Published: 10 September 2015

Media Release Thursday 10 September 2015

The government has yet another opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the
Conder Early Learning Centre’s incident where unsupervised children
swallowed sleeping tablets, Shadow Minister for Family and Community
Services Nicole Lawder said today.

“A compliance notice issued regarding the incident in July highlighted a number of
serious failures,” Ms Lawder said.

- A child was released into the care of a person without written authorisation to
collect the child.
- Medication was not stored according to centre policy.
- The notice also stated – Child enrolment forms have not been updated
regularly to incorporate new health information or authorisations.

“Parents will be pleased that the inquiry is completed although it is unfortunate that
procedures were not adequately followed in this case. The incident was frightening
for all involved and the outcomes could have been much worse.

“The ACT Childcare regulator must keep on top of these issues and ensure
compliance activities are undertaken in a timely manner. This is another
unacceptable incident for the ACT Education Minister Joy Burch to learn from.

“Parents place their trust in childcare on a daily basis. It’s imperative that everything
possible is done to ensure a safe environment for children,” Ms Lawder concluded.

Contact: Joe Prevedello 0402768432

Published: 11 August 2015

Media Release - Tuesday 11 August 2015

It’s very disappointing the proposed solar farm at Williamsdale won’t be
subject to a rigorous environmental impact statement (EIS) given the concerns
raised by residents in the area, Shadow Minister for Environment Nicole
Lawder said today.

“Residents around Williamsdale have a range of environmental concerns about the
building of a solar farm, but the government has sidelined them, exempting the
developers from the EIS process. It’s ironic that this is a development supposed to
help the environment, yet its construction will bypass the environmental planning
process,” Ms Lawder said.

“The sorts of issues which should be examined in an EIS process here include:

. The removal of between 100 and 200 yellow box gums.
. The impact on a glossy black cockatoo colony living in the area, which is likely
to be affected by the felling of native trees.
. The fact that yellow box trees provide a rich nectar source for the threatened
regent honeyeater, an ACT endangered species.
. Reports of asbestos dumps in the area.

“Residents and stakeholder groups like the ACT Conservation Council have valid
concerns. The government seems to be obsessed with protecting the environment
through the promotion of renewable energy technology. However, strangely there
doesn’t seem to be the same concern for the natural environment around the
proposed solar farm,” Ms Lawder concluded.

Contact: Joe Prevedello 0402768432

Published: 12 August 2015

Media Release - Wednesday 12 August 2015

The Barr government’s plan to relocate public housing tenants away from
the proposed light rail route is demeaning and damaging to those families
who will struggle to access transport, Shadow Minister for Housing Nicole
Lawder said today.

“It is insulting and hypocritical that the government will not allow public housing
tenants to benefit from light rail, by moving them away from the Northbourne
Avenue corridor,” Ms Lawder said.

“Rather than using light rail to socially support these tenants, light rail will be the
policy that forces their eviction. These tenants along the Northbourne corridor
currently have access to the most frequent buses in Canberra, now they’ll be
even further marginalised on transport.

“Tenants will be relocated to places of transport disadvantage many kilometres
away from Northbourne Avenue. The so called salt and pepper approach is only
an excuse to move people away from transport and services to free up land for
light rail.

“It is tragic that Minister Yvette Berry is presiding over a public housing policy
that actively creates social isolation and transport disadvantage,” Ms Lawder
concluded.

Contact: Joe Prevedello 0402768432

Published: 08 August 2015

The ACT Government is planning to commit over $783,000,000 on the Light Rail line from Gungahlin Town Centre to the City.

Do you agree with this proposal? Or, do you think there are more important projects that could use a share of this figure?

Here is your opportunity to put your views forward and have your say on Light Rail.

Visit http://www.lightrailcanberra.com/.