MEDIA RELEASE 8 MARCH 2024
BELCO PARTY CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELOCATION OF act POLICING TEMPORARY ‘FRONT OFFICE’ AT THE JESC
The Belco Party are calling for the ACT Government to immediately relocate ACT Policing from the temporary ‘front office’ at the front of the Gungahlin Joint Emergency Service Centre (JESC).
“The fact that this and relocating the bulk of Gungahlin’s policing resources to Belconnen are the options that the ACT Government and ACT Policing have come up with following the closure of the JESC, is pitiful” former ACT Policing Detective Sergeant and Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi Jason Taylor said. “The truck that is being utilised is great as a command centre for major incidents and events, but it is not appropriate to be used for the purpose of a front office”.
“Today I attended the location myself and spoke with a number of ACT Policing members, including a number of my former colleagues” Mr Taylor stated. “They have expressed several issues directly with me, in regard to lack of facilities (a portaloo was delivered whilst I was present), nowhere to speak in private with members of the public who want to report sensitive matters and the like”.
“I also observed a number of significant officer safety concerns which further highlighted the inadequacy of this option, no matter how temporary” Mr Taylor said. “There is no physical barrier between the police members and the public that attends the location, there is grossly inadequate CCTV coverage resulting in several blind spots, and there is no emergency exit- heaven forbid something serious happens whilst members are inside. This alone should cause this facility to be closed immediately”.
“We at the Belco Party are also disappointed with the choice of the former Traffic Operations Centre in Belconnen as the location to rehouse the bulk of Gungahlin’s policing resources” Mr Taylor stated. “Notwithstanding the previous workplace safety issues there, it is over 20 kilometres from there to Bonner at the far north of the Gungahlin district. Given this distance and the existing restrictions the AFP has placed on its members in regard to urgent duty driving and it’s clear that response times will be impacted”.
“The ACT Government and ACT Policing need to explain why these are the solutions that they have come up with, and why other more obvious examples haven’t been explored” Mr Taylor said. “For instance, why weren’t Gungahlin members moved to the Exhibit Management Centre in Mitchell? And why not have a temporary facility at the Access Canberra building in the Gungahlin Town Centre operate as a front office. Anything is better than what they have actually done”.
“As per usual this Greens/Labor government waits until something breaks and puts a band-aid on it, and as per usual it’s the community that ultimately suffers”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact: Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 18 FEBRUARY 2024
ELECTION COMMITMENT - BELCO PARTY COMMITS TO CHIC HENRY INTERNATIONAL MOTORSPORT AND DRIVER TRAINING FACILITY
“The Belco Party are announcing that we are committed to delivering a dedicated motorsport and driver training facility for the ACT” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi Jason Taylor said. “It is something that has been spoken about for decades and is something a lot of Canberrans that we have been speaking with want to see delivered”.
“It has been suggested to me that this facility be named after Canberra icon and Summernats founder Chic Henry and be called the ‘Chic Henry International motorsport and driver taining facility’” Mr Taylor stated. “To me this suggestion is a no brainer, as it will appropriately honor the legacy of a man who gave so much to the motorsport and car enthusiast community specifically and the ACT community more broadly. The name will instantly be recognisable and something I know he would be humbled by and his family supports”.
“Motorsport is a billion dollar industry in Australia, and it is a slice of the pie that Canberra misses out on given our lack of an appropriate facility, and it’s difficult to rationalise why this occurs” Mr Taylor said. “You only have to look at the success of Summernats to realise that people, not just Canberrans love their cars and motorsport”.
“Summernats has also shown us that we have a thriving performance vehicle community in the ACT and surrounds, many of whom I’ve met with, with the overwhelming majority expressing their disappointment that they are forced to travel to Sydney or resort to informal meets in carparks to showcase their vehicles” Mr Taylor stated. “There is a significant amount of financial benefit to the ACT that we are simply letting go elsewhere because this Greens/Labor Government hates cars”.
“The recent ACT Legislative Assembly inquiry into dangerous driving has made it abundantly clear that we have a massive issue on our roads, and the approach to dealing with this is as I’ve said; is extremely complex and muti-faceted” Mr Taylor said. “But one thing we need to do and do now is give people an option to take themselves off public roads and blow off some steam in a controlled and safe environment. An approach that has been proven to work both here in Australia and internationally”.
“The Belco Party will push for an overhaul of the ACT learner and probationary licensing requirements, with advanced and defensive driver training being put at the heart of it” Mr Taylor said. “We want our next generation of drivers to be properly trained and truly appreciate the responsibility of driving on our roads. This can only be achieved by ensuring driver training encompasses elements of losing control of a vehicle in a safe and controlled environment”.
“As a former police sergeant, I have seen more than my fair share of the results of accidents. From minor bingles to death, I have seen the lot” Mr Taylor said. “Road trauma is complex and multi-faceted, but one thing I can tell you for a fact is that we will never enforce our way into solving it”.
“Many instances I was involved in were the result of drivers having no idea about their capability as a driver and just how quickly they can lose control of a vehicle” Mr Taylor stated. “I can use myself as an example, as it wasn’t until I did my driver training as a police recruit that I came to recognise my limitations. A car is a weapon, and if improperly wielded it can have disastrous consequences”.
“A motorsport and driver training facility encompassing a track, skid pan, drag strip and associated facilities makes sense and is something many Canberrans want to see” Mr Taylor stated. “It will allow this facility to be available 365 days a year and provide the opportunity for the ACT to become a motorsport hub for not only the region, but the country”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 13 NOVEMBER 2023
BELCO PARTY CONDEMNS GREENS PARTY HANDLING OF ACCUSATIONS INTO ALLEGED CONDUT OF JOHNATHAN DAVIS
The Belco Party condemns the actions of the ACT Greens in relation to their handling of the accusations into the alleged behaviour of former member for Brindabella, Johnathan Davis.
“These revelations are without doubt some of most concerning allegations into the conduct of a sitting member of the ACT Parliament that I can remember” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi and former AFP Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “The information provided by the Greens in relation to their so called ‘investigation’ into this conduct has raised far more questions than answers”.
“Information provided thus far both by the ACT Greens and also within media reporting is of great concern” Mr Taylor stated. “In particular, as a former Police Detective, I am extremely concerned about allegations that Mr Davis encouraged a 17 year old to send him explicit images. It is illegal under Commonwealth legislation to both possess an explicit image of a child and procure a child to produce an explicit image- a 17 year old is a child”.
“If these images were indeed sent, the ACT Greens, in particular the Attorney-General’s assertion that to their knowledge nothing illegal occurred is concerning and false. Frankly, I’d expect the first law officer of the ACT to know this” Mr Taylor said. “If what has been reported is correct, simply put, it is child exploitation. In this the 5th year since the national apology to survivors of institutionalised abuse, and the establishment of the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, to have an elected official allegedly behave in this manner is distressing”.
“Media reporting that both Minister Davidson and Minister Rattenbury’s Chief of Staff knew about these allegations over a week before they allegedly informed him is of deep concern” Mr Taylor stated. “Whilst they may have not had a legal obligation to report these matters to police, the ACT community rightly expects our elected officials to behave to a high moral standard. Perhaps the law needs to be amended so that elected officials are mandatory reporters of child abuse”.
“The reported delay by a minister in notifying this matter to the party’s leader, and that leaders subsequent delay in reporting this matter to police until approached by the media is nothing short of disgraceful” Mr Taylor said. “Minister Davidson needs to answer questions as to whether she has put her friendship with a fellow MLA, ahead of her moral obligation to the community and her expected behaviour as a minister”.
“It stinks of a party circling the wagons and it is not good enough”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 29 AUGUST 2023
BELCO PARTY CONDEMNS SENTENCE OF MAN FOUND GUILTY OF ATTEMPTING TO SET POLICE OFFICER ON FIRE
The Belco Party condemns the recent Magistrates Court decision of John William Nocen, who was convicted to time served for assaulting an ACT Policing member by attempting to set him on fire.
“It’s an absolutely disgraceful decision” Belco Party law and order spokesperson and former Detective Sergeant of the AFP Jason Taylor said. “A two-year good behavior order for this type of offence is simply not good enough”.
“For somebody to be assaulted in this manner for simply doing their job is egregious and is something that shouldn’t be tolerated by our community” Mr Taylor stated. “This decision must be appealed by the DPP”.
“The Belco Party applauds the bravery of Constable Michael Keck, not only for his actions during the incident, but also for his willingness to read his victim impact statement himself during sentencing” Mr Taylor said. “I know from experience how difficult an experience it is. To then have his experience disregarded by the Court in the manner it was is infuriating”.
“The silence on this and the many other matters of assaults and pathetic Court outcomes regarding assaults on Police from the Commissioner of the AFP and the Chief Police Officer are deafening” Mr Taylor stated. “If this incident had occurred anywhere else in Australia you can guarantee that we’d have heard from the Commissioner of those services. I’ve written to both men expressing my concerns and seeking answers as to their silence”.
“The ACT Courts and the ACT Government continue to let ACT Policing down badly and it is to the detriment of the entire community” Mr Taylor said. “We must protect our protectors”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 29 AUGUST 2023
BELCO PARTY CONCERNED BY IMPACTS OF ACT GOVERNMENT’S ILLICIT DRUG REFORMS - VOWS TO REPEAL THEM IF ELECTED
The Belco Party has expressed its concerns regarding the impacts of the soon to be legalised illicit drug reforms of the ACT Government.
“This legislation is ill conceived and will be poorly implemented” Belco Party law and order spokesman and former AFP Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “The fact it was introduced and rammed through via a government backbencher without an elected mandate is shameful”.
“Putting aside the protestations and simply baffling explanations of the Health Minister that the Government had a mandate in light of her embarrassing comments about this legislation being introduced by stealth as have been reported” Mr Taylor stated. “The actual detail of this legislation doesn’t pass muster”.
“The amounts of illicit drugs that have been included as ‘personal use’ under the legislation are truly baffling” Mr Taylor said. “The only reason I can see for it is the Government supporting consumerism by allowing people to purchase in bulk, otherwise it makes no sense- the only thing the Government did right in this instance was reject the proposals put forward by the Greens which would have increased these amounts significantly”.
“The claims from this Government that illicit drug use will be treated as a health issue and dealt with via therapeutic treatment is flawed and according to this legislation false” Mr Taylor stated. “We have the worst performing health care system in the country that is not equipped to deal with it, and the Government’s own claims that people will be diverted to drug counselling is misleading- only ONE session of diversionary counselling is mandatory”.
“The ultimate aim of a harm minimisation approach to illicit drugs should be to address an individual’s drug use with the view of getting them off them” Mr Taylor said. “Nothing in this legislation will address this”.
“Treating all drug use as recreational is wrong. There is no such thing as a recreational heroin or ice user” Mr Taylor stated. “This Greens/Labor Government have yet again demonstrated that they don’t actually care about anything other than their desire to be the most ‘progressive’ government in the country and Canberrans will continue to suffer as a result”.
“If elected as part of a strong and effective cross-bench at the 2024 ACT Election the Belco Party will seek to have this legislation repealed” Mr Taylor said. “We will then seek to implement and fund a sensible and reasoned approach to illicit drug reform, not a measure that has put the ACT on a pathway to being the narco tourism capital of Australia”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 17 AUGUST 2023
BELCO PARTY DISMAYED BY IMPACT OF PANSW INDUSTRIAL ACTION ON ACT COMMUNITY - CALL ON ACT AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO DO MORE
The Belco Party is dismayed by the recent announcement from the Police Association of New South Wales (PANSW) that they have escalated their industrial action to severely limit cooperation with the AFP.
“Whilst the Belco Party supports the PANSW in its industrial action to obtain a fair outcome for its members” Belco Party law and order spokesman and former AFP Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “We are concerned at the potential impacts this action will have on the ACT community the longer this drags on”.
“I’m pleased to hear from the PANSW that they will respond to life threatening incidents, there are however, a large number of functions that are ordinarily carried out by NSW Police members that will now have to be done by ACT Policing members” Mr Taylor stated. “This places an additional burden on the already thinly stretched and over worked police service of the ACT”.
“It’s important to note that whilst some ACT Policing members who are special constables of NSW can perform a number of functions across the border, there are many that they cannot” Mr Taylor said. “A particular issue relates to extra-territorial search warrants, as there are roles relating to the conduct of a search warrant in NSW can only be done by members of NSW Police”.
“This will inevitably have an adverse impact on the conduct of criminal investigations and therefore the administration of justice in the ACT” Mr Taylor stated. “There is a very real potential that people who commit crimes in the ACT and flee across the border will go unpunished, as evidence that would ordinarily be obtained will be lost”.
“The responses we have seen from our Federal and Territory politicians thus far is nothing short of disappointing” Mr Taylor said. “Mick Gentleman should be doing a lot more than being ‘quite concerned’ and questioning the lawfulness of the industrial action. He should be on the front foot with not only his counterpart in NSW, but also the president of the PANSW, to secure an exemption for ACT Policing from this action. My understanding is that NSW Police are still operating as per usual with their counterparts in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia”.
“The silence from Senator Gallagher is deafening” Mr Taylor stated. “As the Finance Minister she is no doubt heavily involved in this matter, but she should not forget that her first duty is to her constituents as a Senator for the ACT. She should either publicly advise the people of the ACT that this situation will be resolved swiftly, or she should remove herself from any cabinet discussions on it and join Mr Gentleman in efforts to have ACT Policing exempted from PANSW’s industrial action”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 26 JUNE 2023
BELCO PARTY SUPPORTS CALLS FROM THE ACT COMMUNITY FOR A REVIEW INTO THE KANGAROO CULL
The Belco Party supports calls from ACT community group “Save Canberra’s Kangaroos” for a stop to the ACT’s annual cull of kangaroos.
“This ACT Greens/Labor government has been needlessly slaughtering Eastern Grey kangaroos for over a decade” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi Jason Taylor said. “They claim that kangaroos are of pest proportions within the ACT, and that they are endangering other species and ecosystems. Recent research conducted by “Save Canberra’s Kangaroos” clearly contradicts these claims”.
“Among other things, the government's methods of counting kangaroos have been shown to be unreliable by biostatistician Ms Claire Galea, who specialises in the investigation of population time trends” Mr Taylor stated. “There is insufficient data to provide any reliable population estimates and therefore subsequent quotas for kangaroos to be culled in the ACT”.
“Earlier this year, I was the principal petitioner for a petition calling for an independent investigation into this cull” Mr Taylor said. “I am eagerly awaiting a response from the Minister in relation to this given that she has been conspicuously silent on this program, instead relying on a public servant to justify the government’s position”.
“It is impossible to have any confidence in the population estimates provided, or that the subsequent quotas earmarked for destruction do not pose a significant threat to kangaroo populations across the ACT” Mr Taylor stated. “The ACT government must conduct an independent review into the management of kangaroos immediately, and until the results of this review are made available, the culling of this beautiful, native species must be brought to a halt”.
“I’d have thought that the Greens would be more vocal about this issue” Mr Taylor said. “But as we’ve seen over the last decade, they are more than willing to sacrifice their principles when it suits them”.
This ACT Greens/Labor government is seemingly content with wiping out one of our longest surviving native animals and one half of the animals on our coat of arms which is an absolute disgrace.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 19 JUNE 2023
BELCO PARTY RENEWS CALLS A PROPER INVESTMENT INTO ACT POLICING-REJECTS CLAIMS THE ACT GOVERNMENT IS STORONGLY INVESTING IN POLICE
The Belco Party has rubbished claims from the ACT Government that funding for ACT Policing in the upcoming budget is a ‘strong investment’.
“25 police officers a year for the next five years is nothing” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi and former Detective Sergeant of the AFP Jason Taylor said. “That’s one recruit course a year. It’s the equivalent of using a piece of twine to fix a broken leg”.
“125 new police over this period barely scratches the surface of what is actually needed” Mr Taylor stated. “For reasons only known to itself, the AFP is sitting on two independent reports that this Greens/Labor Government have seen that call for a lot more members than this”.
“If the AFP Commissioner is fair dinkum about the welfare of his members, he should release these reports and press both the Commonwealth and ACT governments to act on the recommendations” Mr Taylor said. “Particularly around staffing and resources. I know that one of these reports recommends 100 additional police as a matter of urgency. That must be the starting point”.
