All posts by Suzy Howell

LABOR SEEKS TO TAX AUSTRALIA’S FAVOURITE VEHICLES

February 29, 2024Media ReleasesSuzy Howell

TONY PASIN MP

MEMBER FOR BARKER

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

MEDIA RELEASE

LABOR SEEKS TO TAX AUSTRALIA’S FAVOURITE VEHICLES

Analysis of the Labor Government’s preferred new fuel efficiency standards shows the cost of SUVs, 4WDs and utes could increase by up to $25,000 by 2029.

Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tony Pasin MP says he holds serious concerns with Labor’s vehicle emissions reductions targets as outlined in the recently released National Electric Vehicle Strategy.

Under the proposal, penalties will be imposed on popular petrol, diesel and hybrid models to subsidise the cost of electric vehicles.

Mr Pasin said while we all want to see cleaner cars and utes to do our bit towards reducing emissions by 2050, Labor’s proposal was too far, too fast and would decimate the Australian motor vehicle industry as we know it and reduce consumer choice.

“Labor’s policy will hit families who rely on SUVs to get their kids to school or sporting carnivals and tradies and farmers who rely on utes to do their job,” Mr Pasin said.

“Labor’s proposed New Vehicle Efficiency Standard is extreme and will add thousands of dollars to the cars that Australians love and need to drive, particularly in the regions. The SUVs, utes and 4WDs that rural and regional Aussies rely on will cost more under Labor,” Mr Pasin.

“These vehicles are also the lifeblood of local car dealerships. Make no mistake, this policy will have severe economic impacts for the entire industry and consumer choice,” Mr Pasin said.

Australia’s top 3 best selling vehicles in 2023 were utes, each facing a carbon tax of $6,150 for the Ford Ranger, $2,690 for the Toyota Hi-lux and $2,030 for the Isuzu D-Max in 2025.

Australia’s top 3 best selling SUVs face a carbon tax of $2,720 for the Toyota RAV4, $3,880 for the MG ZS and $13,250 for the Toyota Landcruiser in 2025.

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds | Ph 8724 7730

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR COMMUNITY CHILD CARE FUND

February 23, 2024Media ReleasesSuzy Howell

TONY PASIN MP

MEMBER FOR BARKER

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

MEDIA RELEASE

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR COMMUNITY CHILD CARE FUND

Member for Barker, Tony Pasin MP is encouraging community childcare centres in Barker to apply for funding through the Federal Government’s Community Child Care Fund (CCCF).

Mr Pasin said the former Coalition Government established the CCCF to provide funding to regional and remote services to help them stay open and increase the number of available places.

Grant funding is available to help improve the service’s sustainability as well as capital support grants to improve existing early childhood education and care facilities.

Since 2018 the CCCF has been helping early childhood education and care services across rural, regional and remote Australia remain open, become financially sustainable and increase their capacity to offer increased services for more families.

“Accessibility of childcare is critical to regional economies. Available, affordable and reliable childcare allows families to participate in the local workforce. This perpetuates more regional jobs and growth, benefiting the whole community.”

“Families across Barker remain on long waiting lists for childcare while those able to access childcare are bracing for higher childcare fees despite the promise of ‘cheaper childcare’ under Labor,” said Mr Pasin.

“I’m encouraging existing centres across Barker to think about applying for the funding available through the CCCF to improve facilities and services that will ultimately benefit the entire local community,” Mr Pasin said.

Eligible centres are able to apply for up to $300,000 for capital works or up to $400,000 for sustainability and support.

Applications close 8 March 2024.

For more information go to www.grants.gov.au or contact Tony.Pasin.MP@aph.gov.au

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds | Ph 8724 7730

BAROSSA FARMERS MARKET GETS COOKING

February 19, 2024Media ReleasesSuzy Howell

TONY PASIN MP

MEMBER FOR BARKER

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

MEDIA RELEASE

BAROSSA FARMERS MARKET GETS COOKING

Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP has joined the Barossa community to celebrate the completion of the new demonstration kitchen at the Barossa Farmers Market.

