Boral’s South Grafton plant closure criticised
August 13, 2008
The Federal Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, says Boral needs to make clear what commitment it has to the communities in which it operates.
In recent weeks Boral has announced the closure of plants in South Grafton and Walcha.
Ms Saffin says the CFMEU is understandably angry at the decision to close the mill and cut jobs, while still harvesting the local logs.
“I support the union’s call for the company to be held accountable on this issue,” she said.
Grafton ceremony to honour Korean War ceasefire
July 25, 2008
Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin will accompany the Federal Minister for Veteran Affairs, Alan Griffin, to the 55th anniversary of the Ceasefire of the Korean War wreath laying service at Memorial Park, Grafton, on Saturday at 1.30pm.
“It will be an honour to accompany the Minister to this wonderful commemorative event to honour the Armistice of the Korean War,” Ms Saffin said today.
“I congratulate John Fitzpatrick, secretary of the Grafton Korean War Veterans Association, who has been the principal driver for this weekend event here in Grafton
“He has done a fantastic job, along with Snowy McClymont, Mick Judge and their wives who have raised money towards this event.
Saffin, Cansdell seek best-practice model for Grafton’s GP Super Clinic
July 23, 2008
Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin has embarked on a fact-finding tour to find best-practice models that will help plan Grafton’s proposed $5-million GP Super Clinic.
Ms Saffin and State Member for Clarence Steve Cansdell last week inspected the Goonellabah Medical Centre, where two of its directors, Dr Andrew Binns and Dr David Guest, briefed them on how GPs and allied health professionals work as a team under one roof to improve patient care and achieve greater efficiencies.
The MPs last night in Grafton (Tuesday, July 22) gave their impressions of this local ’super clinic’ to a community consultation meeting attended by doctors and practice managers, public health administrators and users of the health system.
The Goonellabah Medical Centre has 12 consultation rooms which are used by seven GPs, four psychologists, a dietician and visiting specialists.
Saffin to host income support forums
July 18, 2008
Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin is hosting a series of six income support forums throughout the electorate over coming months.
The first of these forums will be held at Ballina RSL Club on Monday, July 21, from 11am.
The second is at South Grafton Ex-Servicemen’s Club on Wednesday, July 23, also from 11am.
Ms Saffin said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan in March announced that pensions would be comprehensively reviewed.
$1m boost for Grafton forest industry
July 10, 2008
The NSW Government has established the world’s largest pot-based breeding garden and advanced clonal propagation facility at the Grafton Forest Technology Centre, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.
“The Iemma Government has spent $1 million on this arboretum and clonal propagation centre, which will provide jobs and major benefits to the environment,” Mr Macdonald said.
“It will enable Forests NSW to produce seeds and rooted cuttings for sale nationally and internationally, using the latest technology in greenhouse design.
“The centre will play a major role in a State-funded project to adapt trees to help reduce carbon emissions in our atmosphere.
Yellow crazy ant eradicated from Yamba area
July 4, 2008
Yellow crazy ants — a highly invasive exotic pest that can build super colonies and devastate local fauna which were first detected near Yamba in 2004 — have been eradicated from NSW.
Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said: “An infestation of yellow crazy ants has been nipped in the bud at Goodwood Island wharf on the Clarence River near Yamba — the only known infection site in NSW.
The CSIRO says the Yellow Crazy Ant is probably native to tropical Africa, but has been spread world-wide by people.
The ant has been on Christmas Island for the past 70 years and has had an extremely destructive impact on the native fauna.