“As for funding for ‘feasibility studies’ into improved facilities, what more is needed?” Mr Taylor stated. “CPO Justine Saunders led the Police Services Model which the Government has patted themselves repeatedly on the back for, which covered this ground”.
This ACT Government has repeatedly committed funds in consecutive budgets to such ‘feasibility studies’” Mr Taylor said. “What are the outcomes of these? Why will more rate payer funds be spent by this Government on what they have already been told repeatedly?”.
“The solution is clear. ACT Policing needs more boots on the ground, better and more facilities. The lack of action from this Greens/Labor Government is both predictable and disgraceful. They have shown time and again that they simply don’t like the police” Mr Taylor stated. “This is not an issue of resource management as I’ve seen some people state. It is a fact that the ACT has the lowest number of police per capita in the country, and that their numbers have remained stagnant for well over a decade, whilst the population has risen significantly”.
“It’s time for the Government to address these issues before it reaches breaking point, not after. It is clear that this point is not far off”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 6 JUNE 2023
BELCO PARTY RENEWS CALLS FOR MORE NUMBERS FOR ACT POLICING
The Belco Party has renewed its calls for the ACT Government to urgently address the inadequacy of police numbers in the ACT, following the results of an AFPA member survey.
“The results of this member survey are yet more evidence of how critically under resourced ACT Policing is” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi and former Detective Sergeant of the AFP Jason Taylor said. “It’s time for this Greens/Labor government to show some leadership, stop the spin and do something about it”.
“Amongst the areas of greatest concern to the Belco Party, are the results that show only 36 percent of police rate their mental health as ‘good’, whilst 17 per cent of members are considering leaving the organisation” Mr Taylor stated. “These numbers are troubling for a workforce that is already at breaking point. It’s not just me saying this, the Chief Police Officer has spoken about the negative impact under resourcing is having on his members”.
“It’s also troubling that 70 per cent of officers are doing overtime so they don’t leave their workmates under staffed or under resourced” My Taylor stated. “It’s an appalling example of how the Government relies on the good will of a workforce to cover up for what is simply a contemptuous, neglectful attitude to an organisation”.
“I can tell you from experience that police accept that some overtime is part of the job” Mr Taylor said. “However, overtime in these circumstances is unsafe for the police and the community. I can state for a fact that when I was a patrol sergeant, I could not always fill shifts when I was under staffed”.
“This is not an issue of resource management as I’ve seen some people state” Mr Taylor stated. “It is a fact that the ACT has the lowest number of police per capita in the country, and that their numbers have remained stagnant for well over a decade, whilst the population has risen significantly”.
“The solution is clear. ACT Policing needs more boots on the ground. The government is in receipt of two independent reports into this issue. One of which we know recommends 100 additional police officers urgently” Mr Taylor said. “The lack of action from this Greens/Labor Government is both predictable and disgraceful. They have shown time and again that they simply don’t like the police”.
“It’s time for the Government to address this issue before it reaches breaking point, not after. The results of this survey and public comments from the CPO are indicating that this point is not far off”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 20 MARCH 2023
BELCO PARTY SUPPORTS CALLS FOR POLICING NUMBERS AND RESOURCES IN GUNGAHLIN TO BE ADDRESSED
The Belco Party backs calls from the Gungahlin Community Council with its petition urging the ACT Government to urgently address policing resources and facilities in Gungahlin.
“This is a matter of utmost importance to the people of Yerrabi” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi and former Detective Sergeant Jason said. “The policing resources for the fastest growing region of the ACT are grossly inadequate, and have been for years”.
“To refer to the facilities ACT Policing occupy at the JESC as a ‘police station’ is generous at best and laughable at worst. It’s nothing more than an office” Mr Taylor stated. “I know this for a fact as I’ve worked at this facility as a patrol sergeant running an incredibly understaffed team myself. The facilities haven’t been fit for purpose for a long, long time”.
“The Officer-In-Charge of Gungahlin Station has publicly stated that even if he was to receive more police officers, he doesn’t have the space to put them anywhere” Mr Taylor said. “This is a dire situation. Yet this Greens/Labor Government continues to tell the community they are addressing the situation. Perhaps if we had a minister in Yerrabi matters like this would be adequately addressed”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact:
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 9 MARCH 2023
BELCO PARTY SUPPORTS CASEY RESIDENTS IN THEIR OPPOSITION TO HIGHRISE DEVELOPMENT IN THEIR SUBURB
The Belco Party supports local Casey residents in their opposition to a development application for one 13 storey and two 11 storey high rise buildings on Kingsland Parade.
“I have discussed this issue at length with a number of residents of Casey and surrounding suburbs” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi Jason Taylor said. “They don’t want a development of this size”.
“Notwithstanding it simply doesn’t match the aesthetics of the area” Mr Taylor stated. “The big issue is that critical infrastructure in this area, in particular, parking, local roads and public transport is simply inadequate”.
“A development of this size will only exacerbate this issue” Mr Taylor said. “Anyone who has attempted to navigate the local area during peak times can tell you that it is a nightmare”.
“The manner in which this application has been communicated to the local residents has also been appalling” Mr Taylor stated. “My understanding is that no consultation in relation to a proposed development and potential options was made with locals prior to the development application being made. The first local residents knew of anything was when the development application for the high rise dwellings was made public”.
“We at the Belco Party are not opposed to housing developments, and the locals I have spoken with feel the same. To the contrary in fact. We believe that more needs to be done as we are clearly in a housing crisis” Mr Taylor said. “However, simply building high rise dwellings in areas where the infrastructure is not in place to support them is not the solution. The sensible thing would have been to adequately address the infrastructure issues before an application such as this would ever be considered”.
“It’s yet another example of how this Greens/Labor Government puts the cart before the horse regarding policy to address issues in the ACT”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
Phil Essam (Casey Region Residents Action Group): 0409261714
MEDIA RELEASE 20 FEBRUARY 2023
BELCO PARTY RENEWS CALLS FOR AN URGENT REVIEW INTO THE ACT JUSTICE SYSTEM
The Belco Party has once again renewed its call for the ACT Government to urgently announce a review into ACT Justice system.
“We’ve seen another week with yet more examples of a bail and sentencing regime that is failing to meet the communities expectations” Belco Party candidate and former AFP Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “Enough is enough”.
“We’ve seen a teen arrested for a FOURTH time in SEVEN weeks for breaching bail by committing yet more serious offences, a male already on bail arrested for 17 offences, and a male convicted of string of serious offences including a violent carjacking sentenced to a 15 month intensive corrections order” Mr Taylor stated. “This is more evidence that this ACT judiciary is continuing to put the ACT community at risk thanks to its inadequate sentencing and bail outcomes”.
“Over four months ago the Attorney-General announced a Law and Sentencing Advisory Council that will apparently be looking into issues such as the examples above” Mr Taylor said. “Since the announcement there has been nothing further- it’s yet another example of misdirection from a Government that is all fluff and no substance”.
“A full and independent review is needed as it will allow for matters such as sentencing, bail, funding, education, the legislative reform process etc. to be looked into, issues identified, and recommendations on addressing these issues made” Mr Taylor stated. “This will give the ACT Government a blueprint to administer effective, meaningful justice reform. This is in the best interests of the ACT community”.
“It’s time for this Greens/Labor government to show some real leadership and initiate a review as a matter of urgency” Mr Taylor said. “They can no longer continue to put their ideological viewpoint ahead of the best interests of the ACT community”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 14 FEBRUARY 2023
BELCO PARTY THROWS ITS SUPPORT BEHIND THE “HEART TO HEART WALK”
The Belco Party has been honoured to attend today’s launch of the “Heart to Heart Walk” at Parliament House and hosted by Senator for the ACT David Pocock.
“This is such an important initiative aimed at raising awareness of the toll the job can have on the mental health and wellbeing of all first responders in Australia” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi and former AFP Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “As a survivor with lived experience of PTSD I know all too well the psychological and physical impacts working in emergency services can have on a person”.
“The fact remains that in this country when compared to other citizens, first responders are twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts and three times as likely to have a plan for completion, as well as being SIX times more likely to experience the symptoms of PTSD” Mr Taylor stated. “These figures are heart breaking when you view them in terms of the impact just doing your job is having on people who just want to make the community a better and safer place”.
“We at the Belco Party are calling on Federal Parliament to urgently enact all of the recommendations from the 2019 Australian Senate Inquiry Report into First Responder suicide, PTSD, and premature mortality” Mr Taylor stated. “In particular, urgently ensuring the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 is amended to make compensation claims for Police and emergency service workers presumptive- so that these fine men and women do not have to fight for the help that they deserve”.
“The significance of these changes are of major significance to Police and Emergency Service workers in the ACT as this legislation covers all of them” Mr Taylor stated. “Parliamentarians enact legislation that puts these men and women in harms way- it is therefore incumbent upon them to step up and do the right thing when the job causes harm”.
“As someone who has been through this process I can assure you that it is combative and re-traumatising” Mr Taylor said. “And I’m considered one of the “lucky” ones as I was able to use one single traumatic event to have my claim approved. This is not the case for the majority of sufferers- this is a disgraceful state of affairs”.
“It’s time to protect the protectors”.
MEDIA Contact:
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
EXTRACT - MEDIA RELEASE :
Urgent action needed on Senate Inquiry into first
responder mental health
New charity event launched to raise funds for research and services that
support Australia’s everyday heroes
CANBERRA, 14 February 2023: A new charity walk raising awareness and funds for first responder
mental health research and initiatives has been officially launched this morning at a special event
hosted by Senator David Pocock at Parliament House.
The Heart 2 Heart Walk is a 3,000km challenge linking Lambert Centre of Australia in the Northern
Territory (Heart of Country) to Australia’s Parliament House in Canberra (Heart of Nation), aiming to
draw attention to challenges around first responder mental health and wellbeing.
First responders are twice as likely to report suicidal thoughts, three times more likely to have a plan
for completion, and six times more likely to experience symptoms of PTSD (for those who had
worked more than 10 years in the role).
Despite these shocking figures, there has been little or no progress to any of the recommendations
from the 2019 Australian Senate Inquiry into first responder suicide, PTSD, and premature mortality.
The Heart 2 Heart Foundation, who are organising the walk, is appealing for urgent action on the
Senate Inquiry recommendations, including a national action plan on first responder mental health,
a national register of health professionals who specialise in first responder mental health, and
mental health support services for retired first responders as well as their families.
Keynote speakers at the launch event – including Senator Anne Urquart, Attorney General The Hon
Mark Dreyfuss KC MP, Admiral (Ret’d) Chris Barrie AC, Allan Sparkes CV OAM, and Professor Nicole
Sadler AM CSC – expressed disappointment at the lack of progress to better support first
responders.
Chair of the Heart 2 Heart Foundation, Vince Pannell APM, said: “The Heart 2 Heart journey is more
than just a walk; it’s our commitment to fighting for better mental health services for all Australian
first responders and their families. We need to ensure these ordinary people, who do extraordinary
things protecting, saving, caring and rescuing the community, day in day out, receive the support
they need.”
The Heart 2 Heart Walk’s first Platinum Sponsor is Police Bank, who have been part of getting this
walk to reality from the start, providing the original seed funding last year. Another recent Platinum
Sponsor is The Australian Federal Police Association, who continue to provide strong support to the
walk planning group. The current Gold Sponsors include Raytheon Australia, Chelsea Wealth, David
Healey Solicitors, Holan Group, The Experience Collectors and Torode Solutions. Silver Sponsors
include the NT Police Association, Australian Paramedics Association, the ACT Government and the
Rolfe Family.
CEO of Police Bank, Greg McKenna, said: “As a member-owned bank, part of Police Bank’s purpose is
to give back to our community and there really isn’t a more important cause than supporting the
mental health of our first responders. We’re proud to be the major sponsor of the Heart 2 Heart Walk, working to achieve better outcomes for our police, paramedics, firies, and frontline
emergency services.”
[INSERT MORE QUOTES IF NEEDED]
Walkers undertaking the long-distance journey will depart from the Northern Territory on 1 July
2023 and arrive back at Parliament House on 28 September 2023.
For further information or to register interest as a walker or sponsor, please visit
www.heart2heartwalk.org
For interview requests, images, or further media enquiries please contact:
Vince Pannell APM – 0408 686 711
Paul Milne – 0402 687 331
heart2heartwalk@gmail.com
www.heart2heartwalk.org
MEDIA RELEASE 10 FEBRUARY 2023
BELCO PARTY CALLS ON ACT GOVERNMENT TO DO MORE TO ADDRESS THE MENTAL HEALTH OF IT’S POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICE WORKERS
The Belco Party is calling for the ACT Government to do more to address the mental health of the ACT’s first responders, following debate around Police numbers including its impact on the mental health of Police during debate in the Legislative Assembly yesterday.
“The mental health of our emergency service workers is at crisis point” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi and former Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “More action needs to be taken and now”.
“Our Police, Ambo’s and Firies are struggling” Mr Taylor stated. “They are overworked and stressed- this is an unacceptable situation”.
“The CPO of ACT Policing has to his credit put the mental health of his staff front and centre” Mr Taylor said. “They are not on their own given the information from people connected to emergency service areas have relayed to me. They have been flogged over last two years with no end in sight”.
“This Government appears to only pretend to care about the mental health of its emergency service personnel” Mr Taylor stated. “The Minister for Police and Emergency Services wrote to me in December of 2021 telling me that he would work to ensure that PTSD claims for ambulance and fire service officers that are covered by the ACT Government insurer, would have their claims approved presumptively, and he would write to his federal counterparts to agitate for the same for ACT Policing. My understanding is that these have been done, but it’s an important matter that warrants confirmation from the Minister- if this is indeed the case, I am surprised that he failed to raise this during the debate”.
“The Mental Health Minister contributed to the debate by not once acknowledging the mental health issue to Police that was raised” Mr Taylor stated. “She spent the bulk of her time talking about other matters she is addressing as a Minister. However well-intentioned she believed herself to be, if she was not prepared to address what she is doing in her role as the mental health minister to address the mental health of Police and Emergency Service workers- she was better off saying nothing at all”.
“It’s another clear example of poor performance from a Minister who is out of their depth”.
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MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
Mick Gentleman MLA
Manager of Government Business
Minister for Planning and Land Management
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Minister for Corrections
Minister for Industrial Relations and Workplace Safety
Member for Brindabella ACT
Mr Jason Taylor
j_tay1982@outlook.com
Dear Mr Taylor
Thank you for your recent correspondence to the Chief Minister regarding the need for presumptive legislation for mental injuries for current and former AFP members seeking a claim through Comcare. I am responding as this matter falls within my portfolio responsibility as Minister for Police and Emergency Services.
I would like to begin by thanking you for the opportunity to meet earlier this month. I appreciate your feedback and look forward to continuing to work with you on the important reforms we discussed.
The welfare of our first responders remains at the forefront of my work as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. It is important that we have laws that support those on the frontline to carry out their jobs effectively. In performing their duties, frontline responders put themselves in harm’s way to keep our community safe.
I am conscious that our police officers, firefighters and paramedics are routinely exposed to
traumatic events in the course of their duties. They are engaging with members of our community who may be experiencing the worst or most vulnerable moments of their lives. Research has indicated that cumulative exposure to traumatic incidents has the potential to increase the risk
factors for psychological injury. The operational requirement to work a rotating roster of day and night shifts also has an impact on the mental wellbeing of members.
The sooner we can start the recovery process, the sooner we can have people back at work and limit the impact on family and friends. The ACT Government believes that we shouldn’t be making first responders jump through hoops and paperwork to prove that their post-traumatic stress disorder arose helping their communities. We should presume it does.
As you know, the workers compensation law that would need to change to achieve this for police and first responders sits with the Commonwealth Government. However, because the ACT Government now underwrites its own claims, I am working to make changes for first responders employed by the ACT Government to presume PTSD relates to their work.
This will mean that if an ACT Government first responder claims workers compensation for PTSD, our insurer will presume that the illness was caused by their work. This will make claiming easier and faster for first responders and is an important first step in getting the help that is needed to start the recovery process.
Given that the AFP falls under the responsibility of the Commonwealth, these administrative changes unfortunately will not extend to ACT Policing members.