The project received $10,000 from the former Coalition Government’s highly successful Stronger Communities Program.

Mr Pasin said the project was a great example of fostering a stronger community and building upon an already rich and renowned community culture.

“Nothing brings people together like good food and the Barossa has 180 years of history in great food that has become a cultural experience. This culture is on display at every stall holder and every dish created here in this kitchen,” Mr Pasin said.

“The Barossa Farmers Market prides itself on fostering the culture and the support offered to local producers, growers and artisans that all add to the rich sense of Barossan community.”

“The former Coalition Government focused heavily on local capacity building by targeting funding to grassroots community organisations like the Barossa Farmers Market, enabling them to improve their facilities because well maintained facilities contribute to even stronger communities,” Mr Pasin said.

Between 2016 and 2023 the former Coalition Government’s Stronger Communities Program provided small grants to community organisations and local governments for small capital projects that deliver social benefits for local communities. The Program committed funding to over 15,000 community–based projects across Australia.

Community-led projects to receive funding through the Stronger Communities program include the Barossa Valley Hockey Association Canteen ($6,000), Barossa Village Community Centre Upgrade ($10,000), Barossa Girl Guide Hall upgrades ($15,000), Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Kitchen upgrades ($8,000), Kapunda Football Club goal posts and clubroom fittings ($17,000).

“Unfortunately, the Albanese Government decided not to continue funding for the Stronger Communities Program so whilst it’s fantastic that the Barossa Famers Market was able to take advantage of this Coalition program it’s very sad those opportunities no longer exist,” Mr Pasin said.

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds | Ph: 8724 7730

LABOR SEEKS TO TAX AUSTRALIA’S FAVOURITE VEHICLES

February 18, 2024Media ReleasesSuzy Howell

TONY PASIN MP

MEMBER FOR BARKER

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

MEDIA RELEASE

LABOR SEEKS TO TAX AUSTRALIA’S FAVOURITE VEHICLES

Analysis of the Labor Government’s preferred new fuel efficiency standards shows the cost of SUVs, 4WDs and utes could increase by up to $25,000 by 2029.

Shadow Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Tony Pasin MP was joined by local vehicle industry representatives in Mount Gambier today to discuss concerns with Labor’s vehicle emissions reductions targets as outlined in the recently released National Electric Vehicle Strategy.

Under the proposal, penalties will be imposed on popular petrol, diesel and hybrid models to subsidise the cost of electric vehicles.

Mr Pasin said while everyone wants to see cleaner, more efficient cars, Labor’s proposal was too far, too fast and would decimate the Australian motor vehicle industry as we know it and reduce consumer choice.

“Labor’s policy will hit families who rely on SUVs to get their kids to school or sporting carnivals and tradies and farmers who rely on utes to do their job,” Mr Pasin said.

“These vehicles are also the lifeblood of local car dealerships. Make no mistake, this policy will have severe economic impacts for the entire industry,” Mr Pasin said.

Australia’s top 3 best selling vehicles in 2023 were utes, each facing a carbon tax of $6,150 for the Ford Ranger, $2,690 for the Toyota Hi-lux and $2,030 for the Isuzu D-Max in 2025.

Australia’s top 3 best selling SUVs face a carbon tax of $2,720 for the Toyota RAV4, $3,880 for the MG ZS and $13,250 for the Toyota Landcruiser in 2025.

OGR Dealer Principal Bryce Roberts outlined his concerns about what the policy will mean for his customers and his business.

Mr Roberts said he was concerned that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) will not have the global capacity to meet the demand sought by NVES in a small right hand drive market like Australia.

“The hard truth is that many OEM’s may not be able to meet the new NVES and with the vehicles we currently enjoy,” said Mr Roberts.

“For the policy to have its intended impact, cars that meet the policies criteria and that are appealing and affordable to consumers will need to be made available in the Australian market in the timeframe proposed which is a stretch. Furthermore, for the automotive industry to pivot so quickly will put great cost and pressure on upskilling its workforce to service and repair the new technology,” Mr Roberts said.

