22 October 2012)

One would have hoped he would have stopped peddling these falsehoods by this morning, but instead he was at it again, saying:

“If your kids go overseas for 12 months or you’re unemployed for 12 months and you don’t access your superannuation account, then it’s going to go to the tax office. And if you go to claim it back a year later, the question will be whether your superannuation fund will take the account back and what fees and charges they’re going to charge.”

(2GB interview with Alan Jones, 23 October 2012)

These comments misrepresent one of the measures that the Government announced yesterday, which only applies to the tiny proportion of super accounts where the fund does not know who the owner of the account is.

The media release announcing the changes to lost superannuation, and the measure description in the MYEFO document, both clearly stated:

“The period of inactivity before an account of an unidentifiable member is required to be transferred to the ATO will be reduced from five years to 12 months.” (emphasis added)

Currently super funds can hold these accounts for five years after the last contribution was made, before they are required to transfer them to the ATO. Reducing the period of time that a super fund can hold the account of an unidentifiable member will encourage super funds to make further inquiries to discover who the owner of the account is, during the period when contributions are being made.

The Government also announced yesterday that it will ensure more small lost accounts are properly protected from being eroded by fees and charges, by increasing the account balance threshold below which inactive accounts, and accounts of uncontactable members, are required to be transferred to the ATO from $200 to $2,000. This is separate to the measure in relation to accounts with unidentifiable members.

Individuals can reclaim superannuation accounts transferred to the ATO at any time, however no form of interest is currently paid when they are reclaimed. In addition to the above reforms, the Government announced yesterday that it will ensure lost superannuation accounts reclaimed from the ATO retain their value in real terms, by paying interest at a rate equivalent to CPI inflation from 1 July 2013.
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Opening of one-stop-shop in Braddon

Today, Minister for Human Services Kim Carr and I opened the one-stop-shop for Medicare and Centrelink in Braddon. The co-location of these facilities means that the Braddon office is now able to offer additional services, such as Case Coordination which brings services together for vulnerable people.   It helps link people with services such as housing, health, crisis support, education and training, and family and financial support. The launch event also gave me a terrific chance to talk to some of the local staff about their work.

The media release is below. It has a great story in it about how Case Coordination helped out a local man to get assistance with housing and education.
MEDIA RELEASE

[caption id="attachment_3426" align="alignright" width="300" caption="With Sue Sheridan from FirstPoint and Minister for Human Services Kim Carr"][/caption]

SENATOR KIM CARR

Minister for Human Services

DR ANDREW LEIGH

Member for Fraser


Monday, 22 October 2012

NEW GOVERNMENT SERVICE HUB IN BRADDON



A new Government service hub in Braddon will offer Canberrans a wider range of services in one location, including a trial initiative that provides tailored assistance to help people get back on their feet.

Minister for Human Services Senator Kim Carr and Member for Fraser Dr Andrew Leigh officially opened the one-stop shop today and announced the start of a new program to help the most marginalised in the ACT.

Senator Kim Carr said the Braddon hub was an example of a new approach to service delivery.

“We are centralising government services both for convenience and in order to provide comprehensive assistance for complex cases. The government can do more than just handing out payments,” Senator Kim Carr said.

The trial Case Coordination initiative provides tailor-made assistance.  It aims to match vulnerable people with a range of services that meets their needs.   It then helps link people with services such as housing, health, crisis support, education and training, and family and financial support.

“Canberra may be one of the most affluent cities in Australia, but it has its share of people doing it tough, whether through joblessness, homelessness or poor health,” Senator Kim Carr said.

“My Department serves all Canberrans – well-off or not – and I am pleased that everyone, particularly residents in the Inner North, will benefit from having Centrelink and Medicare, as well as Child Support self-service facilities, all under one roof.”

Senator Kim Carr acknowledged that the transition to a new location was not always easy, but said that, together with the ability to make claims online or at the doctor’s surgery, the changes brought significant benefits to the community as a whole.

“This new one-stop shop is one of the biggest of the Department’s service centres in the region. It serves 400 people a day and its staff play a big role supporting the local community,” he said.

Dr Leigh welcomed the new centre and also praised staff for the success of the new initiative to help people turn their lives around.

“Since Case Coordination was launched here in mid-September, staff have worked one on one with vulnerable people to help them tailor a plan for a better future,” Dr Leigh said.

“One person had recently arrived in Australia, spoke little English and was sleeping in his car. He was registered with ACT homelessness support service FirstPoint but had difficulty understanding staff over the phone.

“The Braddon Case Coordination team were able to liaise with FirstPoint on his behalf, and stayed in touch until they could secure private rental accommodation for him.

“They were also able to explain the bond assistance available through ACT Housing, and refer him to Interpreter Services so language would not be a barrier to applying for support.

“The man is due to start studying English in November.

“I’d encourage anyone in the local community to visit the new service centre to find out more about the support on offer,” Dr Leigh said.

Medicare, Child Support self-service and Centrelink services, including Case Coordination, are available at Braddon’s new one-stop shop at 13 Lonsdale Street from 8.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Disabled and metered parking is available in Lonsdale St directly in front of the Braddon Service Centre.
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Chatting Economics and Politics with Matt Smith

I was recently interviewed by La Trobe University's Matt Smith, about trust in politicians, inequality, good evaluation, climate change and other topics.