I have written to the Minister for Industrial Relations, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash and Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, requesting the Commonwealth’s support to amend the existing workers compensation legislative arrangements to deliver better mental health and wellbeing of first responders. I have requested that the Commonwealth amend existing workers compensation legislation to add a presumption in favour of first responders’ compensation claims for PTSD, including for members of the Australian Federal Police.
I will continue to lobby for these reforms to help better protect our frontline responders on the job and to further strengthen supports for those who have been injured at work where possible.
I look forward to working with you to bring about these important changes and will continue to keep you updated as these reforms progress.
Thank you again for bringing this issue to my attention.
Yours sincerely
Mick Gentleman MLA
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
MEDIA RELEASE 6 FEBRUARY 2023
BELCO PARTY RENEWS ITS CALL FOR A FULL AND INDEPENDENT REVIEW INTO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
The Belco Party looks on with dismay at yet another example of the ACT’s broken justice system on full display with the arrest of eight recidivist juvenile offenders on Friday.
“We at the Belco Party are reiterating our call for a full and independent review of the ACT Justice system” Belco party spokesman for law and order and former AFP Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor stated. “These incidents are yet more evidence that the system is broken and needs to be reviewed urgently”.
“The fact that two of the offenders where released on bail a week ago shows a complete lack of regard for the law and blatant contempt for the community” Mr Taylor stated. “With one of the offenders being 13- it makes a mockery of the Attorney-General’s justification for raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 being ‘we don’t want to see kids locked up for stealing chocolate bars’. These are serious and dangerous offences that the community needs to be protected from”.
“As the first law officer for the ACT, the Attorney-General is obliged to address these issues” Mr Taylor said. “An independent review of the entire justice system is necessary, the evidence to justify one continues to mount, yet this Greens/Labor government continues to ignore it”.
“A full and independent review will allow for matters such as sentencing, bail, funding, education, the legislative reform process etc. to be looked into, issues identified, and recommendations on addressing these issues made” Mr Taylor stated. “This will give the ACT Government a blueprint to administer effective, meaningful justice reform. This is in the best interests of the ACT community”.
“It’s time for this Greens/Labor government to show some real leadership and initiate a review as a matter of urgency” Mr Taylor said. “They can no longer continue to put their ideological viewpoint ahead of the best interests of the ACT community”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 6 FEBRUARY 2023
BELCO PARTY CALLS FOR INCREASED GOVERNMENT SPENDING FOR FRONTLINE FAMILY VIOLENCE SERVICES
The Belco Party praises ACT Policing Detectives for their relentless dedication to duty following the arrest of male for the alleged murder of his partner on Thursday.
“The alleged facts of this case are obviously devasting, and my heart goes out to the victim’s family and friends” Belco Party Law and Order spokesman and former Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “We at the Belco Party would like to thank ACT Policing for what was clearly a determined and relentless investigation over many months”.
“This is yet another tragic example of family violence in our community” Mr Taylor stated. “The fact remains, one woman a week and one male a month will die at the hands of a current or former partner in this country. This is a tragic figure”.
“As a former police officer, I know all too well the prevalence of this insidious criminal behaviour, and its impact upon the victims, including their children” Mr Taylor said. “We as a community need to be doing all we can to put a stop to it”.
“Federal and State/Territory governments must do more to tackle family violence in our community” Mr Taylor stated. “We’ve had many billions invested into family violence over the years in this country, with very little to show for it. My question is, where is this money going?”.
“Here in the ACT we have a number of exceptional frontline family violence support agencies, who work hard providing counselling, legal advice/support, crisis accommodation, education- the list of support is endless” Mr Taylor said. “Yet many of these agencies are understaffed and under resourced and rely heavily on donations from the community to survive”.
“We don’t need another government funded thinktank, working group or research paper to tell us what we already know- there is a family violence epidemic in this country” Mr Taylor stated. “It’s time for a proper audit of government spending in relation to family violence, as well as a significant allocation of spending being provided to frontline support services who provide the most support and have the biggest impact”.
“It’s incumbent on all governments to do everything they can to protect the most vulnerable members of the community”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 2 FEBRUARY 2023
BELCO PARTY WELCOMES APPOINTMENT OF HEAD OF BOARD OF INQUIRY IN R V LEHRMANN- CALLS FOR DIRECTOR DPP AND VICTIMS OF CRIME COMMISSIONER TO BE STOOD DOWN
The Belco Party welcomes the appointment of former Queensland Justice Walter Soronoff KC as head into the independent inquiry into the matter of R v Lehrmann.
“We called for this inquiry to be led by a former Justice from another jurisdiction with no ties to the ACT legal fraternity” Belco Party law and order spokesman and former Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “Mr Soronoff KC is a highly regarded former Justice from Queensland who is eminently qualified to lead this inquiry. It’s a very good appointment”.
“We are concerned that the terms of reference do not seem to include the actions of the Attorney-General and his office, as well as the conduct of a number of federal Ministers” Mr Taylor stated. “Given the nature of this matter, it is imperative that this inquiry examines the actions of these parties, to ensure that this matter remained free of political interference”.
“Given that the conduct of the Director of the DPP and the Victims of Crime Commissioner, both during the investigation and post-trial, is under scrutiny, they both must stand-down until the inquiry is finalised and a report is delivered to the Chief Minister” Mr Taylor said. “If Mr Drumgold and Ms Yates won’t stand down of their own volition, then it is incumbent on the Attorney-General to put them on ‘gardening leave’”.
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MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 1 FEBRUARY 2023
BELCO PARTY RENEWS CALLS FOR ACT GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS INSUFFICIENT POLICE NUMBERS
The Belco Party again calls on the Greens/Labor Government to urgently address the inadequate number of police in the Territory following the latest Report on Government Services.
“We are again calling on this Government to pull it’s finger out and address the appalling staffing level of ACT Policing” Belco Party Law and Order spokesman and former Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “This is not something new, this has been an issue for over a decade”.
“The spin that this Government continues to put on this data to justify it’s under investment in ACT Policing has got to stop” Mr Taylor stated. “It’s continued head in the sand approach is getting old”.
“Having worked in ACT Policing for 14 years I know for a fact how understaffed they have been for a long time” Mr Taylor stated. “The ROGS data shows that this has continued since I left”.
“It is important to know the distinction between sworn police, operational police, and operational police in operational roles” Mr Taylor said. “Once you peel back the layers of this onion the numbers of boots on the ground are further diminished. It simply isn’t good enough”.
“The complete disregard of the impacts of this under investment in the mental health of ACT Policing members by Minister Gentleman is disgraceful” Mr Taylor stated. “He should be ashamed of himself, although its not the first time that he has let Police and Emergency Service members down in his role as minister”.
“It’s time to stop the spin and rhetoric and give the ACT community what it deserves, a well-staffed, well-resourced and well-funded police force”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 1 FEBRUARY 2023
BELCO PARTY OUTRAGED AT RECENT SENTENCE HANDED DOWN FOR ASSAULTING A POLICE OFFICER
The Belco Party are outraged by the recent decision of an ACT Magistrate to only fine a man for assaulting a police officer.
“This decision is appalling” Belco Party Law and Order spokesman and former Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “A six hundred dollar fine for assaulting a police officer and possessing a knife is frankly ridiculous. Add to that the fact this individual was in Canberra as part of the “cooker” protests and the decision becomes ludicrous”.
“What message does this decision send to the community of the ACT, and importantly, what message does this send to the fine men and women of ACT Policing?” Mr Taylor stated. “From where I’m sitting the message is clear that the ACT judiciary do not care about the safety and welfare of ACT Policing”.
“More worryingly, the message that this decision sends to like minded people to this individual is dangerous” Mr Taylor said. “These people demonstrated a complete lack of regard and respect for the police during these protests”.
“By reducing what are serious offences to the status of minor offending that can be dealt with by way of a fine will do nothing to deter this behaviour” Mr Taylor stated. “It will in fact embolden it”.
“It is yet another example of the judiciary failing in its job” Mr Taylor said. “This is why we need an independent inquiry into the ACT justice system so that we can bring all the issues to light and the ACT Government can move forward in addressing them. It’s what the ACT community deserve”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 10 JANUARY 2023
BELCO PARTY CALLS ON POLICE NUMBERS TO BE INCREASED FOLLOWING SUMMERNATS ISSUES
The Belco Party is calling for the Greens/Labor Government to urgently address the inadequacy of current Police numbers in the ACT following the issues relating to Summernats over the weekend.
“The Belco Party are extremely dismayed to hear reports regarding ACT Policing having to divert its finite resources from the frontline to manage the crowd issues created by Summernats 35 over the weekend” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi and former AFP Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “The consequences of the poor management and planning of this event should not be foisted onto ACT Policing to deal with to the detriment of it serving the ACT community”.
“It’s more good luck than good management that something life threatening didn’t occur during the period that these resources were required to be diverted to deal with issues that should have been handled by adequate security arrangements” Mr Taylor stated. “It’s incumbent on the Government to ensure that robust and direct conversations are held with event organisers to ensure that this does not occur in the future”.
“This is yet another example in recent times as to how under resourced ACT Policing are” Mr Taylor said. “Over the last three years we’ve had the bushfires, the Covid pandemic, the “cooker” protestors and now this, where the fine members of ACT Policing have been required to go above and beyond due to the inadequacy of their numbers”.
“It’s time for the Government to address this issue before it reaches breaking point” Mr Taylor stated. “Not after, that will be far too late”.
MEDIA Contact:
Jason Taylor 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 4 JANUARY 2023
BELCO PARTY RENEWS CALLS ON ATTORNEY-GENERAL TO COMMISSION A REVIEW INTO THE JUSTICE SYSTEM
The Belco Party are again calling on this Greens/Labor Government and in particular the Chief Minister and Attorney-General to commission a review into the justice system.
“Not with-standing the mountain of evidence that currently exists to justify this review” Belco Party law and order spokesperson and former AFP Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor said. “In less than a fortnight we have seen several incidents involving individuals who are on bail or community-based orders arrested for allegedly committing serious offences”.
“We have seen 19 incidents of aggravated burglary on businesses in my electorate of Yerrabi where businesses have been broken into and damaged significantly by young offenders, one of whom was out on bail already” Mr Taylor stated. “These businesses are owned by honest and hardworking Canberrans who are now counting the cost of this damage- perhaps Mr Barr and Mr Rattenbury would like to come and help with the clean-up and lost business?”.
“We’ve also seen incidents with individuals allegedly committing offences that could have had incredibly tragic consequences” Mr Taylor said. “Similar incidents in other jurisdictions during this period actually have resulted in the loss of life”.
“I wish I could say that that shouldn’t be the case here before action is taken” Mr Taylor stated. “But it already has. It’s time for the Government to put the community first, not its own ideological position”.
“We at the Belco Party want a review as it will provide a strong blue-print for justice reform in the ACT going forward” Mr Taylor said. “The ACT community deserves this”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 8 DECEMBER 2022
BELCO PARTY RENEWS ITS CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW INTO THE ACT JUSTICE SYSTEM
The Belco Party notes with concern the recent media reporting attributed to the Director of the
ACT DPP and the response from the AFPA in relation to the conduct of an investigation into a high-profile matter (we will not comment directly on this matter).
“We at the Belco Party are reiterating our call for a full and independent review of the ACT Justice system” Belco party spokesman for law and order and former AFP Detective Sergeant Jason Taylor stated. “It is a matter of great concern to see untested allegations of misconduct aired by the Director of the ACT DPP have become the subject of a call for a public inquiry into one, singular incident”.
“How can the ACT community have trust in the justice system if our two main investigative authorities in ACT Policing and the DPP appear to be at odds with each other?” Mr Taylor said. “It’s a matter of immense concern”.
“The Belco Party has long been calling for a full, and comprehensive review of the entire justice system in the ACT for some time” Mr Taylor said. “If we are going to have a public inquiry, lets go the whole shebang, this will allow for a comprehensive blueprint for the justice reform to be developed for the ACT”.
****ENDS****
MEDIA Contact
Jason TAYLOR: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 5 DECEMBER 2022
BELCO PARTY WELCOMES ACT LIBERALS LIGHT RAIL DECISION
The Belco Party welcomes today’s announcement from the Canberra Liberals that they do not support stage 2 of the light rail.
“We at the Belco Party have been steadfast in our opposition to the expansion of the light rail in the ACT” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi Jason Taylor stated. “We are pleased to see the ACT opposition announced their position, a position we announced some time ago”.
“The light rail expansion is an unnecessary capital spend given the current environment” Mr Taylor stated. “We at the Belco Party firmly believe that the light rail is a can have rather than a must have infrastructure project. We simply cannot afford it”.
“We have a hospital system that is on its knees, the most under paid, under resourced and understaffed Police force in the country, a road system that is in such a state of disarray it is laughed about- the list goes on and on” Mr Taylor stated. “Critical infrastructure spends such as these are far more important and are where the rates of ACT residents must be spent”.
“Not only this, but we fail to see how pouring millions of tons of concrete, ripping trees up along Commonwealth and Adelaide Avenue’s and ripping up kilometres of road to lay the track for this tram is in the best interests of the environment” Mr Taylor said. “Far cheaper and environmentally friendly transport options already exist- we should be investing in them”.
“Let’s not forget that the next stage of light rail has NO business case, NO environmental impact statement and NO approval as to how it will actually go through the parliamentary precinct to Woden” Mr Taylor stated. “We actually have no idea of far too many aspects of this project, yet this Greens/Labor government is committed to it no matter the cost”.
“The question that needs to be asked is why?” Mr Taylor said. “Why is this Government committed to placing an economic noose around the neck of the ACT to pursue this RED elephant?”.
*****ENDS*****
MEDIA Contact
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 23 NOVEMBER 2022
BELCO PARTY SUPPORTS ACT GOVERNMENT’S INTRODUCTION OF LAWS TO TARGET SPEEDING AND DANGEROUS DRIVING
“The Belco Party welcomes the ACT Government’s introduction of laws introduced to the Assembly to target excessive speeding and dangerous driving in the ACT” Belco Party law and order spokesman Jason Taylor said.
“These laws are LONG overdue and are a practical and effective first step to combat dangerous driving on our roads” Mr Taylor a former Detective Sergeant of the AFP stated. “If passed, we will finally be in lock step with similar laws that exist in other jurisdictions”.
“These laws will provide ACT Policing members with necessary and effective weapons to effectively target dangerous driving in the ACT and get these hoons off our roads” Mr Taylor said “This will help our Police protect the community from people who have no place driving on our roads”.
“We acknowledge that this Bill has been referred to committee for review and we eagerly await the outcome of this review. We at the Belco Party would like to congratulate the ACT Government and Minister Steel for taking this long overdue step to protecting the community”. Mr Taylor said. “We encourage them to keep going with law reform in this space”.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
MEDIA RELEASE 23 NOVEMBER 2022
BELCO PARTY WELCOMES CALLS FROM THE CANBERRA LIBERALS FOR FEDERAL ROAD FUNDING TO BE REINSTATED
“The Belco Party welcomes calls from the Canberra Liberals calling for the reinstatement of $85.9 million in critical road infrastructure that has been axed in the recent Federal budget” Belco Party candidate for Yerrabi Jason Taylor has said.
“We are disappointed that the Greens/Labor Government has not supported this call, and instead taken the opportunity to label these projects as “pork barreling”, whilst accepting the reallocation of these funds to stage 2A of the light rail”. Mr Taylor stated. “The Minister responsible for our roads, Minister Steel, has previously stated that an upgrade to Parkes Way was a priority. I again ask the Minister, why not ask for the funds to be reallocated to this upgrade instead of the tram?”.
“The Belco Party are also disappointed that the Canberra Liberals have not taken the opportunity to outline their plans for the future of light rail” Mr Taylor said. “As they are the alternative Government for the ACT we welcome clarification of their position.”
“The Belco Party reiterates that if elected in the 2024 election as part of a strong and effective crossbench, we will postpone stage 2 and beyond of the light rail, and instead have these funds reallocated to necessary infrastructure and projects that will benefit the ACT”. Mr Taylor said “The expansion of the light rail system is an unnecessary vanity project. It’s a RED elephant that this community cannot afford”.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Jason Taylor: 0407827080
CAN THE TRAM 16 November 2022
BELCO PARTY POLICY IS TO ‘CAN THE TRAM’
"I was recently asked what was the Belco Party's policy in relation to the Tram".