“and, due to production costs and supply shortages, EV’s may remain approximately 30% more expensive than internal combustion engines (ICE) vehicles, even with the new “carbon tax” included.

“When the average Australian can no longer drive where he or she wants, when they want, with who they want as we currently do, lifestyles will be impacted greatly,” Mr Roberts concluded.

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds | Ph 8724 7730

LABOR FAILS TO SKILL AUSTRALIANS

February 13, 2024Media ReleasesSuzy Howell

TONY PASIN MP

MEMBER FOR BARKER

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

MEDIA RELEASE

LABOR FAILS TO SKILL AUSTRALIANS

New data proves that despite promising to skill more Australian, Anthony Albanese’s Labor Government is overseeing a wholesale collapse in the number of apprentices and trainees in every state and in almost every electorate across the nation including in our backyard.

This new data demonstrates Labor’s much vaunted Fee-Free TAFE skills policy has comprehensively failed to maintain the number of apprentices and trainees taking up training with numbers collapsing across the country including in Barker.

After just one year of Labor the electorate of Barker has seen a 12.89 per cent decline in the number of apprentices and trainees taking up a new trade or learning a new skill. This compares with the final year of Coalition Government that saw a 27.79 per cent increase in apprentices and trainees.

Trade apprentices in-training hit record highs in the final months of the Coalition Government and as of June 2022 there were 429,000 apprentices and trainees in-training, 25 per cent more than at the same time in 2021. After just one year of Labor this number has now fallen to 377,645. That means there are over 50,000 less apprentices and trainees in training today than when Labor took office, a loss of one in ten.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin MP said Labor’s failures under Anthony Albanese would hit our local community hard.

“We have lost almost 500 apprentices and trainees taking up a new trade or learning a new skill in Labor’s first year in Barker alone,” Mr Pasin said.

“The data is clear, despite all of Labor’s promises to skill Australians their policies are failing and there are now over 50,000 less apprentices and trainees across the country today than when Labor took office.”

“The bottom line is we need more apprentices and trainees in our community not less, Labor promised they would skill more Australians, but their programs are not delivering.

“This puts Australia’s economy in a weaker position and brings into question our capacity to deliver on national priorities like AUKUS, the infrastructure pipeline and the housing we need to meet Labor’s out of control migration settings,” said Mr Pasin.

The official government data shows that in the final year of the Coalition Government in-training numbers increased in every electorate bar one, while under the first year of Labor’s skills policies the number of apprentices and trainees dropped in every electorate except four. This means under the Coalition’s final year of government apprentices and trainees increased across 99.3 per cent of electorates whereas under Labor’s first year of government numbers dropped across 97.3 per cent of electorates, a damning statistic.

Labor came to power promising it would solve skills shortages and deliver more opportunities for Australians to get into training, but the reality is they have delivered a collapse in the number of Australians taking up training.

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds | Ph: 8724 7730

THOUSANDS ATTEND RALLY AGAINST RENEWABLES

February 7, 2024Media ReleasesSuzy Howell

TONY PASIN MP

MEMBER FOR BARKER

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

MEDIA RELEASE

THOUSANDS ATTEND RALLY AGAINST RENEWABLES

Member for Barker Tony Pasin has addressed a crowd of thousands on the lawns at Parliament House in Canberra who gathered to rally against the Federal Labor Government’s reckless push for renewable energy projects at any cost.

Residents from over 50 regional communities who are directly and adversely affected by planned renewable projects rallied to call on the Government to suspend the development of wind, solar and high-voltage transmission lines in rural, regional and coastal areas of our country.

Mr Pasin attended the rally and spoke to the crowd about the Albanese Government’s proposal for an offshore renewable wind zone in the Southern Ocean.

“The Southern Rock Lobster industry employs over 1,000 people and contributes around $140 million to South Australia’s Gross State Product. The industry’s success is due to its unique environment and the stewardship of generations of fishers,” Mr Pasin said.