You can read a transcript, download an MP3, or podcast it through iTunes.
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Affordable accommodation for students

The Gillard Government continues to help make Canberra an attractive place to live and study by investing in affordable accommodation for future University of Canberra students. This is a project I lobbied for as the local Federal Member of Parliament because I know how important affordable student accommodation is for the entire community. It frees up other rental accommodation in nearby suburbs and is a key part of maintaining a good housing mix in Canberra's north.

There are three numbers you need to know about federal investment in affordable housing through the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS). But to keep it simple, each number is 20.

  • Since 2007, NRAS and other federal programs have contributed to construction of 1 in 20 new homes.

  • NRAS homes must rent for at least 20% below market rates.

  • 1 in 20 NRAS homes have been in Canberra (despite the fact that only 1 in 60 Australians live here, we have bigger challenges of housing affordability).


It was a noisy sod-turning with University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor Stephen Parker needing to drill through the concrete so that the Chief Minister and I had something to turn.

My media release is below.

[caption id="attachment_3413" align="alignright" width="368" caption="Turning the first sod at UC"][/caption]
MEDIA RELEASE

Andrew Leigh MP

Member for Fraser



18 October 2012

Affordable homes for future University of Canberra students

The Member for Fraser, Andrew Leigh, today with Chief Minister Katy Gallagher turned the sod for a new development which will provide more affordable rental accommodation for more than 400 University of Canberra students.

Dr Leigh said the 297 homes are supported under the Australian Government’s $4.5 billion National Rental Affordability Scheme, in partnership with the ACT Government.

“The Gillard Government is making it easier for students and young people to find affordable accommodation near to where they work and study,” Dr Leigh said.

“Canberra is an attractive place for students and each year we see many new faces moving to our city to take up the excellent opportunities available here.

“Through the Student Accommodation Project, eligible young people can rent an apartment on campus at a discounted rate of at least 20 per cent below market rates.

“This will free up rental properties around Bruce, benefiting the whole community.

“The University of Canberra is delivering a total of 1,000 new affordable rental homes through the National Rental Affordability Scheme.”

Dr Leigh said the Gillard Government is committed to addressing housing affordability and has invested $20 billion to help people with home ownership and affordable rental housing, and to tackle homelessness.

“This Government has directly contributed to the construction of one in every 20 new homes since coming to office through programs such as the National Rental Affordability Scheme.

“Delivered in partnership with state and territory governments, the scheme supports the supply of 50,000 new more affordable rental properties across Australia, including more than 2,600 homes in the ACT.

“The Scheme provides annual financial incentive payments to business sector and community organisations to build and rent new homes at a minimum 20 per cent below market rate.

“This supports the delivery of more affordable private rental housing, encourages private investment in innovative affordable housing and allows eligible households to save thousands of dollars in rent each year.”
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Collecting for the Canberra Blind Society

I joined ACT Labor and community activists Liz Dawson, Gerry Lloyd and David Mathews earlier this year as a volunteer for the Canberra Blind Society
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Collecting for the Canberra Blind Society

With ACT ALP activists Liz Dawson, Gerry Lloyd and David Mathews
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Volunteer awards nominations now open

I was delighted to announce today that nominations for the 2012 National Volunteer Awards are now open. Head to www.notforprofit.gov.au/volunteering to nominate your favourite volunteer. More information is in the media release below.

[caption id="attachment_3408" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Collecting for the Canberra Blind Society"][/caption]
THE HON MARK BUTLER MP

Minister for Mental Health and Ageing

Minister for Social Inclusion

Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform



DR ANDREW LEIGH MP

Member for Fraser



JOINT MEDIA RELEASE



16 October 2012

NATIONAL VOLUNTEER AWARDS NOW OPEN

Andrew Leigh MP, Member for Fraser, today announced applications for the 2012 National Volunteer Awards were now open.

Dr Leigh said the Awards recognise the contribution of over 6 million Australians who volunteer their time in communities across the country.

“At times of great economic prosperity, it is easy to forget just how much our economy and society relies on the generosity of its people.



“Volunteering has its own benefits, through meeting people and contributing to the community, but we don’t thank our volunteers often enough. These awards provide recognition for the time and effort donated by volunteers in Canberra’s north.

“Here on the north side of Canberra it is the contribution of volunteers through groups like Pegasus Riding School, Parkcare groups and school P & Cs that are the backbone of our community,” Dr Leigh said.

Minister for Ageing and Social Inclusion Mark Butler said the Awards recognise the contribution of over 6 million Australians who volunteer in communities across the country, including for the first time a seniors category, as recommended by the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians.

“I’m pleased to see the Awards will now include a Senior Volunteer category to specifically acknowledge the invaluable contribution older Australians make to our community.”

Dr Leigh said 2012 National Volunteer Awards will call on Australians to nominate exceptional volunteers in their community who donate their time to assist not-for-profit organisations.