Belco Party convenor Bill Stefaniak said
"Let me be quite clear. Canberra cannot afford this unnecessary vanity project”.
"I understand over $3 billion has now been flagged for stage 2A and B. That money needs to be spent on our ailing health system, on our roads fixing up the pot holes, on our neglected urban infrastructure, on our suburban areas and playing fields, on children’s and local sport and education opportunities, on ensuring we have enough Police out there to protect the community. All of these things are more important than a tram to Woden that will take twice as long as the bus, consume copious quantities of greenhouse gases whilst it is being constructed in terms of making and laying the concrete and tracks and be heavily subsidised to boot. New electric buses are 10 times cheaper, faster, more environmentally friendly and won't bankrupt the ACT " Mr Stefaniak said.
"We cannot stop the rape of Capital Hill and the likely extension to the lake before the next election, but we sure as hell can stop this waste of money on the next stage of going across the lake and going on to Woden after cutting down all the beautiful old trees along Commonwealth Avenue”.
"The ACT needs to look at the best ways we can advance public transport in this city in line with the 21 Century not the 19th.", Mr Stefaniak said
That is the Belco Party policy. We oppose stage 2 of the tram to Woden and we would encourage other nongovernment parties and any independents thinking of standing in 2024 to come out and also oppose it. Our health system and ACT policing are much more vital priorities than this quaint, hugely expensive red elephant ". Mr Stefaniak said
ENDS
Contact Bill Stefaniak
0420 300 807
Vale Shirley Stefaniak - 10 October 2022
Shirley Ann Stefaniak, 22 August 1944 – 4 October 2022
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Shirley Stefaniak.
Beloved wife of our convenor, Bill Stefaniak. Mother and mother-in-law of Paddy and Don, Colleen and Han, John and Claire, Joe (dec), Lucy and Bailey.
Shirley was a lovely person, who generously donated her time and effort as secretary of the Belco Party in the early days of its inception. She took an active interest in local and federal politics, and of the broader community.
After a bout of illness, Shirley suffered a stroke in early September and eventually passed away on 4 October 2022.
Our deepest condolences go out to Bill and his family at this very difficult time.
Shirley will be missed.
Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Shirley will be celebrated at St Christopher’s Cathedral, Franklin Street, Manuka on Friday 14 October 2022,
commencing at 10:00am. Burial will follow at Woden Cemetery.
MEDIA RELEASE 2 SEPTEMBER 2022
BELCO PARTY BACKS AFPA IN SPIT HOOD ROW
The Belco party fully backs the AFPA calls to allow police to retain the use of "spit hoods" in the ACT. Belco Party convenor and former AG, Police minister and ex prosecutor Bill Stefaniak said today.
"Spitting on a fellow human being is one of the most degrading, disgusting and potentially dangerous activities any person can inflict on another. It cannot be justified in any circumstance and it beggars belief that supposedly intelligent people can excuse it and oppose reasonable steps such as Police using spit hoods to protect Police officers from such vile acts.
I agree with the AFPA that Green's proponent of the proposed ban and the Human Rights Commissioner, who seems to support it, spend a week with Police on the beat to see what our underresouced police force have to put up with on the streets of Canberra.
I pose this question to the 6 Green members of the Assembly, and the Human Rights commissioner; how would you like to have some person spit a big blob of saliva and/or blood in your face - especially if that person had a disease - which would then subject you to up to 6 months of blood tests just to see you had not been infected? . .
The Greens and the HRC talk about the human rights of criminals who spit at police. What about the human rights of Police not to be spat at in the first place?
The Belco Party urges the Greens Labor comrades to immediately put a stop to this nonsense of a ban and come out strongly in favour of the continuation of the AFP using spit hoods. Over to you, Police Minister Mick Gentleman.
If spit hoods are banned by the Greens and their labor allies, the Belco Party, which intends to contest the next territory election will, if it gets a seat/s, introduce a bill to overturn the ban and legalize their use once again”. Mr Stefaniak said
Contact Bill Stefaniak
0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 16 AUGUST 2022
HOW ABOUT A SPARE TYRE FOR YOUR ELECTRIC CARS MR TESLA!!
"I was bringing my dogs back from Nowra last week when about 25 km out of Nowra on the Nerriga road on the way to Tarago I stopped to help a distraught tesla driver who had broken down.
No, he had not run out of electricity but he had a flat tyre after hitting a big pothole. He had no spare tyre - apparently the new electric cars don't come with them. " Belco Party Sport and recreation spokesman and founding member Alan Tutt said.
" He could not get phone service and I had to go to the top of a hill to be able to ring for help. I rang numerous tyre shops in Nowra, Braidwood, Bowral, Mittagong, Goulburn and Sydney and finally had to ring Tesla who then promised to send someone to rescue him and transport him and his car (by way of tow truck) back to Nowra where they put him up in a hotel for 2 nights until they could get a spare wheel and tyre out to him.
The implications to the proposal of only electric vehicles being made available to ACT residents by 2030 would mean that families could be left stranded for days on end, losing income and costing more dollars in being away from home.
It is clear that not all Australian roads are ready for electric cars which brings up so many more issues. Firstly - a lot of work still needs to be done with phone reception across Australia, especially in rural area. Secondly, the roads need to be maintained in a timelier manner, not only on our rural roads but in general as there are currently major potholes visible in the ACT and thirdly Mr Tesla, there are obviously a few teething problems with your new electric cars, but I would have thought providing a spare tyre was pretty basic and would have saved you a lot of time effort and money in this instance."
CONTACT Alan Tutt - 0414 447 128
MEDIA RELEASE 12 JULY 2022
ACT gov't upgrades of NW Belconnen - Belco party campaign to save the Recycling facility successful.
“The Belco party is delighted that the long-running campaign by it, led by the exuberant and effervescent Alan Tutt has finally succeeded. The much used and loved West Belconnen recycling centre will, as suggested all along, be moved to Stockdill Road in West Belconnen”. Belco Party convenor Bill Stefaniak has said.
"It's Great to see the Belco party campaign of petitions and pushing this issue before the last local elections has finally paid off. It was crazy of the ACT government to try to close the green waste disposal tip in the first place and typical of the local Watermelons ( ie the Greens ) for not objecting to its closure in the first place. It's good to see common sense finally prevail and see the community listened to”. Mr Tutt said
The Belco party also welcomes the 3 new bridges to be built over Ginninderra Creek in Umbagong Park Latham and the new paving at the Charnwood shops and upgrades of the Kippax shops.
"I just hope this government will now save the 2 ovals due to close behind the Kippax shops as well as just upgrading the Kippax centre. It's not smart to build on a floodplain as has been proposed, and West Belconnen residents have been fighting to retain the two ovals for years now.” Mr Tutt said.
"The Belco Party is not going away and will continue to fight for necessary community facilities to be built, or as sometimes is the case, saved from ill thought out proposed developments” Messers Tutt and Stefaniak said.
Alan Tutt 0414 447 128
Bill Stefaniak 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 30 JUNE 2022
Statement on the Thoroughbred Racing Industry Memorandum of Understanding with ACT Government
Belco Party spokesperson, Greg Burke, has today welcomed the renewed MoU between the ACT
Government and the Thoroughbred Racing Industry.
“Racing is an extremely important industry which employs over 450 people in Canberra alone. All of those
people can today rest assured they will have a job tomorrow. This also indirectly affects a large number of
others such as farriers and feed suppliers in the region. We thank Mr Barr for honouring his election
promise.
However, it is very disappointing to see that the industry is still missing out on a fair portion of the Point of
Consumption tax. According to the government’s own budget estimates, revenue raised through wagering
will bring in between $17m and $20m per year over the next 3 years. That equates to between $90m and
$100m over the term of the MoU. Not one cent of this revenue is returned to the racing industry in the
ACT. The ACT Government also returns the lowest amount of funding to the Industry of any jurisdiction in
Australia.
It is also important to note that a portion of the sale price of the ACTTAB to TABCORP, by the ACT
Government in 2014, was promised to the Racing Industry but was never delivered. It is our understanding
that a substantial amount of this money was used to help fund stage 1 of the light rail” Mr Burke has said.
MEDIA RELEASE 17 JUNE 2022
MEDIA ALERT BELCO PARTY PRESENTS ANTI DRUGS PETITION TO ASSEMBLY
TIME: FRIDAY 17 JUNE AT ACT Legislative Assembly
Over the last few months, the Belco Party has been gathering signatures of Canberra residents concerned about ALP backbencher Michael Pettersons drug bill which will decriminalise hard drugs like ice and heroin in the territory. Today - Friday 17 June these will be presented to the Assembly courtesy of Jeremey Hansen who has kindly agreed to sponsor the petition.
"This is a self-indulgent, decadent bill that, far from helping drug users, will create more of them as it gives a green light to potential users to take up drug use. Other places overseas (including various US states have found this out the hard way. In California 40 % of the population want to move because of relaxed drug laws. In Ohio before hard drugs were decriminalized there were less than 250 deaths a year from overdoses. After that state introduced a similar bill, the number rose to over 600 per annum'. This bill will almost certainly lead to more deaths and more drug fueled crime in Canberra "Belco convenor Bill Stefainak said
"Where are the educational programs which were meant to go with this bill and where are the clauses to ensure people go to rehabilitation. Where are the programs they can go to? Mr Stefaniak said
Belco party member Alan Tutt said " I was at my doctors the other day and he said to me this bill will just create more drug addicts. It will do nothing to help the problem, just make it worse and he said the local medical profession were not in favour of it. I say to the assembly, please don't pass it "
Belco member Nikolai Jermolajew, a father of 3 young children said " I have been told by Police that they dread this bill coming into effect. Their job is hard enough now, they are under-resourced and they know this will just encourage dealers to be more active. Police divert people to rehab already. Police say this bill is unnecessary and their chief of police has said it will lead to Narco tourism. I ask the ACT government why don't you listen to professionals who know what is happening out there on the street in real life "
Belco convenor Bill Stefaniak suggested the government needed to ditch the bill and just amend the current Act by putting in a clause that compels police to divert offenders to a drug rehab program and also insert a clause forcing the government to run anti-drug campaigns in schools and in the media like the very successful anti-smoking campaigns we have seen and are currently seeing. Oh, and while they are at it, make sure there are actually some drug rehab programs available addicts can go to in the first place.
Alan Tutt, Bill Stefaniak and Nikolai Jermolajew will be available at 10am outside the Assembly for interview
MEDIA contact
Bill Stefaniak Mb:0420 300 870 email: billstefaniak4@gmail.com
MEDIA RELEASE 11 JUNE 2022
Rubbish Bins
The trial reduction of rubbish removal services by the ACT Greens/Labor government needs to be stopped and reversed before it is thrust upon the rest of Canberra. Minister Chris Steel and others have made the assumption that handing out green-lidded wheelie bins for food and garden waste will mean that Canberrans won’t need their rubbish picked up weekly anymore, and that a fortnightly service will be enough.
“Guess what, It won’t” Belco Party Urban Services spokesman Nikolai Jermolajew
Families have been struggling with overflowing rubbish bins in the trial suburbs for months now. The lucky ones who live next door to a smaller household have been sharing bin space. Some have been hauling their rubbish to a bin at their workplace. The unlucky ones just have to live with their bags of rubbish until the fortnightly service comes by.
What is the solution to this? Well the government says you can upgrade your bin from 140L to 240L for $60 per year. Or you can get an additional 140L bin for $90 per year. Or you can get an additional 240L Bin for $120 per year. Add a $57 delivery fee to any of those options too.
Add to this that there is no apparent date for when this trial will end. So the trial suburbs of Cook, Belconnen, Macquarie and Bruce remain in limbo while the rest of Canberra may have this sprung on them at any time.
Minister Steel, what is the date the trial will end?
There is nothing wrong with the FOGO idea. But there is plenty wrong with reducing our services and wanting to charge us more for it. We can have FOGO and weekly rubbish collection. Please give us back the service which our rates pay for.
CONTACT:
Nikolai Jermolajew – 0424 567 656
MEDIA RELEASE 16 MARCH 2022
BELCO PARTY EXECUTIVE TO OPEN THEIR HOMES TO UKRAINIAN REFUGEES - CALLS ON ALL ACTLA, SENATE, HOUSE OF REPS MEMBERS AND ALL ACT CANDIDATES FOR THE UPCOMING FEDERAL ELECTION TO DO THE SAME
" Do you know why there are no refugee camps in Poland despite the fact that there are now 1.5 million Ukrainian refugees there? Well, it's because ordinary Polish citizens are welcoming them into their homes. We should do the same here in Canberra." Former ACT Opposition Leader and Convenor of the Belco Party Bill Stefaniak said today
"To this end the Belco Party executive has decided to put its money where its mouth is and throw open our homes to refugees from Ukraine. We have 5 people on our executive, that’s 5 homes to help 5 families.
"As one of our executive is also President of Greyhounds ACT who have a perfectly good race track with great facilities run for community benefit in Symonston, several families can also be put up there too if need be.
" I call on all current MLAs in our legislative Assembly, our 5 Federal Reps and all nominated candidates for the upcoming federal election in the ACT to do the same. Throw open your homes for these most deserving and desperate people ". Mr Stefaniak said
The Belco Party is working with Father Michael Solomko, parish priest at the Ukrainian church in Turner, to make sure this happens.
Father Michael is keen for any support he can get and I would like to see ordinary kind Canberra citizens who have a house or unit with some spare rooms to volunteer to take in a family of Ukrainian refugees at least on an interim basis. Father Michael can explain the details further " Mr Stefaniak said
MEDIA contact
Bill Stefaniak Mb:0420 300 870 email: billstefaniak4@gmail.com
(THE BECLO PARTY EXECUTIVE AND FATHER SOLOMKO WILL BE AT THE UKRAINIAN CHURCH MacKay gardens Turner tomorrow, thursday 17 march at 10 am .to announce this initiative)
MEDIA RELEASE 4 JANUARY 2022
DISASTROUS STORM HITS NORTH CANBERRA WITH PLANNED CLOSURE FOR BELCONNEN GREEN WASTE
The Belco Party fought hard, collecting thousands of names to stop the closure of the Belconnen Green Waste facility in late 2021 which has not yet passed but at this stage been given a reprieve on a month-by-month basis. Imagine the disastrous affects for the residents of Belconnen if the Government had gone ahead with the planned closure of the Green Waste facility in Belconnen in December 2021.
Today there are lines of cars waiting to get into the Green Waste facility (that would have been closed if not for the efforts of many) to get rid of the countless fallen trees and green waste debris after the storm that hit North Canberra late yesterday afternoon, with the hardest hit of all being the Belconnen region. The Belco Party, the voice for the people will Keep up the fight to ensure the closure of this facility does not go ahead.
CONTACT: Alan Tutt M: 0414 447 128
Angela Lount M: 0427 539 615
MEDIA RELEASE 18 OCTOBER 2021
THE FUTURE OF RACING IN THE ACT
Former Jockey and Gunners Branch President of the Belco Party, Greg Burke, said today that he holds great fears for horse racing at thoroughbred park, the principal racing club in the ACT.
“Thoroughbred Park is a shadow of its former self and horse racing has been declining for a decade or so in the ACT due to government neglect.” Mr Burke said
“Currently the trainers in the ACT must pay approx. 10 times more in insurance fees compared to their counterpart across the border in NSW. I can’t see trainers surviving in the ACT, unless the Labor/Green Government will about face and value racing higher than what they do at the moment. The insurance premiums paid by the ACT trainers place them at a signficant disadvantage compared to their peers over the border in NSW” Mr Burke said
“Just 15 years ago the then Labor government had a dedicated minister for racing, Ted Quinlan, who was also deputy Chief minister and loved all sport. We had a racing industry development fund which guaranteed horse racing 75% going towards the development of the industry in the ACT with no impact to the tax payer.” Mr Burke said
“All this has now ended. The last Rattenbury /Barr government passed new laws in the legislative assembly to prohibit the racing of greyhounds in the ACT in April 2018. The Greens, last December, attempted to ban horse racing grossly slandered the racing industry accusing it of links to organised crime. This was done under parliamentary privilege and was a disgusting slur on the many fine people who have been involved in horse racing in the ACT over the years.” Mr Burke said
The Labor/Green government has said it will stand by its MOU (Memorandum Of Understanding) with the industry on June 22 next year (2022) when it expires, and what then? Will it agree with its Green mates to destroy racing in the ACT? an industry that employs 440 people and brings about $54 million a year to the ACT.