“To drill into a reef and pour concrete into it to erect turbines reaching 250 metres above sea level is contrary to efforts the community undertakes to protect it.

“The Labor Government are completely out of touch with rural and regional Australia. Worse still, the Minister is attempting to exploiting the fact that most of their planned renewable projects are located in or near coastal and farming communities with small populations who they think won’t be able to impact them politically. The size of the crowd on the lawns of Parliament House says otherwise.

“To disregard the voices of our farmers, our fishers and our regional communities to win the votes of inner-city electorates of Sydney and Melbourne would be a travesty against our national interest,” Mr Pasin said.

ENDS

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds | 8724 7730

MID-MURRAY COMMUNITY PROJECTS COMPLETED

January 23, 2024Media ReleasesSuzy Howell

TONY PASIN MP

MEMBER FOR BARKER

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

MEDIA RELEASE

MID-MURRAY COMMUNITY PROJECTS COMPLETED

Member for Barker, Tony Pasin MP, has joined Mid-Murray Council in celebrating the completion of works at Len White Reserve, Swan Reach and Blanchetown Old Oval Playground.

The $536,000 Len White Reserve Project upgrade included Swan Reach Riverfront Masterplan, footpath and lighting construction, Riverbank remediation design and construction and playground design and construction. The former Coalition Government contributed $224,000 to the project through round 4 of the highly successful Building Better Regions Fund.

The Building Better Regions Fund provided $1.38 billion in total to nearly 1,300 local projects to ensure our regions remain great places to live and visit, while helping support important regional industries create jobs.

The Len White Reserve toilet upgrade has also been completed, funded with $110,000 through the former Coalition Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Grant Phase 2 funding.

Local Road and Community Infrastructure Program delivered $3.25 billion to support Australian councils to deliver priority local road and community infrastructure projects in their region, creating jobs and long-lasting benefits for communities.

The Albanese Labor Government has also scrapped the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program which delivered significant benefits to local communities, particularly for improved community infrastructure, which, without this Federal Government funding, would fall into disrepair.

The Blanchetown playground project has also been completed thanks to $189,000 funding from the former Coalition Government’s Murray–Darling Basin Economic Development Program.

This project was a great collaboration between Mid Murray Council and the Blanchetown community, which saw the requests from the Blanchetown Primary School students included in the design process.

“I’m proud of the former Coalition Government legacy in the Mid-Murray. Thanks to these highly successful Federal Government funding programs, I was able to deliver the funding needed to see these projects come to fruition,” Mr Pasin said.

“Building Better Regions, the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure and Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Programs were national funding initiatives delivering at a local level here in the Mid-Murray. It’s disappointing that the Albanese Labor Government has scrapped these funding programs and failed to replace them with anything of equivalent merit for regional communities,” Mr Pasin said.

“The programs delivered vital funding to local Government that helped drive and sustain local employment, community infrastructure and the local economy. Regional Councils that are large in area but relatively small in rate base such as the Mid Murray Council (which covers an expansive 6273 square kilometres with a limited ratepayer base of around 10,000) need financial support from the Federal Government,” Mr Pasin said.

“Labor simply don’t understand the regions.”

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds | 8724 7730

LABOR BAILS OUT ON KEY REGIONAL ROAD FUNDING PROGRAMS

January 23, 2024Media ReleasesSuzy Howell

TONY PASIN MP

MEMBER FOR BARKER

SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORT

MEDIA RELEASE

LABOR BAILS OUT ON KEY REGIONAL ROAD FUNDING PROGRAMS

The Albanese Government’s scrapping of the Bridges Renewal and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programs will have dire consequences for the regional road network says Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Federal Member for Barker, Tony Pasin MP.

Mr Pasin said the Albanese Government’s decision to scrap two programs indicated a complete misunderstanding of the importance of regional road networks in supporting supply chains and driving economic growth.

“In their first 18 months in Government Labor has taken the axe to important road infrastructure projects funded through infrastructure investment pipeline such as the Truro Freight Route and now they have announced they will abolish two highly successful road safety programs specifically designed to improving first and last mile infrastructure,” Mr Pasin said.

