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Cabinet has set a 15 percent electricity savings target for the government sector and my offices, both in Parliament and within the electorate, are doing their bit.
This said, the offices may seem darker than usual but we are only turning lights on in the areas we are actually working in. The same for heaters, so I'm sorry if this causes any discomfort for anyone calling in.
Energy Minister Pete Hodgson has said it is important for the government sector to provide leadership in electricity savings to help reduce the risk of power shortages this winter and I am doing what I can.
But I want to stress that people should not stop using their heaters if they need them, especially when their health is at risk. We all still need to be warm in our homes, we just need to be mindful of our power use.
We can easily achieve this by switching appliances off at the wall, using the microwave to heat water for single cups of tea or coffee, reheat food in the microwave instead of the oven or stove top and taking shorter showers, not baths.
Anyone wanting tips on how to save power can check out these websites: EnergyWise, Saving Energy with TrustPower
and those in business might want to take a look at this one.
I am delighted that the Wairarapa electorate will receive an estimated 18.6 extra full time equivalent teachers next year.
Education Minister Trevor Mallard has said Budget 2003 will include almost $167 million to be spent nationally to provide an extra 774 primary and secondary teaching positions over and above those required for roll growth.
The extra teachers will be provided from the start of next year to help ease workload and staffing pressures and is on top of the 38 extra full time teacher equivalents in the electorate as a result of changes in the last term of the Government.
The extra staffing entitlement will reduce the maximum average class size from 27 to 26 for schools with students in years 1 to 8 and with rolls of 175 or fewer.
My offices continue to be flooded with generic letters about the Responsible Gambling Bill and we have tried to respond to all of them. Unfortunately some people have not included an address and their signatures have been impossible to read.
As I have already stated the Responsible Gambling Bill is the result of a wide-ranging Review (in 2000) of Gaming Policy, and of months of direct public consultation.
While the Bill preserves the current arrangements whereby societies make grants to the community from funds raised using non-casino gaming machines, it also safeguards and enhances the grants process.
The Responsible Gambling Bill sorts out existing legislation in terms of accountability for funding. It protects funds and ensures correct monitoring of funds distribution. Those abusing the system will be fined.
This is a big improvement on the current situation, whereby there are no measures for accountability in the distribution of funds. The Greens disagree with this; they want to redirect non-casino gaming machine funds through the Lotteries Commission and local government. The United Future Party has stated that it does not support the Greens' policy.
A copy of the Bill as reported by the Government Administration Select committee can be found here.
I would like to reiterate that Labour has the support of United Future and the Progressive Coalition on this Bill and that these parties have no plans to change the way funds from non-casino gaming machines are distributed.
Anyone still concerned about this should consider lobbying the other parliamentary parties.
My week began with a visit to Braiden Enterprises in Carterton, where I joined Health and Transport officials in viewing an exciting new product thought up and manufactured right in our own backyard.
My congratulations to all the team at Braidens and I wish you well with all you do.
On Thursday I was given the honour of being the first signatory of the Rise Above It charter during the Violence Free Wairarapa first anniversary celebrations in Masterton.
The signing of the Rise Above It charter marks something of a milestone for our community.
It's a fantastic effort and illustrates what can be done when a community accepts the need for change and rallies support among its own people to tackle an insidious problem threatening the safety of its children and families.
As a community we have come a long way in facing up to our problems, especially those associated with violence and abuse toward children and families. This whole-of-community effort deserves recognition and celebration and in true Wairarapa style we marked our success with the Wonderful Wairarapa Festival.
All children have the right to be cared for and most will receive the love, care and attention they need from their families and whanau. But when they don't, children should be able to expect that the community and government will work together to provide the necessary support and services.
On Thursday our community celebrated a personal milestone proving to ourselves that we can take ownership and develop our own solutions to our problems. Our self belief is supported by a commitment from both local and central government, businesses, organisations and individuals working together to eliminate violence and abuse of children and families.
Good on you Wairarapa!
This week I also oversaw the passage of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust Bill, which now awaits Royal Assent.
I acknowledge the importance of this local legislation to the Masterton Trust Lands Trust, and indeed the beneficiaries of the Trust's aims and objectives.
This was my first Bill with my name on it and it seems proper to also acknowledge the support Edwin Perry MP and former Wairarapa MP, Rt. Hon Wyatt Creech, have given to the Bill's smooth passage.
I wish every success for the future of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust and thank them for everything they do to enrich the Masterton and Wairarapa community.
I'm sure all our thoughts are with the family of motorsport icon Possum Bourne. His tragic death will leave a huge void and we mourn the passing of a truly great Kiwi.
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