Any attempt to destroy horse racing in the ACT would be disastrous for ACT Labor/Green Government and it won’t sit well federally either. Racing is the third biggest industry and the fourth and fifth biggest employer in Australia. There is an opportunity for our Labor/Green government to show case our wonderful racing industry to the world. Whilst ACT Labor have largely abandoned their working-class roots by getting into bed with the ACT Greens.
“Whilst racing NSW minister Kevin Anderson is proactive and can see the massive marketing opportunities presented and in conjunction with the board of Racing NSW, propelling the industry in a viable position, always invigorating and looking at opportunities of selling the industry and show casing the industry worldwide” Mr Burke said
“It’s time the Labor/Green government in the ACT address the exorbitant insurance premiums to the trainers to guarantee all remaining racing to the ACT. This will further create employment, grow the economy and many hundreds of people involved in the industry will be able to breathe a sigh of relief with confidence, instead of currently sitting in extreme uncertain times.” Mr Burke said
CONTACT: Greg Burke - 0407 708 003
MEDIA RELEASE 7 OCTOBER 2021
REJECT THE DRUG DECRIMINALIZATION BILL. REHABILITATION/EDUCATION NOT DRUG FREE FOR ALL.
The recent controversy over ACT water skiing legend, Dick Caters murderer's sentence, after an ice-fuelled attack that left Dick, aged 83, dead and 3 others seriously injured, together with the shocking multiple deaths in Darwin from a similar Drug-fueled attack (this time with a firearm), has again raised the question of why on earth is the ACT Green/ALP government trying to make possession of a quantity of ice that will provide 20 hits - enough to send a person on a 2 to 3 day bender - an offence that only carries a $100 infringement notice fine.
"That's 3 times less than the $301 an otherwise law-abiding citizen has to pay for going 46 kph in the new civic 40 kph zones. I 'm sure most Canberrans know which is the more serious offence!!! Belco Party spokesman Nikolai Jermolajew said
The bill before the Assembly doesn't have anything in it about rehabilitation and/or educating people not to take drugs in the first place. It just creates a new $100 infringement notice for possession of a wide range of dangerous illicit drugs and gets rid of any criminal sanction.
This bill must be stopped the Belco Party does not mind if persons caught possessing small quantities of drugs are sent to a drug rehabilitation centre instead of going to court and we certainly want to see a very prominent education campaign to stop people using drugs in the first place, but this current bill is just madness. It will encourage young people especially, to try these dreadful deadly drugs.
If it is not stopped or at the very least seriously amended, more people will die in the ACT as result
The Belco party has launched an online petition to stop this bill as currently drafted passing into law.
This petition of certain residents of the Australian Capital Territory draws to the attention of the Assembly that:
1) There is a bill before the assembly to decrimialise small quantities of hard drugs, namely; ice, heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines.
2) Your petitioners fear that this bill, as currently worded will lead to an increase in hard drug use, especially by young people
Your petitioners therefore request the Assembly to not proceed with this bill and if it is brought on for debate vote against it and instead improve rehabilitation facilities for drug users and fund a comprehensive education campaign to warn people, especially young people of the dangers involved in taking illicit drugs.
If you would like to sign it, please go to Petition · DO NOT DECRIMINALISE HARD DRUGS IN THE ACT · Change.org
The Belco Party hopes to have this petition tabled in the Assembly in late October/ early November before the bill is debated and passed into law. Mr Jermolajew said
CONTACT:
Nikolai Jermolajew: 0424 567 656
MEDIA RELEASE 26 AUGUST 2021
BELCO PARTY OFFERS SOLUTION TO ALP PRIVATE MEMBERS DRUG BILL
"If the Local Labor/Green government are fair dinkum in wanting to stop people being prosecuted and going to Jail (not that anyone does) for possession of a small quantity of hard drugs, then all they need to do is make a few small amendments to the current Act. Belco Party Convenor and former ACT Attorney General Bill Stefaniak said today
"All that is need is for the Current Drugs of Dependence Act to be amended and a clause inserted giving Police a formal discretion to issue a notice to direct the offender to an approved drug rehabilitation program in lieu of attending court. The only offence that needs to be added is one to cover the situation if a person ignored the notice to go to rehab.
"The only time a person would have to go to court would be if they did not obey the written direction”
"As the current Drugs of Dependence Act contains a number of penalties of a maximum fine of 50 penalty units and /or a maximum of 2 years imprisonment for other transgressions, a penalty in that amount should be applied only if a person does not obey the written direction to a rehab program", Mr Stefaniak said.
The aims of the proposed legislation are thus achieved (decriminalising possession of drugs for personal use) and what actually usually happens in real life is legislated formally to make clear the government's intent.
" The only other thing that needs doing is to add in further clauses to cover the rehabilitation programs and also to legislate for a compulsory education campaign educating people as to the dangers of taking hard drugs.”
"Currently there is nothing in the proposed legislation about rehab programs or any education campaigns.”
"All the bill does at present is to legislate to decriminalize the possession of a number of categories of hard drugs and impose a fine of $100 in lieu - The local ALP/Green government, with its new fine of $301 for going more than 40 kph through Civic is sending the message that its 3 times more serious going 46 kph in the Civic 40 kph zone than possessing 20 hits of ice that can send the user on a 3 day bender.
"Over to you Assembly members". Mr Stefaniak said
CONTACT: Bill Stefaniak M 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 21 JULY 2021
THANKS FOR THE REPRIEVE MR BARR- NOW CONFIRM A NEW GREEN WASTE RECYCLING CENTRE for WEST BELCONNEN
Belco party members Alan Tutt and Angela Lount, whilst happy the West Belconnen Green Waste recycling facility has had a reprieve and will continue to operate on a month-to-month basis, today expressed concerns that it still might close soon.
"Last year in June upon hearing the facility was set to close, in 2021 when the current lease on the site expired, I went up to the site and was assured that at least a transfer facility for green waste would continue on site. A big sign at the entrance to the facility was later put up (I think as a result of the Belco Party pushing for the site to remain) saying the site was to stay open. That sign is still there (see photo attached)
"In an effort to force the government to keep the site open the Belco party, presented a petition in September last year to the Assembly, signed by over 1,500 local residents, calling for the site to stay open until a new facility could be built and up and running in West Belconnen.”
"Imagine our surprise when in the first half of this year, not only did the transfer station not eventuate, but the Green /Labor government closed the whole site down. Despite the big sign out the front saying it was still open.
"What happened to our petition? Why did the Green members of the government allow the whole site to close?" Mr Tutt said.
“After further outrage from the community and another on line petition organised by Liberal Member Peter Cain, the government has now at least allowed the site to stay open, but only on a month-to-month basis.” Mr Tutt and Ms Lount said
"Why do the local Greens seem to be so keen to close this site? You would think they of all people would be into recycling but apparently not." Ms Lount said.
"The Belco Party calls on the Greens and Labor members for Ginninderra (Belconnen) to ensure their government now commits to keeping the recycled waste facility open until such time as a new site can be found in West Belconnen to replace it.
“They have a chance to get it right this time and we in the Belco Party will not let up on this until they do.” Ms lount and Mr Tutt said.
Contact: Alan Tutt 0414 447 128, or
Angela Lount 0427 539 615
MEDIA RELEASE 7 JUNE 2021
BELCO PARTY CALLS ON ALL USERS OF THE WEST BELCONNEN GREEN WASTE RECYCLING FACILITY - (THE WEST BELCO TIP) TO SIGN PETITION
"The Belco Party strongly urges all users of the West Belconnen Green Waste Recycling facility to sign the petition by the owners of the site and hosted by local liberal member Peter Cain .I understand the petition can be accessed on Peter Cains assembly website .
"We would also urge the relevant assembly committee the petition will be sent to, once it gets 500 signatures , to actually investigate the matter this time and not just throw it in the bin which is what they did with the September 2020 petition organised by the Belco Party calling on the Assembly to either save the facility or at least replace it with a like for like facility .
"That petition ended up getting over 1,500 signatures and for the committee (which included local Greens member Jo Clay) to ignore it is typical of this Green/ Labor governments arrogance and disdain for the community. Maybe this time the committee and the Assembly will get it right and at least look at the issue properly " Belco Party convenor Bill Stefaniak said.”
"For the Greens to think it’s OK to close a recycling facility , without provision for a replacement ,thus condemning 6,000 users of the facility per month to travel a 60 kilometer round trip to the Mugga tip on the other side of town and emitting God only knows how much greenhouse gasses in the process is mind boggling .
Then again, if people were silly enough to vote Green in 2020, you get the government you deserve I suppose.
"Come on ACT government, think again, here's your chance to get it right for once " Mr Stefaniak said
END .
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 5 MAY 2021
BELCO PARTY BRANCH OUT
“The Belco Party (ACT) when it was formed in June last year to “Keep the Bastards Honest” had a number of members in other parts of Canberra apart from just Belconnen” Party convenor Bill Stefaniak said today.
“Quite a few people in other parts of Canberra wanted to vote for us but found when they went to vote that we were not standing candidates in their electorate. Well, that’s going to change and it is with pleasure that I announce the formation of 3 Branches of the Belco Party (ACT).
“Whilst we respect the wishes of the electorate who voted in 10 ALP and 6 Greens, I feel many people will rue the day they did so. The Labor/Green coalition has now been running the ACT Since 2012. It’s a coalition government perhaps even more rock solid than the Liberal/National coalition is at federal level.
The Belco party would like to see that broken up and see a few independents elected to the Assembly. 3 major parties and no one else is bad for democracy and informed decision making. If nothing changes we may never see a change of Government for the next 20 years” Mr Stefaniak said.
The 3 new branches are the Belconnen Branch (covering the Ginninderra electorate, we stood Candidates in last October,) with its President Angela Lount (Candidate for the party in October). Angela, amongst other things is a well known Canberra Blues singer who sings at a number of live venues around town.
Angela and many of our original supporters will be involved in continuing to ensure the needs of Belconnen are not forgotten and will be taking it up to the local government whenever necessary.
“Greg Burke is President of our new Gungahlin (Gunners) Branch. Greg has been involved in the racing industry for 4 decades and is a prominent former jockey who has held various administrative and other positions within the industry including Sponsorship Manager, line Judge and media liaison officer. Greg currently is manager for 5 Jockeys who ride throughout Canberra and NSW and has managed over 75 jockeys in the last 25 years.
Greg is passionate about the needs of the rapidly growing Gungahlin region and is very concerned that the local Greens want to destroy all kinds of horse racing in the ACT not to mention a lot of other things most of us hold dear.
BELCO PARTY MEDIA RELEASE 5 MAY 2021
Jason Potter, is a Tuggeranong school counsellor who stood in the federal election in 2019 in Eden Monaro for the Federation Party. His plan for a Queanbeyan to Eden railway using the old track to Cooma and Bombala and extending it down to Eden went down well (interestingly its cheaper than the Greens Civic to Woden tram and much more useful to not only the region but to Australia generally Jason followed up his tilt at federal politics by standing for Brindabella last year in the ACT election.
Jason is our new President of the Tuggeranong (Tuggies or Tuggers – we still are working out which name is best) branch of the Party. He is passionate about local issues and also has immense experience in the Mental Health issues and some great ideas on how this issue can be better addressed at both local and national levels. He can talk more about that himself)
“Our 3 new Presidents will be out and about in the community listening and acting on people’s concerns and taking good ideas on board. They are also keen to build up their branches (especially the new Gunners and Tuggies/ers Branches)
People interested in Joining any of these branches or helping out in any way are asked to contact Jason, Angela or Greg. Mr Stefaniak said)
Contact: Angela Lount M: 0427 539 615
Contact: Greg Burke M: 0407 708 003
Contact: Jason Potter M: 0425 365 840
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 16 OCTOBER 2020
BELCO PARTY WILL INSIST ON NEED FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND PRUDENCE IN EXPENDITURE AS CONDITION OF SUPPORT IF WE HOLD BALANCE OF POWER AFTER 17 OCTOBER
Belco Party leader Bill Stefaniak called on the three major parties to exercise prudence if they win the ACT election on Saturday.
"I have looked on with interest at the various promises made by the ALP, Greens and Liberals" Mr Stefaniak said.
"They have all made promises that will cost a lot of money. This is money we do not necessarily have.
"Accordingly, should the Belco Party be fortunate enough to win a seat in the Assembly and hold the balance of power, we will make it a condition of supporting one of the major parties into government that they delay/ suspend Stage 2 of Light Rail (saving $1.9 billion already earmarked for this project) and redirect the monies allocated to other more pressing programs that benefit all households in Canberra.
“This will also allow time to consider fully any business case there is for Stage 2 and additional stages for light rail. It will also allow for proper and full studies of just what are the best future transport options for all of Canberra. It will also provide an opportunity to see whether additional monies can be obtained from the Commonwealth and other sources. This is only common sense. Contrary to what some Greens, Labor and Liberals may think, money does not grow on trees" Mr Stefaniak said.
"The Belco Party would also like the new government to allow more free and/or conscience votes on important issues, we would expect stronger integrity measures and we would want real steps towards reducing homelessness in the ACT. Any agreement with the Belco Party would require rules to ensure ministers (including the Chief Minister) actually see constituents. There are other conditions we would also seek.
"The Belco Party will, as promised to a group of likeminded minor parties and other independents, consult with them first, get their views and take those views into account before any deal on support to form government is made" Mr Stefaniak said.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 15 OCTOBER 2020
BELCO PARTY BACKS ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Today, Belco Party candidate and Summernats Creator Chic Henry announced that if elected, the Belco Party would support electric vehicle uptake and would fight to bring Formula E to Canberra.
The Formula E is a race based on Formula 1 and is run with only Electric Vehicles; the event would long term generate hundreds of millions of tourism dollars for the Territory and create hundreds of new jobs.
“We need to do everything possible to attract more people to Canberra in this post-covid world. Formula E has not entered Australia yet, and this is our chance to put Canberra on the global map.” Chic Henry said.
The Belco Party would also back electric vehicle uptake by;
• Ensuring each Group Centre and Town Centre has electric vehicle charging,
• 50% registration discount for electric vehicles,
• 25% registration discount for hybrid vehicles,
• 1-hour free parking permits for electric vehicles, and
• Lobbying for more electric vehicle dealerships in Canberra.
“Electric Vehicles are our future; they are the leading edge of innovation. As a City-State, we need to be a global leader in technology, future-proofing our society, and continuing to foster new thought and ideas. That’s what the Belco Party is backing.” Mr Henry said.
“We want Canberra to become the electric vehicle Capital of Australia and be recognised globally for that achievement.” Mr Henry said.
Contact: Chic Henry M: 0412 198 837
MEDIA RELEASE 15 OCTOBER 2020
SECURE OFF-STREET PARKING FOR TRUCKS - BELCO PARTY PROMISE
Belco Party candidate Angela Lount and Bill Stefanik announced today that they would provide for off street truck parking in Belconnen.
"The ACT was first promised secure off-street parking for trucks in 1995. Now 25 years on nothing has changed " Ms. Lount said.
"The Belco Party have looked at possible sites in the north of Canberra. There is a lot of unused government land. Why cannot some of that be fenced and a 24/7 secure truck and rig parking centre be established. It could be run by the ACT government or contracted out to a small business to run. A small fee for each vehicle could be charged along the lines of what once occurred near Parkwood'' Ms. Lount said.
"Mr. Colin Mitchell can't park his truck on the verge at his home and he received $6,000 in parking fines the last time he tried. Previously truckies were able to get a parking permit to park on their nature strip and that should be reintroduced at the very least as an interim measure.
“Truckies are an essential part of our small business operations in the ACT. We as a community depend upon them. Not everyone rides a bike, nor does everyone live in the inner city. Are you listening Messrs. Rattenbury and Barr? asked Mr. Stefaniak.
"If the Belco Party wins a seat at the on Saturday we will press whoever is the government to build as a matter of urgency, a secure truck parking station in the north of Canberra Ms. Lount said.
Key Contact: Angela Lount M: 0427 539 615
Alternative contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 14 OCTOBER 2020
BELCO PARTY TO ACT AGAINST ANIMAL CRUELTY
"The Belco Party will take real action to stop cruelty to animals” announced Mr Stefaniak today. “There are few things lower than being cruel to defenceless animals."