“The Bridges Renewal and Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Programs have been critical to regional Australia, improving sections of our road network for the safe and efficient movement of goods and the safety of all road users.”

The electorate of Barker has been the beneficiary of almost $21 million in improvements through the HVSP Program and more than $31 million through the Bridges Renewal Program since 2015, bringing unquantifiable benefits to road users and the local economy*.

“The Albanese Government have shown once again that rural and regional communities like ours are out of sight, out of mind,” Mr Pasin said.

“Labor are ignorant to the importance safe and high functioning bridges and roads provide, not only to regional industries, but in delivering product to port and beyond which in turn supports national economic growth and prosperity.

“A safe, efficient, and productive supply chain has a direct impact on the cost and quality of goods. It’s in the national interest to support first and last mile infrastructure initiatives to support the freight task and accommodate growth.”

The total domestic freight task is projected to grow 26 per cent between 2020 and 2050.

“The Albanese Government have not considered the flow on effects its decision to cancel these important road programs will have on the expanding freight task, industry productivity, regional road safety and ultimately the cost of living for the consumer,” Mr Pasin said.

Labor claimed the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity and Bridges Renewal programs would be abolished and replaced with a new $200 million per year Safer Local Roads program.

However, the detailed funding data released by the Commonwealth Treasury in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) in December 2023 shows the new program actually delivers less money over the budget forward estimates than the two original funding programs.

The new Safer Local Roads program also gives no assurance that first and last mile initiatives (the majority of which are in rural and regional Australia) would be addressed as the Bridges Renewal and HVSP Programs achieved.

*projects funded in Barker since 2015 as follows:

