Mary Porter AM MLA - Labor Member for Ginninderra

IT'S OFFICIAL

From the Porter Report September 2008 - IT'S OFFICIAL

Mary with constituents at her Mobile Office

Figures tabled in the Legislative Assembly confirmed Ginninderra MLA Mary Porter has made more representations to the Government on behalf of constituents than the 6 Liberal Opposition members put together.

The figures, contained in the answer to a Question on Notice tabled by the Chief Minister, show how many constituent representations have been made by each MLA and showed the Liberal Opposition combined have raised a total of 1448 matters, while Ms Porter has made 1655.

“I believe this job is about more than politics. It is about representing people and making sure they have a voice in Government, and that they have someone to talk to,” Ms Porter commented.

“The letters I write are more than just pieces of paper; they represent people's concerns. Concerns that I try to help resolve through my commitment to accessibility and action.”

Ms Porter began her mobile offices immediately after being elected in 2004 and has run almost 300 on Friday nights and on weekends at the Belconnen Markets and local shopping centres such as Nicholls, Charnwood, Jamison, Kippax, Kaleen, Florey and Hawker.

"The best way to represent your community is to listen to them, and the best way to do that is to make yourself accessible by being at their local shopping centre so they can just come up and speak with you about what ever their concerns may be, or the ideas they may have to help make Canberra a better place in which to live and bring up a family."

FIRST CLASS PUBLIC EDUCATION FACILITIES

From the Porter Report September 2008 - FIRST CLASS PUBLIC EDUCATION FACILITIES

Mary with Ginninderra School Principal Richard Powell and Education Minister Andrew Barr

Schools in Ginninderra are receiving funding of over $100 million for the upgrade of existing schools and the building of the new Ginninderra District School which will take its first pupils at the start of the 2009 school year.

This is part of the $350 million the ACT Government is investing in our public education system.

Also included in the program is $3.5 million for the new gymnasium at Belconnen High, $3.76 million for disabled access and general refurbishment at Hawker College and $280,000 for the refurbishment of Hawker Primary.

All public schools in the ACT have refurbishment programs in place and many have already been commenced with some having been completed.

An important part of the program is the provision for ICT upgrades which will see $20 million invested in the roll-out of fibre-optic to every public primary school in the ACT.

Funds have also been allocated to reduce class sizes to 21 in the critical early years and $4 million has been invested to boost the quality of teaching by providing incentives for teachers to undertake professional development.

The investment in specialised literacy and numeracy programs has also resulted in significant improvement for the competencies of Indigenous students, particularly in their early years

"As Chair of the Education Committee I am proud that I have been able to play an important part in public education being such a high priority of this Government" Ms Porter said.

GREENING CANBERRA

From the Porter Report September 2008 - GREENING CANBERRA

Mary planting native trees at Pierces Creek

150 Greening Australia volunteers recently set a per capita record by planting 4,000 native trees and shrubs on the slopes around Pierces Creek, an important part of Canberra's water catchment.

The area, which was devastated by the 2003 firestorms, has been part of a revegetation program since 2004 and has seen over 3,600 active volunteers plant more than 120,000 native trees and shrubs in that time.

Greening Australia has a target for this year of planting 50,000 native trees and shrubs and the latest plantings took this year's total past 38,000.

"I have been volunteering with Greening Australia since this program commenced" said Member for Ginninderra Mary Porter "and always look forward to catching up with those who are regulars and also meeting those who have come along for the first time.

"With all the talk about climate change we often feel powerless to do anything meaningful, but going out to the Cotter on a beautiful Sunday morning, and working with hundreds of other Canberrans, is one way that we are able to make a real difference.

"Something I have noticed over time is the number of young families that are now coming along. Its great to see children with their parents, and in many cases their grandparents, helping to dig the holes and plant the young trees.

"Its a great way for everyone to meet fellow Canberrans and to make a real contribution to our environment and I encourage Canberrans to become Greening Australia volunteers and make a real, practical contribution "

HEALTH-A MAJOR PRIORITY

From the Porter Report September 2008 - HEALTH-A MAJOR PRIORITY

Mary with Health Minister Katy Gallagher

Since coming to government, Labor has increased spending on public health by almost 90% with $889 million allocated in the 08/09 Budget, resulting in additional 172 hospital beds in our public hospitals and 9,600 elective surgery procedures.

As part of the new capital works, $90 million has been allocated for a new Women's and Children's Hospital and over $37 million has been committed for a new suite of mental health facilities.

$3.5 million has also been allocated for 16 fully staffed and equipped hospital beds to provide expanded intensive care , high dependency and coronary care services at Calvary Hospital.

There has also been an increase of more than 140% making expenditure on mental health services the second highest per capita spend in the nation.

One of the new mental health initiatives has been the establishment of a ground breaking 'step-up step-down' facility for young people suffering from a mental illness.

"The establishment of this facility was as a direct result of the recommendations made from the inquiry I initiated as the Deputy Chair of the Assembly Health Committee which looked at accommodation options for people living with a mental illness " Mary Porter said.

"1 in 5 in our community will suffer an episode of mental ill-health at some time, and they should not be seen in any way as different from those suffering other illnesses."