"Many animals rely on humans and it sickens me when I hear of wanton acts of cruelty against an animal who just wants to love and be loved in return by its humans " Belco Party leader Bill Stefaniak.
“The RSPCA tells of horror stories involving animal cruelty and neglect and the cretins who perpetrate these atrocities need to be held to account.
"Despite increasing penalties for cruelty to animals the penalties are still too low, so we need something else to deter cruelty to animals.
A register, with its capacity to name and shame would do this. Mr Stefaniak said
"Convicted paedophiles are placed on a register and I think it would be a good deterrent and a sensible move to have a similar register for persons convicted of the more serious offences of cruelty to animals.
I would also envisage that if offenders turned over a new leaf and showed through community service and education over a period of time and they showed that that they had reformed, then there would be a facility to have their name taken off the register.
If we get a seat in the new assembly, the Belco Party will push for such a register" Mr Stefaniak said.
The Belco party loves animals. 'Belco Bailey' (my spoodle) is a valued member of our campaign team. So is 'Blinky Belco ' a young female Koala we have adopted on the World Wildlife program.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 13 OCTOBER 2020
REPEATED SIGN DAMAGE - BELCO PARTY TARGETED
Belco Party candidate Alan Tutt is extremely disappointed with the constant and willful damage done to Belco Party advertising material during the current election campaign
“Our advertising signs are constantly broken down, plastered over, defaced and stolen.
“Along some major roads all the Belco Party signs have been removed and only major party signs remain.
“I don't like to think that this is a targeted campaign, but it is not in the spirit of how I believe elections should be run” said Mr Tutt
“In some cases, roadside signs are ploughed down by cars driving illegally off road. This is not only extremely dangerous but very disappointing. Where we can identify the culprits, we are reporting them to the police.
“For small new parties and for independents there is limited opportunity for us to get our voice out to the electorate. Democracy depends on having a contest of ideas and for the voters to hear many voices before they cast their vote.
“In the Belco Party we have five candidates and a small number of volunteers. We all campaign for no pay. It is the same for other small parties and independents. We then pay for signs and posters. These are one of our few ways to get our message out. We then see our signs and posters defaced and destroyed. It is disheartening.
“It is hard enough to get our voice out with all our great policies like providing free buses, reducing car rego, cleaning up our suburbs, building a motor sport complex and getting a better deal for Belconnen without the constant fight to have our signs and posters respected.
Key Contact: Alan Tutt M: 0414 447 128
Alternative contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 13 OCTOBER 2020
BELCO PARTY PROMISES NEW INNOVATION & BUSINESS HUB
Today, Belco Party candidate and businessman Chic Henry announced that if elected, the Belco Party would create a new innovation and business hub in the west side of the Belconnen Town Centre.
The special precinct would provide benefits for new startups to innovate across all areas of business, and provide tax relief for small businesses who innovate in areas such as health, education, manufacturing, recycling, renewable energy, and urban agriculture.
This commitment would encourage new investment in the Belconnen Town Centre and revitalize the light industrial precinct.
The area would be encouraged to support global trade, rooftop gardens, solar energy and storage, and electric vehicles.
Candidate Chic Henry said, “I am very pleased to support our business community; I am also very excited to support up and coming businesses who can continue to create the next generation of technology for our city.”
“Belconnen is well placed to be the first of these special precincts, due to its close proximity to the University of Canberra, the Canberra Institute of Technology, and the Australian Institute of Sports.” Mr Henry said.
“If elected, I am looking forward to collaborating with entrepreneurs, innovators and business leaders who will come from all over the Canberra Region to work in this precinct.” Mr Henry said.
Contact: Chic Henry M: 0412 198 837
MEDIA RELEASE 10 OCTOBER 2020
GOVERNMENT MADNESS OVER STEINS
Bill Stefaniak, Belco Party Convenor called on the Government to immediately reverse a ban on the use of steins at this year's traditional German Oktoberfest celebrations.
“I cannot believe the insensitivity of this blind bureaucratic decision to ban steins” Mr. Stefaniak said.
We have dozens of great community clubs across Canberra each celebrating their proud traditions.
Canberra prides itself on the way we embrace peoples of all cultures and all traditions.
“The Harmonie German Club is a leader in our community, promoting German culture and traditions. They, like other clubs, have done it tough in the past months. They are doing a great job of finding ways to provide a service to their members but still accommodate the real requirements of having a safe environment for their patrons and staff.
“And then along comes the Government and kicks them in the guts over a beer stein. How out of touch and petty minded is this Government overreach? said Mr. Stefaniak.
“I simply cannot believe this Government doesn't understand the cultural importance of a stein glass at an event like Oktoberfest. It might be a small thing but then again it is something that connects people to the event and the whole tradition.
“If the Belco Party is fortunate enough to win a seat in the upcoming elections we will immediately reverse this ban. We will also show much more cultural sensitivity than this Government, who loves to talk the talk but then doesn't walk the walk” Mr. Stefaniak said.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 9 OCTOBER 2020
HEALTH OF WEST BELCONNEN ABANDONED BY LABOR
Bill Stefaniak and Angela Lount, both candidates for the Belco Party at the ACT Election, have called on the Labor Government to provide West Belconnen with an affordable medical and healthcare service with access to bulk billed doctors.
At the end of July this year, the Charnwood Clinic of the National Health Co-op (formerly West Belconnen Health Co-op) closed. It had operated at Charnwood since 2010.
The West Belconnen Health Co-op had been a vital not-for-profit, member owned co-operative that providing affordable medical and healthcare services to the local community. Consistent with Medicare eligibility requirements, members enjoyed unlimited access to bulk billed doctors of their choice.
“The West Belconnen Health Co-op was an essential health service,'' said Ms Lount.
The organisation had reached out to ACT governments seeking a subsidy to assist the running of its bulk-billing clinics, but the Charnwood clinic was forced to closed.
The neglect by the Labor Government and the closure of this service is a tragedy for West Belconnen residents” Ms Lount said.
Meanwhile, the Labor government has promised to expand public healthcare in the Molonglo region by piloting a new, integrated model as one of Labor’s five new walk-in health centres. The new centre in Coombs will be co-located alongside an existing National Health Co-op clinic.
Again, Belconnen misses out, again Belconnen is the poor cousin.
“If the Belco Party wins a seat in the upcoming election, the people of West Belconnen will not be forgotten. We will ensure that a new Government finds the money to give West Belconnen the health service it deserves” Mr Stefaniak said.
Key Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807 Contact: Angela Lount M: 0427 539 615
MEDIA RELEASE 3 OCTOBER 2020
MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO ARREST CRIME SPREE
Belco Party leader and former Attorney General and Public Prosecutor Bill Stefaniak has called on both the government and opposition to come up with plans to address the serious increase in violent crime in the territory. “I was reading today’s double page reports on further knife attacks and home invasion in the Canberra Times and a number of things struck me”. Mr Stefaniak said.
“This spate of crime has stretched the resources of our already undermanned police force even thinner. That's why the Belco Party is keen to see our police numbers brought up to at least the national average”.
“Reading the court report segments of the paper included in the double spread indicated a tendency for lenient sentences, an issue that has dogged the ACT courts over the last few decades.
“This also brings home the need for at least guideline sentences as NSW has to be introduced into the ACT. I was surprised to see when attending court as a victim of crime when my son Joe was killed in a car accident, the prosecutor could only refer to ACT precedents which certainly restricted the range of sentences in similar circumstances that could be put before the Court. The ACT can buy very cheaply the sentencing package that is in use in NSW.
“Finally, reading the same court reports also brought home that there seemed to be a common theme running through each case in that the offender was only concerned about himself (they were all male) and had little, if any empathy with the victim.
“Committing a crime that hurts another is, amongst other things, a very selfish act. Mr Stefaniak said.
Often there is far too much emphasis given to our "rights" as opposed to our "responsibilities " to each other. Far too much "me " and not enough "us ". It has always made me a little uneasy when I hear politicians and others use the phrase Canberran's "deserve". And when I drive past one of our clubs and see their advertising logo proclaiming "It's all about you."
Greater emphasis by families, schools and other organisations in teaching young people especially that they have first and foremost responsibilities as well as rights would go a long way in dropping crime and antisocial behavior generally. Maybe it's time the Assembly also resurrected my unsuccessful 2004 "Bill of Responsibilities" as a counter balance to the ACT Human Rights ACT.
As a famous great US President said in his inaugural address in 1961 - " Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country". Sage words indeed Mr Stefaniak said.
Key Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807 Alternative Contact: Alan Tutt M: 0414 447128
MEDIA RELEASE 30 SEPETMBER 2020
REBIRTH OF THE AIS & NEW STADIUM - BELCO PARTY PROMISES
Today, Belco Party convenor and candidate Bill Stefaniak and fellow candidate Alan Tutt committed that if elected, the Belco Party would, together with the Commonwealth and the private sector, build a new world-class, international standard stadium as well as sports and events centre on the current footprint of
the AIS.
This commitment to a National Stadium and Events Complex would include a new 35,000-person stadium with a retractable roof, a new convention centre, and upgraded or new facilities for basketball, tennis, swimming, diving, ice sports, rugby league, athletics, rugby union and soccer.
The commitment would cost between $500m - $950m to be funded by Public-Private Partnership between the ACT, Commonwealth and Private Sector. It would allow the ACT to host world-class events, and together with Manuka Oval would enable the ACT to argue for more sovereign teams in National competitions.
“I am thrilled to be announcing such a sensible option for Canberra’s long-term premier sporting future.” Mr. Stefaniak said.
The complex would also include a dining precinct, enhanced transport options including a future light rail link, and underground car-parking. The entire precinct, including CIT Bruce would be powered by renewable energy produced on-site.
We will re-energise the complex and reestablish it as a world class sport training, sport science precinct. We wish to see it attract the world's best in all aspects of elite sport and its identification, training and management.
The facilities in the precinct would provide the University of Canberra with partnership opportunities across sport studies, hospitality and tourism.
“This complex will support the Belconnen region and will have extensive flow-on effects into local businesses.” Mr. Tutt said.
This announcement comes on top of the Belco Party’s previous announcement to back community sport by providing each the family of each ACT high school student a $200 cashback for sporting expenses.
Contacts: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807 and Alan Tutt M: 0414 447128
MEDIA RELEASE 28 SEPTEMBER 2020
OPEN LETTER TO MR STEEL - STOP STATE BASED HARASSMENT
Bill Stefaniak, Belco Party Convenor and candidate for Ginninderra has called for an end to harassment by Government officers of election candidates.
It is tough enough to stand up against this government as a candidate without harassment in the suburbs.
“Mr Chic Henry was legally parked on the side of Belconnen Way at 8.am on Friday. He had his car decorated with approved signs and was standing beside his car.” said Mr Stefaniak.
“A little after 8.00am, a Government truck with lights flashing pulled up a few hundred metres from Mr Henry. The government officer alighted from his truck walked to the centre of the road
and then conspicuously took photos of Mr Henry. Why was Mr Henry's activities being photographed?”
Mr Henry was concerned that he may have committed some offence and was hoping to have the government officer speak to him. However the truck pulled away quickly and the officer took action to avoid Mr Henry.
At the same time it is curious to see that the Government can flaunt its own electioneering rules.
We have all seen the illegal activities of Greens on median strips of major roads. They even endangered road users by running all over the roadway in front of cars. They are not asked to stop but our candidates are intimidated when they behave safely and are not breaking any rules. One rule for the Government, another for the rest.
Dear Mr Steel and Mr Rattenburry
Please stop harassing our candidates for the ACT election.
Please enforce rules on the illegal activities of your candidates and campaigners.
Signed
Mr Stefaniak
27 September 2020
Video and photos available on request
MEDIA RELEASE 20 SEPTEMBER 2020
MORE NURSES, FIRIES, PARAMEDICS, POLICE - BELCO PARTY PROMISE
Belco Party candidate Angela Lount announced today that if elected, the Belco Party would guarantee to increase the total number of frontline responders including firefighters, nurses, police and paramedics.
Whatever the number of staff is on October 17 2020 we will increase every year to the next election in 2024.
We will increase the numbers of frontline staff to the highest rate per capita in the nation.
These key first responders keep us alive and protected and we need to recognise their role and support them in whatever ways we can. Increasing the numbers of these vital personnel on the frontline is a promise I am honoured to make on behalf of the Belco Party” Ms Lount said
“With the threats revealed with the current pandemic we have never so badly needed more nurses to staff the hospitals and clinics.
“I speak to people in Belconnen everyday who do not feel safe in the street with the constant reports of bashings and bikie violence. We need more police.
Fire is a year round threat in Canberra with winter house fires and summer bushfires part of our way of life. I give a big call out to our firies and tell them the Belco Party is here to support them.
To attract the best people from around the country into these roles we will offer the highest national average wages.
The Belco Party supports the public service and will work to provide the best resources and to achieve the best service outcomes for all Canberrans” said Ms Lount.
Key Contact : Angela Lount M: 0427 539 615
Alternative contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 18 SEPTEMBER 2020
BELCO PARTY WELCOMES MOVES TO SUPPORT CAR ENTHUSIASTS
Belco Party candidate Chic Henry today supported commitments from the Government to increase special vehicle license days to 60 days. This is something Canberra the motoring enthusiasts have been calling on for years Mr Henry said. The Belco party would support this change if elected.
I am disappointed though, that it is not yet in legislation and we just have the word of Mr Rattenburry that it will happen sometime in the future. He has had years to make this law and has not seen it as being important. Perhaps motorists are not on his list of priorities to help.
I am also disappointed that the Government has not announced increased support to bring car rallies to Canberra. Our city is ideal for the likes of all the various car clubs like Volkswagen, Minis, Cadillac, Datsun clubs and the dozens of other clubs to have a weekend of touring. These rallies are important for tourism in Canberra. I would have liked to see the Government announce funding through Visit Canberra to support these events. I imagine the Council of ACT Motor Clubs would be happy to have talks with the Government about such opportunities. The Government could also be more forthcoming in supporting arrangements to allow easier access to suitable sites around the city for car displays and concourse events.
Mr Henry also pointed out that the Belcpo Party had already promised it would reduce Canberra's vehicle and trailer registration fees. Also introducing a boat and PWC registration and licensing scheme for the ACT. We will also have the lowest licence fees and beat other state fees by 10%.
We will make car, boat, trailer, truck, trailer, caravan, and PWC registration the lowest in the country. It's about time Canberrans got a break on excessive gouging by the Government, said Mr Henry.
Canberrans pay excessive drivers licence fees. We will reduce licence fees to the lowest in the country at the same time.
The Belco Party will deliver a lower cost of living to Canberrans, not just talk about it.
Under the policy, hybrid vehicles would have a 25% registration discount and electric vehicles a 50% registration discount, Mr Henry said that this would make electric vehicles more accessible to Canberrans.
Key Contact: Chic Henry M: 0412 198 837
Alternative contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 18 SEPTEMBER 2020
RATES AND FEES SHOULD BE EASY - BELCO PARTY PROMISES
Today, Belco Party candidate Alan Tutt promised that if elected, the Belco Party would simplify rates and charges; this would include making rates a sole figure by incorporating the levies into the rates charge and reducing the late payment interest rate from 8.1% to no greater than 0.5% higher than the RBA cash rate.
“It is simply criminal that the banks charge between 1% and 2% interest and the ACT Government is charging 8.1%.” Mr Tutt said.
The commitment lower fees would also include an allowance to every ACT registered vehicle of one free trailer load of waste to the tip each month, and free registration for up to two household pets per person. If elected, the Belco Party would also make a commitment to review all ACT Government fees and charges and simplify them. This comes on top of our commitment to lower car, bike, trailer, caravan and tradies vehicles to the lowest in the country.
“ACT residents are already paying substantial rates, so let’s allow them a little bit of respite by opening the tip up and doing things like making pet ownership more accessible.” Mr Tutt said.
Finally, the Belco Party would ensure the printing of rates bills and other Government collateral is printed in the ACT, to keep money in the local economy. Currently, rates bills are printed in Victoria.
“The ACT Government needs to put ACT businesses first. ACT businesses can be competitive, and they can provide world-class goods and services.” Mr Tutt said.
