TABLE OF CONTENTS

From Julie’s Desk

25 Anniversary
Landcare Grants
From Julie's Desk
Dear Curtin resident
th

First Ebola survivor
discharged from
Australian-managed
Ebola clinic

Supporting small
business in Subiaco

New Colombo Plan 2015
Scholars

Curtin surf clubs receive
funding boost

Curtin Snapshots
Keep up to date with
what Julie is doing for
Curtin and Australia.
Please Visit:
www.juliebishop.com.au
www.foreignminister.gov.au
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The start of a new year is an
opportunity for the Coalition
Government to build upon
the achievements of 2014
and to renew our focus on
building a strong and
prosperous economy and a
safe and secure Australia.
In the aftermath of the
Martin Place siege and the
attacks in Paris, the
Government will continue to
do everything in its power to
keep our community safe. In
2014, we made
unprecedented
commitments to bolster our
nation’s security, including a
$630 million boost to our
security and intelligence
agencies, and new coutner-terrorism laws. We must stand against these
barbaric acts, and confront and challenge the murderous ideology that gives
rise to terrorism.
We continue to work to deliver our Economic Action Strategy to fix the
Budget and tackle the debt we inherited. The latest Dun and Bradstreet
Business Expectations Survey shows a further improvement in the three
month outlook for businesses. It’s now expected that job creation, capital
investment and sales will move ahead of last year’s levels across the first
quarter of 2015.
Economic growth has strengthened over the past year from 1.9 to 2.7% and
new business creations are at their highest recorded level. In 2014 there
were 223,013 new companies registered in Australia – an increase of 10.2%
from the level in 2013.
I take this opportunity to wish the Curtin community all the best for 2015.
Best wishes
Julie
25th Anniversary Landcare Grants
Meeting with Friends of Lake Claremont secretary Claire Brittain at the future
rehabilitation site at Lake Claremont.
Environmental groups in the electorate of Curtin will receive a funding
boost to undertake practical action to conserve and protect the local
environment.
I announced the Australian Government will provide $39,500 to Friends of
th
Lake Claremont and Cambridge Coastcare under the 25 Anniversary
Landcare Grants round.
A total of 291 successful projects across Australia will share in $5 million as
part of the National Landcare Programme.
The grants were focused on engaging the community to deliver local
projects which will have lasting benefits for the environment.
We all have a part to play in caring for our land and these projects are one
way we can ensure that our natural environment is healthy for future
generations.
I am delighted to see the Curtin community involved in projects to protect
and restore their local environment. The Australian Government is investing
over $2 billion in managing Australia’s natural resources over the next four
years, putting Landcare back at the centre of natural resource management.
Friends of Lake Claremont secretary Claire Brittain said the grant will help
infill remnant bushland to the west of Lake Claremont.
Claire said the site has one of the few areas of original bushland left at the
lake but has been degraded by various uses over the decades. This grant
forms part of an ongoing project which the Friends of Lake Claremont
Limited have been undertaking for 6 years, revegetating the Buffer zone and
Woodland around Lake Claremont.
First Ebola survivor discharged from
Australian-managed Ebola clinic
This month I announced the
first patient successfully
treated at the Australianfunded Ebola clinic in Sierra
Leone has been discharged
with a clean bill of health.
Eleven-year-old Aminata
Bangura was collected from
the clinic by family members
last week, having fully
recovered from Ebola.
Tragically, Aminata has lost
several of her family members
to the deadly disease. Her
father paid tribute to the
dedication of Australian and
New Zealand clinic staff, who
are working to put an end to
this epidemic. Clinic staff have
set up a hand print wall for the
survivors - Aminata’s is now the first print on the wall.
The Australian-managed Ebola Treatment Centre at Hastings Airfield, near
Freetown in Sierra Leone opened in December 2014. The clinic has
admitted 37 patients to date and 26 patients are currently receiving
treatment. As well as Aminata, two other patients have been successfully
treated to date.
I also thank and welcome home the first Australian health workers who
have returned to Australia after their deployment. In line with national,
state and territory guidelines, the health of returning workers will be
closely monitored to ensure their well-being, and that of the broader
Australian public. Our best wishes are with the Australian health
