THE BYRON SHIRE ECHO Advertising & news enquiries: Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au http://www.echo.net.au VOLUME 21 #22 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2006 22,300 copies every week $1 at newsagents only
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‘Crazy Days’ point out funding Walk highlights global warming woes for preschools Lou Beaumont Community preschools across both metropolitan and country NSW recently held ‘Crazy Days’ in order to draw attention to the inadequate funding currently received by these preschools. The NSW government has a dual system of preschool funding. Over 800 community preschools, those protesting, are funded by the Dept of Community Services (DoCS). These DoCS schools receive an average of $74,000 a year. On the other hand, 100 preschools in
NSW are funded by the Department of Education (DET). These DET schools receive around $240,000 per centre per year. The inadequacy of funding for the DoCS funded community preschools means parents of preschoolers attending these schools must pay over $30 a day in fees. By comparison, parents of children in DET funded preschools have to contribute only two to five dollars a day. Melita Flynn of Mullumbimby Community Preschool said, ‘We want our
Premier, Mr Iemma, to know why we are crazy about preschool and why this crazy funding inequity must be corrected. Hence the need for the Crazy Days!’ DoCS funded preschools (community based preschools) called for an additional $136 million a year to bring their funding in line with that of the DET funded preschools. Melita said, ‘In June this year, the NSW state government released its Preschool Investment and Reform Plan, and while the plan continued on page 2
Fashion done to a tea at Shearwater
About 150 people turned up on a rainy Saturday morning in Byron Bay to take part in the local version of the nationwide Walk Against Warming, which called for practical action on climate change. The crowd gathered at the Peace Pole and heard speeches from activists before walking along the beachfront. Among them was deputy mayor Peter Westheimer, right, who had a double-barrelled message on his placard. Photo Jeff ‘Gerbil Warming’ Dawson
Page says no to nuclear power Michael McDonald Challenged by Greens candidate for Ballina John Bailey to make public his stance on nuclear power, sitting member for Ballina and NSW Nationals deputy leader Don Page said a firm no to the proposal. ‘David Suzuki was pretty spot on in his address to the Press Club,’ Mr Page told The Echo. ‘Nuclear power is much more expensive, it’s a macro technology, things can go wrong and the issue of waste disposal has not been properly addressed. ‘Global warming is a very real issue but there is a more important range of options in wind, solar and biofuel. While it is obvious Svea Bjorsson must’ve downed a lot of tea to come up with enough used tea bags It’s an issue which is above to create her winning ‘Kimono Teahouse’ costume, it would be impolite to discuss the ‘4,096 Twistpolitics. tops’ in similar terms. Ti Ao Awhero Little taped into her ancestry to bring her Maori character to life. ‘We have to learn to conWhile Carla Dawe’s ‘Lumiere de Glace’ shone. More than 3,000 people witnessed a production of Cecil sume less and enjoy more,’ B. DeMillion proportions, starring almost 100 wildly creative costume fantasies and a cast of thouMr Page said. sands at Shearwater school’s annual Wearable Arts event last Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Mr Page also attended Photos Jeff ‘Nip And Tuck’ Dawson
the Walk Against Warming in Byron Bay on the weekend and his address to SCU students in April this year concentrated on global warming. ‘As Australians we often live by the adage “She’ll be right mate”,’ Mr Page told students. ‘Even though Australia is responsible for only 1% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the world, we are the highest emitters of greenhouse gases on a per capita basis. ‘In any event, we will be affected like everyone else, regardless of our relative contribution to the problem. ‘Global warming is no longer an issue that can sit on the back burner. According to a feature article on global warming published in a recent edition of Time Magazine (a conservative publication), the world has
reached its tipping point and we must act now before it is too late.’ Mr Page also said, ‘I believe sustainable development and addressing climate change must be at the forefront of policy at all levels of government. We need leadership on this issue.’ The Greens strongly oppose the PM’s claims in the wake of the Stern report that nuclear power is a safe, viable alternative for replacing coal fired power plants as a solution to reducing Australia’s carbon emissions. ‘John Howard has made Australia a potential terrorist target by taking us into Iraq, and his comments abroad. ‘What better target to give terrorists than a nuclear facility?’ said Greens candidate John Bailey. ■ Comment, Mungo, page 8
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