Contact: Alan Tutt M: 0414 447128
MEDIA RELEASE 17 SEPTEMBER 2020
BELCO LEADS - MAJOR PARTIES FOLLOW
“Andrew Barr once told my wife that he had no problem adopting another party’s policies if they were good policies”, Bill Stefaniak, Belco Party Convenor and candidate for Ginninderra in the October elections said.
“It may be a little late in the day, but as they say, better late than never, we Belco candidates have noticed and welcome the sudden explosion of activity by the current local Government in
Belconnen with paint brushes, trimmers, spray guns, mowers and chainsaws suddenly appearing to spruce up our suburbs. It’s about time.
“Mind you, this should have been occurring on a regular basis over the past four years, but it is pleasing to see that the constant pressure applied by our Belco team enthusiastically led by Alan Tutt has produced this flurry of pre election activity” Mr Stefaniak said.
“Further, it is pleasing to see the Liberal Opposition adopting many Belco Party policies. They have copied the Belco Party policy in relation to reducing car registration fees - although they have not gone as far as the Belco Party has in promising the cheapest fees on all rego for car, boat, trailer, caravan, EV, truck, bike and tradie vehicles.
“It is also good to see them copying our Belco Party policy on free after hours parking.
“Further, the Belco Party is delighted to see that the Liberal Opposition has also adopted our policy on providing financial grants to parents for the costs children participate in sport.
“Finally today's announcement that the Liberal Party also prefers that the next stage for Light Rail would be from Belconnen to the airport via the city is straight out of the Belco Parties script”
Mr Stefaniak said.
“It is gratifying to see that in its short existence the Belco party has already had a positive impact on the lives of Belconnen residents and is forcing the major parties to adopt policies that benefit the people of Belconnen. ” Mr Stefaniak said.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
Alternative contact: Alan Tutt M: 0414 447128
MEDIA RELEASE 16 SEPTEMBER 2020
LET US USE OUR WATERWAYS - BELCO PARTY PROMISES
Today, Belco Party candidate Vijay Dubey promised that if elected, the Belco Party would open the ACT’s lakes and waterways for private recreational use by motorboats and personal watercraft.
This commitment would include the ability to register watercraft and obtain a boat license in the ACT. As previously announced, the ACT would also have the lowest boat and PWC registration and licensing fees in the country by 10%.
“It is just ludicrous that the ACT is the only jurisdiction in the country where you can’t obtain a boat licence or register or use watercraft. This is the perfect example of ACT dollars, leaving the ACT to other jurisdictions.” Mr Dubey said.
The Belco Party also announced that if elected it would encourage Government-backed events on all of Canberra’s lakes, including bringing back the birdman rally and an annual carp fishing tournament.
“By having boats and jet skis on our waterways we are churning the water, this will result in better water quality and less blue-green algae; we also want to encourage people to use our waterways again and decrease negative stigma around using them recreationally. Having an annual fishing competition will also help to decrease harmful carp numbers.” Mr Dubey said.
The Watersports policy is subject to National and environmental considerations. It would also include a commitment to expand the ACT’s water policing capacity, upgrade boat ramps, boating and fishing infrastructure, as well a dedicated city services team to clean up our lakes, including divers to remove historical debris.
Contact: Vijay Dubey M: 0401 335 782
MEDIA RELEASE 16 SEPTEMBER 2020
BELCO DOESN'T WANT $2 BILLION TRAM TO WODEN
The revelation that the cost of Woden Stage of the light rail could hit $2billion is something Belconnen residents will just not stomach at this time said Bill Stefaniak, Belco Party candidate for Ginninderra in the October elections.This is three times the cost of light rail stage 1.
“I again call on the ACT government to immediately delay the next stage of Light Rail because of the economic slump inevitably coming after the Covid 19 crisis and because of the huge cost blowout. Canberrans just cannot afford it at this time.
“I agree that we will need a major economic stimulus to kick start the ACT economy after the pandemic but it cannot be spent on a lot of expensive imported materials and labor such as occurred with the first stage of light rail. We need vital services like hospitals, schools and programs that employ local businesses and people. We need lots of projects and developments that employ young people and apprentices and local tradies. We need projects across the city and especially in the suburbs such as in Belconnen.” Mr Stefaniak said.
One thing that Canberra needs to speed up new construction is a streamlined Government tender process which should be an urgent first priority for any new Government.
“I call on the Chief Minister to immediately delay further stages of Light Rail.
“More trams may come back onto the Territory agenda in the future, but only after the viability of future stages can be proven and other public transport options are fully investigated. Full cost benefit studies should be done on light rail and the current light rail proposed routes.
Other transport options should also be fully investigated. I would not rule in or out a range of other innovative options such as dedicated bus routes, wireless trams, autonomous cars or electric cars. This is a space where the world is evolving very fast and we should not lock generations of Canberrans into debt for any outmoded transport systems.
“One thing I can say is, if new tram lines are to be built, the first priority must be Belconnen to Civic and onto the Airport” Mr Stefaniak said.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
Alternate contact Alan Tutt M: 0414 447 128
MEDIA RELEASE 11 SEPTEMBER 2020
LET’S BUILD BETTER BUILDINGS - BELCO PARTY PROMISES
Today, Belco Party candidate Chic Henry promised that if elected, the Belco Party would change building rules to ensure that rights of property purchasers are protected and that we build
world-class buildings.
This commitment would include a change in the defect period on all new construction developments from 90 days to 365 days. A change that brings a new property purchasers rights
into line with Commonwealth Consumer Law.
“It is just woeful that you can purchase a $10 toy and have 12 months of warranty, but one of the most expensive purchases an individual makes in their life only has 90 days of warranty.” Mr Henry said.
The Belco Party also announced that if elected it would reduce notification periods for single dwelling residential properties to 14 days, make it mandatory for all new developments of 10 or
more dwellings to have a defibrillator and common area CCTV, as well as establish a new dedicated major developments team within the planning directorate to expedite the review
multi-unit developments.
“30-day public notification made sense before the internet, but now, especially during COVID recovery, with proper oversight and backing, we need to speed these processes up to allow economic stimulation.” Mr Henry said.
“After a spate of recent apartment robberies, having CCTV in multi-unit dwellings from the beginning will help gain critical evidence leading to arrests and will work as a serious deterrent to
robberies. Defibrillators will help save lives; if the Belco Party is elected, we will look at what more the Government can do in this space including more public defibrillators.” Mr Henry said.
Contact: Chic Henry M: 0412198837
Alternate contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 10 SEPTEMBER 2020
LEAVE OUR CLUBS ALONE - BELCO PARTY CALLS
Calls by the Greens to reduce poker machines in clubs is an attack on the hard working people of Belconnen, said Bill Stefaniak, Belco Party convenor and candidate for Ginninderra in the October elections.
“Belconnen Clubs are the heart of our social life and social fabric. This outrageous and elitist demand by the Greens is just another example of their arrogance in believing they should decide how other people should lead their lives.
“Belconnen clubs provide entertainment, restaurants and sport facilities for ordinary residents of Belconnen. Belconnen sporting clubs rely on the generous support of our local community clubs. Community groups across Belconnen benefit from funds provided by Belconnen clubs. Many people enjoy poker machines and it's their choice of personnel entertainment. Some people have gambling problems which should be addressed. There are many good programs for this. Our clubs lead the way in assisting problem gamblers.
“Many of our Belconnen clubs and indeed clubs across Canberra are on their knees financially after years of attack by the Government. They have endured astronomical increased charges for Government services, outrageous planning restrictions, onerous compliance demands and forced reduction in poker machine licenses. They now face the crisis of managing Government restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Across Canberra poker machine revenue has declined by about 30% in real terms since the mid 2000s. Close to 20 clubs have closed over that period. Tragically four clubs have closed in this parliamentary term.
“This is not the time for even more attacks on our clubs,'' said Bill Stefaniak. But what would you expect from the out of touch Green elites? Attacking the pastimes of ordinary people has become a hallmark of Green politics. If it doesn't fit their pristine idea of some sort of unrealistic ideological nirvana it has to be banned or attacked.
“The Greens don't care about clubs or their communities. Their call to reduce poker machine numbers will close more clubs and end another 1000 jobs.
“I ask the Greens to leave Belconnen alone with their elitist social programs and let us enjoy our lives the way we choose,'' Mr Stefaniak said.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 10 SEPTEMBER 2020
REDUCING POKIES JUST SENDS REVENUE TO NSW
Calls by the Greens to reduce poker machines in clubs in Canberra is naive and will just serve to boost revenue in NSW particularly Queanbeyan said Bill Stefaniak, Belco Party convenor and candidate for Ginninderra in the October elections.
Across Canberra when community clubs were closed by the Government because of the pandemic revenue in Queanbeyan clubs went through the roof. NSW got the jobs and got the revenue. Canberra missed out all round.
It was reminiscent of the 1970s when Canberra clubs had no poker machines and everyone crossed the border on the weekend to have their entertainment at the Queanbeyan Leagues Club. The social hub of Canberra was in Queanbeyan.
Across Canberra poker machine revenue has declined by about 60% in real terms since 2005. Close to 20 clubs have closed over that period. Tragically five clubs have closed in this parliamentary term.
“The Greens don't care about clubs or their communities. Their call to reduce poker machine numbers will close more clubs and end another 1000 jobs.
“I ask the Greens to leave Canberra and Belconnen alone with their elitist social programs and let us enjoy our lives the way we choose,'' Mr Stefaniak said.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 9 SEPTEMBER 2020
POLICE, AMBOS AND NURSES ARE NOT PUNCHING BAGS
Belco party leader and former public prosecutor and Attorney General, Bill Stefaniak committed the Belco Party to greater protection for front line first responders and emergency personnel such as nurses, ambos and police.
"The current penalties are only the same as for common assault. This is not good enough, Mr Stefaniak said.
"It is a mongrel act to assault a police officer in the execution of his or her duty. It is probably an even lower act to assault an ambulance officer or a nurse who are trying to help the offender or help some other member of the public. It is particularly concerning to see a spate of attacks on police, ambos and nurses where the offender spits on the victim and then states that they are covid positive. This a horrible form of psychological torture for the victim especially while they wait for tests to be conducted.
"Our essential services workers have a right to feel safe and to be protected. Police are not blue punching bags and I find it sickening in the extreme for anyone to assault an ambo or nurse who is trying to help them, Mr Stefaniak said.
If elected, our party will demand that the new government strengthen the recent legislation that makes it an offence to assault front line emergency workers which currently has a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.
"The following improvements should be made to the legislation that makes it an offence to assault front line emergency workers
"We would suggest that the maximum penalty be increased to five years which is the same as for assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
"We would suggest a compulsory order that the convicted offender be ordered to pay the costs of any medical tests necessary for the assaulted police officer or ambo or nurse, especially tests to see if they have been infected with any disease such as covid. The order would also apply to any other associated medical costs arising from the assault. Nothing like the old hip pocket nerve to concentrate the mind and deter future bad behavior by either the offender or would be offenders.
"We would also suggest initial strong encouragement of the courts to jail the more serious cases and if the courts are too weak to do that then trial for 12 months mandatory minimum jail sentences for the more serious assaults.
"The Green Labor government should listen more to front line workers and not the ivory tower advisors from the Human Rights Commission when it comes to protecting the dedicated men and women who form the front line of our emergency services " Mr Stefaniak said.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 7 SEPTEMBER 2020
BELCO PARTY BACKS CALLS BY MBA FOR GREATER SUPPORT FOR APPRENTICES
Beloc party leader and former VET minister Bill Stefaniak today committed the Belco Party to fully supporting calls by the MBA to guarantee at least 15% of all workers on major ACT Government funded building projects to be apprentices or trainees. The party also committed to ensuring there was adequate funding for CIT and independent training providers as well as pre-apprenticeship training in our schools.
"This is music to my ears and is really a no brainer. If we don't employ more apprentices we fail as a city. If we end up without tradies we will no longer be a vibrant first world city " Mr Stefaniak said.
"From 1995 until 2001, as Education and Training Minister, I increased the number of students in ACT government colleges doing at least one VOCED subject in years 11 and 12 from 750 in 1995 to nearly 8,000 by 2000. This then gave school leavers more options in pursuing a career in the trades. Their pre-apprenticeship training was recognized as part of their apprenticeship or traineeship. Obviously it seems this current Greens/Labor government has dropped the ball in relation to this.
"It is also essential to guarantee a certain number of apprentices/ trainees on each job site . If we don 't do this where will the tradies of the future come from? “15% is a good realistic number,” Mr Stefaniak said.
"Likewise, it is essential to adequately fund the CIT, the independent providers and support industry schemes that train the young tradies to ensure there is a continuing supply of new builders, carpenters, sparkies, plumbers, plasterers, brick layers, concreters etc.
"The Belco party is a party committed to being a voice for the average hard working tradie, shop assistant and small business employee/owner. We are not terribly impressed with out of touch inner city elites who tend to support the Greens and who wouldn't know a manual worker or tradie if they fell over one. We support the blue collar worker and subbies whose efforts built this city" Mr Stefaniak said.
"There were few things I enjoyed more as Education and Training Minister than presenting the Canberra Apprentice of the Year. I would tell these young tradies that they were providing their community with an essential service and that by doing a trade they were going to, in most cases, make a lot more money than their ex-schoolmates who went to Uni and got arts/economics or even law degrees. I have two nephews who are plasterers and both are doing very well and love what they are doing (one left school at the end of year 10 and the other at the end of year 12.)
This city could not survive if it weren't for our building trades and to maintain those absolutely essential trades we need more apprentices. We need to support CIT and the industry and other independent training schemes. Most of all we need to educate parents, school teachers and young people considering a career, that a career in the trades is quite often a hell of a lot better than an academic career and one that will be more rewarding in a whole lot of ways .
The Belco Party will be announcing a number of other initiatives to help tradies over the next couple of weeks.
In the meantime, the Belco Party is happy and indeed honoured to be asked to support this most sensible request from the MBA" Mr Stefaniak said.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 3 SEPTEMBER 2020
BELCO PARTY OFFERS A BETTER DEAL THAT'S CAREFULLY PAID FOR
Belco Party candidate Bill Stefaniak spoke today confirming the Belco Party has announced a range of affordable relevant policies all aimed at improving the day to day lives of everyday Canberrans.
We will pay for our promises by better management of current tax revenue and finding ways to reset Government priorities. We will seek out opportunities for public private partnerships for major projects and where prudent use low interest loans from the federal government for major works.
We will seek to stimulate the ACT economy in areas such as expanding small scale infrastructure works, focus on technology development and agriculture. After years the Labor Green Government has become tired and unfocused. We will revitalise Government and re-prioritise the work of the public service. We will not cut any front line public service positions. The promise to lower car registration fees to the lowest in the country could actually raise revenue with fleet and national companies looking to base registration of fleets in Canberra.
It is expected that Canberra will grow to 600,000 people by 2030 giving us an opportunity not to squander these natural gains as has been done in the past. As a result we will be able to raise extra revenue through increased land sales and the naturally increasing tax base. Our share of GST revenue will continue to grow.
We will not raise funds through higher taxes. We will support any Government prepared to freeze land or commercial rates. This will pay for the promises we have already announced including bringing back fireworks on Queens Birthday Long weekend, free weekend public parking, the lowest rego and licenses in Australia, returning Namadgi management to First Peoples, giving parents sport grants of $200 for kids Year 7-12, our Better City Promise providing an extra $50million per year including for playgrounds, toilets, free wifi in local shopping centres. We will streamlining planning and vow not to develop Kippax Oval for units and not close the green waste depot in Belconnen.
Key Contact : Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
Alternative contact: Chic Henry M: 0412 198 837
MEDIA RELEASE 1 SEPETMBER 2020
BELCO PARTY TO IMPROVE AND CLEAN UP OUR LOCAL STREETS, PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND SHOPS
Belco party candidate Vijay Dubey announced today that, if elected, the Belco Party would deliver the "Better City Promise" which would see our local shops and suburbs get extra funding to provide better basic services and improve amenity for all Canberrans.
"The Government has overlooked city services for too long, and we want that to change.
"We will provide at least $50 million in extra funding annually to refurbish and clean up our suburbs, this would include hiring a significant number of new frontline city services staff." said Mr Dubey.