professionals currently working at the Hastings Airfield clinic.
Australia's total contribution to the Ebola response is now at $45 million,
including $23 million to manage and staff the Ebola Treatment Centre in
Sierra Leone.
Supporting small business in Subiaco
Last week, I took the opportunity to meet with small businesses in my
electorate to hear first-hand the challenges facing the industry.
Tokay Boutique in Subiaco is a ladies fashion label with clothes 100 per cent
designed and manufactured in Western Australia – it was a pleasure to meet
with partners Jennifer Stefanelli and Jessica McLagan and sales assistant
Hannah Mackley.
The Coalition Government believes small businesses and family enterprise
are the economic life blood of our country and we will continue to deliver
strong policy outcomes for this vital sector.
Since the election, the Government has implemented a number of positive
policies including cutting over $2 billion in red and green tape costs,
abolishing the carbon tax to reduce electricity costs and introducing
legislation to cut company tax rates by 1.5 per cent.
We are very fortunate in Subiaco to have such a great range of stores and I
encourage local residents to shop locally and support our small businesses.
New Colombo Plan 2015 Scholars
Four University of Western Australia undergraduates have been awarded
New Colombo Plan scholarships to live, study and work across the IndoPacific region next year.
Theodore Stapleton, Rebecca Lawrence, Anton Lucanus and James
Panarettos are among 69 undergraduates from across Australia who will
spend up to a year in one of 17 locations across the region.
Mr Panarettos also received the additional award of New Colombo Plan
Fellow, in recognition of his achievement as the top ranked scholar for
Singapore.
The recipients had demonstrated academic excellence, a strong commitment
to engaging with Australia’s neighbours and the character to represent
Australia with distinction.
Students will benefit directly from these opportunities to live, study and work
in the region, deepening their understanding of our neighbours and forging
friendships and professional connections that will last a lifetime.
Our students will return home with new insights and understanding about
the region that will help them to contribute to the economic and cultural life
of Curtin.
An additional 100 UWA students were also announced last week as the
recipients of New Colombo Plan mobility grants to be undertaken in
Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Singapore and South Korea.
Curtin surf clubs receive funding boost
Surf lifesaving clubs in the electorate of Curtin will receive a funding
boost to purchase safety equipment needed to prevent drownings at
local beaches.
The Australian Government would provide $25,000 each to the City of
Perth, Cottesloe, North Cottesloe, Floreat, Swanbourne-Nedlands and
Scarboro Surf Lifesaving Clubs over the next five years.
In the lead-up to the Federal Election, the Coalition Government
announced it would provide funding to assist clubs to purchase new rescue
equipment, first aid and medical supplies and we have delivered on that
promise.
As the Federal Member of a coastal electorate, I cannot emphasise enough
the importance of the patrols provided by surf lifesaving clubs – they have
ensured the safety and wellbeing of local residents and visitors to our
beaches for many years.
The Beach Safety Equipment Fund will provide support directly where it is
needed most, to ensure our lifesavers have the equipment they need to
keep people safe.
The 2013 Coastal Drowning Report, produced by Surf Life Saving Australia,
identified 121 coastal drowning deaths in Australia in 2013.
I thank the six surf lifesaving clubs in my electorate and their volunteers for
the critical support they provide in keeping our beaches safe this summer.
The programme is part of the Government’s $15 million package to cut
drowning deaths across the nation, which also includes a contribute of $2
million to the Beach Drowning Black Spot Reduction Programme and $1
million to produce, develop and distribute water safety messages and
educational material to over 1.5 million Australian children.
Curtin Snapshots
Joining WA Premier Colin Barnett at Cottesloe Beach on January 3 for the
start of the Cottesloe Classic Mile.
Congratulations to the Nedlands Under-10 Rugby Union team on winning
the annual Centaurs International Youth Tournament in Singapore in
December.
Meeting with directors of Bombora Wavepower to discuss renewable
energy initiatives, including wave powered technology.
Meeting with Carl Wheeler, Managing Director of Floreat Meats, to
discuss Australia’s meat export trade.
Please contact my office if I can be of assistance:
T 08 9388 0288
E [email protected]
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Authorised by Julie Bishop MP
414 Rokeby Road
Subiaco WA 600 8