Program	Project	Approved Australian Government Funding	Total Project Cost
Heavy Vehicle Program Ongoing	District Council of Loxton-Waikerie – Taplan Road Sealing Project	$1,056,000	$1,320,000
Heavy Vehicle Program Ongoing Tranche 3	Light Regional Council – Roseworthy Road Upgrade – Kingsford	$734,004	$917,505
Heavy Vehicle Program Ongoing Tranche 3	SA, Department for Infrastructure and Transport – Naracoorte Road Upgrade (Shoulder Sealing) – Meatworks Road to Stotts Road	$ 4,320,000	$5,400,000
Heavy Vehicle Program R4	Berri Barmera Council – Battams Rd and Old Sturt Highway, Glossop, SA, Intersection Redesign and Upgrade	$100,000	$208,708
Heavy Vehicle Program R4	Light Regional Council – Hancock and Kidman Rds Upgrades at Kapunda	$475,000	$1,316,028
Heavy Vehicle Program R4	Rural City of Murray Bridge – Road Upgrades of Cypress Terrace, Maurice Rd, Hindmarsh Rd and Old Swanport Rd	$2,462,000	$5,185,030
Heavy Vehicle Program R4	Wattle Range Council – Upgrade and Seal Coles Killanoola Rd, Penola	$377,000	$763,920
Heavy Vehicle Program R5	Light Regional Council – East Tce & Perry Road Upgrade, Kapunda	$950,000	$2,002,184
Heavy Vehicle Program R5	Naracoorte Lucindale Council/Wattle Range Council – Coles Killanoola Road Reconstruction	$395,500	$844,460
Heavy Vehicle Program R5	Kilsby Road Junctions Upgrades – Mount Gambier	$675,000	$1,490,859
Heavy Vehicle Program R5	Penola – Casterton and Tower Road Intersection	$616,227	$1,232,454
Heavy Vehicle Program R5	Reedy Creek (Palmer) Road/Wagenknecht Road Intersection	$50,000	$103,645
Heavy Vehicle Program R5	Riddoch Highway (Penola Road) intersection with Wandilo Forest Road/Ridge Road	$674,882	$1,349,764
Heavy Vehicle Program R6	Coorong District Council – Kulde Road, Tailem Bend – Widen	$532,000	$1,064,000
Heavy Vehicle Program R6	Light Regional Council – Kings Bridge Road, Bagot Well – Strengthen and Seal	$397,000	$890,943
Heavy Vehicle Program R6	Mid Murray Council – Eudunda Road, Dutton – Strengthen and widen	$725,310	$1,611,800
Heavy Vehicle Program R6	The Barossa Council – Carrara Hill Road and Stockwell Road, Nuriootpa – Intersection Upgrade	$145,509	$291,018
Heavy Vehicle Program R7	District Council of Loxton Waikerie – Loxton Waikerie National Highway intersection upgrade package, Paruna	$1,300,000	$2,600,000
Heavy Vehicle Program R7	District Council of Loxton Waikerie – Loxton Waikerie Regional Intersection upgrade package	$2,000,000	$4,250,000
Heavy Vehicle Program R7	District Council of Loxton Waikerie – Taplan Road Livestock and Grain Productivity Project, Woodleigh	$1,020,000	$2,040,000
Heavy Vehicle Program R7	Light Regional Council – East Terrace – Thiele Highway and Perry Road upgrade package, Kapunda	$1,900,000	$3,801,484
Bridges Renewal Programme R1	Tatiara Council – Winter Rd Bridge Bordertown	$90,000	$183,600
Bridges Renewal Programme R1	Light RC – Gomersal Rd Bridge, Tanunda	$48,863	$97,727
Bridges Renewal Programme R1	Naracoorte Lucindale Moy Hall Rd Bridge Culverts, Naracoorte	$146,000	$292,270
Bridges Renewal Program R2	Naracoorte Lucindale Council – Sandstone Ave/Cadgee Road Bridge Replacement	$73,000	$146,000
Bridges Renewal Program R3	SEWCDB – Moyhall Road Culvert Replacement	$157,348	$314,696
Bridges Renewal Program R3	Lyndoch Bridge Replacement	$695,000	$ 1,390,000
Bridges Renewal Program R3	Stott Highway Bridge Replacement	$556,000	$1,112,000
Bridges Renewal Program R3	Mid Murray Council – Milendella Road Bridge Replacement	$174,432	$387,626
Bridges Renewal Program R3	Mid Murray Council – Eudunda Road Bridge Replacement	$472,500	$945,000
Bridges Renewal Program R5	Light Regional Council – Gerald Roberts Road Bridge renewal, Seppeltsfield	$250,00	$566,150
Bridges Renewal Program R5	The Barossa Council – Stockwell Road Bridge renewal, Light Pass	$290,329	$580,659
Bridges Renewal Program R5	Tatiara District Council – Victoria Parade Bridge renewal, Bordertown	$210,000	$420,000

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds | 8724 7730

LETTER TO THE EDITOR – AUSTRALIA DAY

January 19, 2024Media ReleasesSuzy Howell

Dear Editor,

Australia Day is an important opportunity to celebrate our success as a nation.

Our history, like that of all nations, is complex. Whilst not losing sight of that complexity we can, and indeed should, celebrate the fact that in shaping a nation that is the envy of the world, we have together overcome, over generations, significant challenges and adversity.

Australia is a vibrant, thriving country that punches well above its weight globally because we have successfully blended our Indigenous heritage with our British inheritance and the cultures of those from the four corners of the earth that have come to call Australia home.

Australia Day is a time for all of us to pause, acknowledge our history and celebrate how lucky we are to be Australian.

I’m sick and tired of people running our nation down. I’m proud to be Australian and I’m also proud of the Australian flag and what it represents.

I hope like me the flag makes you feel a sense of gratitude for Australia, and a sense of responsibility to defend it and protect the nation it represents.

To support our flag and show pride in our nation, I have produced the ‘Together Under One Flag’ bumper sticker, which is available free to all residents in Barker. Contact my electorate office on 0887247730 or send an email Tony.Pasin.mp@aph.gov.au to request your bumper sticker and join me in celebrating pride in Australia.

Happy Australia Day!

Tony Pasin MP

Federal Member for Barker

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds | 8724 7730