"I am continuously told that our suburban landscapes have been left to deteriorate. Rubbish not removed, abandoned cars left for days, footpaths broken, trees dead and dying, public graffiti not removed and basic services simply not provided.
The pledge includes;
• Funding to remove graffiti on private property that borders public land and continue to offer this service into the future.
• A guarantee that every suburb will have a safe modern playground and outdoor gym with adequate bins and seating.
• A guarantee that all local shops will have garbage bins, publicly available toilets, water fountains, as well as adequate, seating and lighting.
• A promise to conduct a full street tree audit, with a commitment inspect and maintain each street tree every year and plant missing trees.
• A promise to remediate all instances where a footpath meets the kerb and a ramp does not exist to make them wheelchair, pram and bicycle friendly.
"We will extend free wifi to more local shopping centres. It is not good enough for some local shops not to have public toilets, rubbish bins or water bubblers. We will fix that."
We will benchmark district services and make administrative changes to ensure the public can quickly report poor infrastructure or required maintenance.
"We want Canberrans to be again proud of their local streets, parks and shops, just as they have been in the past", said Mr Dubey.
Contact: Vijay Dubey M: 0401 335 782
or Alternative Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 31 AUGUST 2020
CAN WE TRUST GREENS ON WASTE DISPOSAL - BELCO PARTY ASKS?
Belco Party candidate Bill Stefaniak at the coming ACT Elections has called on Greens candidate Jo Clay to come clean on the Greens confused position on the handling of Canberra’s rubbish.
“If we can't get a straight answer from the Greens on waste management what can we trust them on?” asks Mr Stefaniak.
"Up until last Saturday, the Greens website had quoted Ms Clay as saying that the ACT Government had no intention of redirecting up to 90% of Canberra kerbside rubbish to a new facility to be built by a private firm CRS at Fyshwick.
Her comments intended to placate another Fyshwisk business operator Mr Rob Evans, from Allbids, who Ms Clay quote as saying all the waste from Mugga Lane, 300,000 tonnes, would be sent to Fyshwick.
Ms Clay’s statement on the Greens website also said that it was not CRS’s plan to handle that much of our rubbish. However the CRS’s current website clearly states that it intends to “divert waste from the Mugga landfill (towards 90%)”.
So is the Labor Green Government's plan to send up to 90% of Canbera’s kerbside waste to Fyshwick or not?
When Ms Clay’s comments were brought to the intention of the Greens Leader Mr Rattenbury, the comments on the Greens website attributed to Ms Clay were removed. The comments attributed to Mr Evans were also removed.
So who can we trust? Mr Rattenbury or Ms Clay?
Where does Mr Rattenbury intend our rubbish to go? Are the Greens in favour of a new waste facility at Fyshwick or not?
And what is Ms Clay’s position on waste today? The voters of Belconnen would be interested to know.
Can the Greens promises really be trusted?
Key Contact : Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 28 AUGUST 2020
FREE PUBLIC TRANSPORT FOR CANBERRA - BELCO PARTY PROMISE
Belco Party candidate Angela Lount announced today that, if elected, the Belco Party would make all current and future, bus and light rail travel, free.
"Free public transport for all Canberrans. This is game-changer for us all," said Ms. Lount.
“Politicians often talk about reducing the cost of living, especially for lower-income earners, but then not deliver. The Belco Party will provide free bus and free light rail travel. This is not a complicated grant scheme or discount deal. It is merely no charge to travel on public transport, anywhere, anytime, for everyone.”
“Currently there is a high cost of collecting transport fares and the system to administer MyWay; the reseller network, and the lost cards. The revenue to the Government is menial compared to the physical, health, and environmental benefit of encouraging more people to use public transport.”
“Bus and light rail trips will be faster, with no frustrating delay as people struggle with lost or faulty MyWay cards, saving precious time and increasing productivity. On and off, no fuss, and no stress”
"It's about time all Canberra residents got something back for their astronomical rates. This policy could save public transport users up to $2,500 a year” said Ms. Lount.
“The Belco Party would also ensure that all busses continue to be modernised with more electric busses, and a ban on public busses that are not wheelchair accessible. "It is shameful that the Government continues to use busses that are not disability compliant or cycle friendly. The Belco Party will ensure that every bus and light rail vehicle and stop is bicycle and disability friendly.”
“Finally, the Belco Party also announced that it would ensure old and unused bus shelters are removed, which would free up hard-surface area on residential streets. It would also ensure adequate lighting at every stop.
Ms. Lount is available for interview on Friday 28 August.
Key Contact: Angela Lount M: 0427 539 615
Alternative contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 27 AUGUST 2020
DO NOT CLOSE OUR BELCONNEN TIP - BELCO PARTY PRESENTS PETITION TO GOVERNMENT
Belco Party candidate Alan Tutt and the Belco Party are calling on the Government not to close the West Belconnen Waste Facility. With other Belco Party candidates, including Angela Lount, Alan Tutt has led the charge to get the Government to reverse their decision.
“Our green waste tip will close and the Government has not found us another site. It is a disgrace. Just another slap on the face for long suffering Belconnen ratepayers” Mr Tutt said.
“I have about one thousand signatures of angry Belconnen residents on a petition demanding the Government not to close the tip. It will be tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday” said Mrt Tutt.
“The government is supposed to deliver services to all the people of the city, not just a selected few. The Garden City is under threat. We are proud of our leafy suburbs. We are proud of our open spaces and parklands. The increasing general neglect of our suburbs by an out of touch Government is bad enough. But now they are proposing to make it harder for us to manage and care for our own gardens.
“Belconnen residents are just sick and tired of being treated as second class citizens in their own city. It's another case of one rule for the inner city elites and one rule for the rest of us.
“Well enough is enough. One thousand Belconnen residents want action on our tip.
My petition to the Assembly says To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory This petition of certain residents of the Australian Capital Territory draws to the attention of the Assembly that it is proposed to close the West Belconnen Waste Facility and that no replacement site within Belconnen has been identified. Your petitioners therefore request the Assembly 1. To review the decision to close the current facility 2 if the facility is to close then identify an alternative place in Belconnen and 3 ensure that the new facility is operational before the current facility is closed.
A photo is attached of Mr Tutt presenting the petition at the Assembly
Mr Tutt is available for interview on Thursday 27 August
Key Contact : Alan Tutt M: 0414 447 128
Alternative contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 26 AUGUST 2020
SPORTS CASHBACK FOR KIDS PROMISES BELCO PARTY
Belco Party candidate Alan Tutt announced today that if elected the Belco Party would provide parents with a $200 cashback to keep their kids playing sport.
“Sport is such a big part of my life and the lives of many Canberrans. Unfortunately, many kids play sport at primary school age and then for several reasons drop out in the early high school or college years. Sometimes, that reason is because mum and dad cannot afford the extra cost of uniforms and special equipment. I want to fix that.” said Mr Tutt.
“The Belco Party will provide a one-off cashback to parents of $200 per child from year 7 to year 12, to help with sports equipment or registration fees. All the parent will need to do is register with a registered sporting club or organisation, the Government would then send the parents of the child a $200 cheque.
“This will be a great initiative to get more kids to stay in sport during their early high school years and set up good healthy habits for later in life.”
A top-ranked rover, Alan left Canberra where he grew up, to play AFL in Adelaide, and in Melbourne for St Kilda. He played in three premierships for the Ainslie AFL Club and was named in the ACT Team of the Century.
“Throughout my life, I have played lots of sports at different levels, including Baseball, Rugby, Cricket, Soccer, and Softball. I love sport and want to share that passion and grow the opportunities for sport for everyone: young, old and everyone in-between.
Sadly, I have seen firsthand the effects of the gradual reduction of funding for junior sports as a direct result of the policies of the current Government, I want to change that.” said Mr Tutt.
Key Contact: Alan Tutt M: 0414 447 128
Alternative contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 25 AUGUST 2020
BELCO PARTY CALLS ON ABC AND CANBERRA TIMES TO GIVE CANDIDATES A FAIR GO
Belco Party Convenor and candidate Bill Stefaniak has called on some of the mainstream media to give aspiring Legislative Assembly members a fair go and a chance to have their voices heard.
Recent comments in the media have highlighted the issues of lack of opportunity for these would-be members. It is important for democracy and for the good of our city for voters to know something about the candidates who are standing.
“It is near on impossible for independents and small parties to get any traction with some of the mainstream media'' said Mr Stefaniak.
Unless you are the Government and can spend millions on self promotion or you are Clive Palmer who has the money needed to buy publicity small parties and independents get almost no opportunity in some of the mainstream media. The City News, 2CC and local commercial TV stations are media outlets that do seem to consistently give alternative voices a fair go.
I would like to suggest to remedy the situation that two of the biggest media outlets in town, the ABC and the Canberra Times, have a duty to give their listeners and readers respectively, details of who is standing, what they stand for and details of their policies.
“As a suggestion, the ABC could devote a 30 minute to 1 hour segment once a week on local 666 radio to independents, minor parties and non assembly members of the 3 major parties. This could be divided up into equal time slots so the candidates can sell themselves and their ideas. Similarly, the Canberra Times could set aside up to a page of its paper once a week so that those same would be members could have their say on their ideas and policies. Sitting members would not be included in these special opportunities because they should not need to rely on last minute media if they have been doing their job properly in the first place.
The media has an extra community responsibility in these covid times, when new candidates have greater difficulty having their voices heard, to make sure our democracy is well served during an election.
“The ideas suggested above are ways to enable voters to make an informed choice come election time” Mr
Stefaniak said
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 24 AUGUST 2020
BELCO PARTY TO MAKE REGO THE CHEAPEST IN AUSTRALIA
Belco Party candidate Chic Henry announced today that if elected, the Belco Party would make Canberra have the nation's lowest vehicle and trailer registration fees. Also introducing a boat and PWC registration and licensing scheme for the ACT. We will also have the lowest licence fees and beat other state fees by 10%.
We will make car, boat, trailer, truck, trailer, caravan, and PWC registration the lowest in the country. It's about time Canberrans got a break on excessive gouging by the Government said, Mr Henry.
Canberrans pay excessive drivers licence fees. We will reduce licence fees to the lowest in the country at the same time.
The Belco Party will deliver a lower cost of living to Canberrans, not just talk about it.
The cost of loading zone permits will also be reduced to the lowest in the country. We should support our delivery drivers, tradies and others who need to park next to work locations, lets back our workers, not keep taxing them said, Mr Henry.
Under the policy, hybrid vehicles would have a 25% registration discount and electric vehicles a 50% registration discount, Mr Henry said that this would make electric vehicles more accessible to Canberrans.
Ex Summernats boss Mr Chic Henry says that Canberra is a simple city to get around by car. Let's keep it that way. Canberra was designed to make car travel efficient and straightforward.
Canberra is a city where there is about one registered vehicle for every adult in the population. Let's accept the reality that most Canberrans depend on car travel, and cars are one of the things that make life in Canberra so easy.
Making car travel easy and simple is a priority of the Belco Party and keeping the cost of rego and licenses down is one way to support all Canberrans.
Key Contact: Chic Henry M: 0412 198 837
Alternative contact:
Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 23 AUGUST 2020
BELCO PARTY TO SIMPLIFY PAID PARKING
Belco Party candidate Chic Henry announced today that if elected the Belco Party would simplify pay parking in Canberra.
“We will only have paid parking in public car parks from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday. No more weekend paid parking and no more evening paid parking said, Mr Henry.
“I want it to be more straightforward for people to get about the city because most people depend on their cars. Let’s make parking easier, not harder.
“This will be of great benefit to weekend workers and shoppers. It will also bring back life to our Town Centres in the evenings. It is also unfair on hospitality workers, who already have lower wages, to have to pay for parking in the evenings just to go to work.
“Our plan is also to make it easier for residents who live near busy locations, to get residential parking permits. It happens everywhere else in Australia, so why not in Canberra?
The Belco Party will also introduce cost-effective and straightforward annual parking permits said, Mr Henry
We will also solve the problems of not enough parking in local shops by building more parking spots and managing parking better.
It might not be that everywhere in Canberra is now “just ten minutes away” as people often used to say, but it is still a very easy city to get around by car. Canberra was designed to make car travel efficient and straightforward. Let’s accept the reality that most Canberran depend on car travel, and it is one of the things that makes life in Canberra so easy. Making car travel easy and simple is a priority of the Belco Party, and better parking is a first step.
Key Contact : Chic Henry
Alternative contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 2 AUGUST 2020
NAMADGI NATIONAL PARK TO BE RETURNED TO FIRST NATION
PEOPLES
Belco party Convenor and candidate Bill Stefaniak, has announced a major promise for the upcoming ACT elections which will see First Nations People recognised in their continuous connection to local lands.
“The Belco Party today commits to the return of the management of Namadgi National Park to the local First Nations People. For almost twenty years the Labor Green Government has failed to deliver on this promise and we in the Belco party believe it is urgently overdue” said Mr Stefaniak.
This is an embarrassing failure by the Labor Green Government, they talk the talk but find it difficult to walk the walk.
“In implementing this promise we will be guided by the successful models of First Nation management of national parks in other states and territories including Kakadu and Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa. With the recent Commonwealth announcement concerning re-embracing and restating the Closing the Gap strategies, this will be a practical way that we in the ACT can work with local First Nation People. This is not just about the control and management of land but an opportunity for local First Nation People to have a real stake in their communities future. It will see training opportunities, jobs and careers come to those with the closest connection to the national park.
“This is an exciting step which will see all Canberrans, both indigenous and non-indigenous, able to celebrate, not only the spectacular natural landscapes we are blessed with in the ACT, but also the ancient and continuous pre European human history of these lands. We often hear nice words from politicians and see symbolic acts, but these are often not followed through
with real action. It is all very well to speak a few indigenous words before a speech or at the opening of the Assembly but what First Nation People want to see is actions not words.
“I see our announcement today as a practical on ground step towards real reconciliation, said Mr Stefaniak.
Namadgi National Park to the west and south of Canberra has remote wilderness experiences, a wide range of natural environments, an abundance of native wildlife, and Aboriginal and European cultural sites. There are many great reasons to visit Namadgi National Park. Namadgi covers 106,095 hectares, with 160 kilometres of marked walking tracks.
Today's announcement will make our national park even more special for all Canberrans and all Australians.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807
MEDIA RELEASE 16 JULY 2020
BELCO PARTY MEDIA RELEASE 16 JULY 2020
BELOC PARTY ADOPTS KOALA BLINKY BELCO AS ITS CAMPAIGN MASCOT YOU CAN TOO !!! Belco party candidates Bill Stefaniak and Alan Tutt today announced that the Belco Party has adopted a koala, BLINKY BELCO as its mascot with a subscription to the World Wildlife Foundation." It cost only $25 per month or $300 per year to adopt a Koala and help protect and ensure the survival of these beautiful iconic Australian animals. Enough from us tho', we will let Blinky Belco tell you the rest’’ Messrs. Stefaniak and Tutt said. "Hello there, my name is Blinky Belco and I'm a young female Koala that just managed to survive the recent fires in eastern Australia. The fires were awful and killed lots of my friends and relatives. I want to have a good long life and have joeys (baby koalas). My fellow Koalas and I face extinction because of fire and excessive land clearing which reduces my natural habitat, destroys our homes, and makes life more dangerous for us. Did you know that 4,000 Koalas are killed in Queensland alone each year by domestic pets, wild dogs and cars. Unless you guys help us, some people reckon, we will be extinct in the wild by 2050. The latest bushfires were also dreadful as they were so severe and hotter than normal due to excessive fuel loads on the forest floor so, please clean up our forests and practice sensible fuel load management so when there are bush fires in future, my mates and I, and all the other little animals that live in the bush, have a better chance of survival. I would like to thank the Belco Party for adopting me and I'd encourage as many people in the ACT and south eastern NSW to also adopt a koala. If they can't afford $25 per month, make a one-off donation to the WWF or similar organisations that look after my mates and other endangered animals" Blinky Belco said. Blinky Belco, Bill and Alan advise would be donors to contact the WWF on 1800 032 551 or write to them on "enquiries@wwf.org.au" or "wwf.org.au" to find out the details on how to adopt a koala or make a donation. "We thank you in anticipation of your support" Blinky, Bill and Tutty.
Contact: Bill Stefaniak M: 0420 300 807