Nominations close on 8 November 2012 with an award ceremony to be held later in the year to celebrate the achievements of local volunteering heroes.

Volunteer award categories include:

  1. MP’s Volunteer of the Year

  2. Junior Volunteer Award (17 and under)

  3. Youth Volunteer Award (18-25)

  4. Senior Volunteer Award (65 and over)

  5. Business Volunteer Award

  6. Education Award

  7. Emergency Management Volunteer Award

  8. Environment Award

  9. Innovation in Volunteering Award (organisation or individual)


10. Long–term Commitment to Community Service Award.

For information on application procedures and closing dates, contact Andrew.Leigh.MP [at] aph.gov.au, call Andrew Leigh’s office on 6247 4396 or visit www.notforprofit.gov.au/volunteering
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Vale Coral Bell

I spoke in parliament today about the late international relations scholar Coral Bell.
Coral Bell, 11 October 2012

I rise to speak about a great constituent of mine, Coral Bell, AO, who passed away on 26 September 2012. Coral Bell was a former academic at the Australian National University and one of the great international relations scholars in Australia. Her former ANU colleague Andrew Carr said, 'She was a landmark figure in Australia's international relations who was often the only woman in the room yet was always well heard and respected for her intelligence and character'. My friend Michael Fullilove, who has recently taken over as executive director of the Lowy Institute—and I congratulate him on that—called Dr Bell 'a giant of the Australian foreign policy scene'.

Dr Bell came to adulthood during the Second World War and, as Robert O'Neill noted in his obituary for her, knew from her own experience just how much was at stake when great powers went to war with each other with modern weapons. She understood the challenge of nuclear war and was part of a key group of Australian scholars working on key issues around understanding the Cold War. Her doctoral thesis, which formed the basis of her first book, was based on understanding how the United States was managing the Cold War. She returned to teach at the University of Sydney from 1961 to 1965, then to a readership at the London School of Economics and was a professor at the University of Sussex until 1972.

Dr Bell returned to work at the Australian National University from 1977 until 1988 and then continued to contribute to the field. She characterised the NATO alliance as 'always in disarray', an observation which I think contains more than a kernel of truth. Her paper The End of the Vasco da Gama Era, one of the Lowy Institute's first, is considered one of its best. Dr Bell was regarded as a conservative realist—not an international relations tradition with which a small 'l' liberal like me would associate—but she was nonetheless very much a conservative and not a neocon. In that capacity she was a strong critic of George W Bush's foreign and military policies and held the view that the United States had lost its sole superpower status and we were moving towards a world order where power would be shared among several major states.

Lowy Institute board director Robert O'Neill noted in his obituary:

‘Her analytical legacy is this view of a world where US power and influence have slipped, and those of China, Europe, Russia, and India are rising to form a condominium.’

Dr Bell's recent publication A World Out of Balance: American Ascendancy and International Politics in the 21st Century highlighted the unique economic and security challenge this context presents for international affairs. Our understanding of international affairs has been enriched by this giant, Coral Bell, and those of us who seek to contribute to the ideas and policy debate in international relations stand on her shoulders.
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Running away from public servants

Today Zed Seselja and Tony Abbott showed they don't understand how much public service cuts hurt Canberra. My media statement with my ACT Federal colleagues is below.
Senator the Hon Kate Lundy

Senator for the Australian Capital Territory



Gai Brodtmann MP

Member for Canberra

Andrew Leigh MP

Member for Fraser



MEDIA STATEMENT



PUBLIC SECTOR JOBS

In an article in today’s Canberra Times, Tony Abbott said “I accept that Canberra did it tough for a year or so, but … Canberra did very well under the Howard Government.”

This demonstrates that Mr Abbott doesn’t understand the pain inflicted on Canberra by the Howard Government’s savage public sector cuts.


During the 2010 federal election, the Liberals announced 12,000 local job cuts but since then their target has risen sharply to 20,000 jobs.



This is nothing new for the Liberal Party. Before the 1996 election, the Liberals said they would cut 2500 jobs. After winning office, more than 30,000 public servants lost their jobs.



Slashing public service jobs in Canberra will affect the entire ACT economy. In 1996-97, the impact of the Howard Government’s job cuts was to:

• Slash $25,000 from the price of the average Canberra home (in an era when house prices were much lower than they are today);
• Increase the ACT unemployment rate by 1 percentage points; and
• Increase personal bankruptcies in the ACT by around 100 bankruptcies per year.

Unlike the Liberals, we believe that a strong public service is essential to support the community and deliver critical government programs.

On top of job cuts, the Liberals have also indicated they will ‘outsource’ jobs currently done by the Australian Public Service to the States. This will mean additional job losses in the national capital.

Commonwealth public servants provide important advice on big issues affecting our whole nation.

Today we saw ACT Opposition Leader Zed Seselja stand alongside Tony Abbott while he made these statements.

We know Zed Seselja will never protect Canberra from the worst excesses of the Federal Liberals.
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Cnr Gungahlin Pl and Efkarpidis Street, Gungahlin ACT 2912 | 02 6247 4396 | [email protected] | Authorised by A. Leigh MP, Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch), Canberra.