Bob Debus for Macquarie E-news #4

Dear supporter,

In recent months I have been busy speaking to Macquarie residents about the issues that concern them. Time and again I am hearing about working families who are struggling with increasing living costs and balancing work and family.

In response, Kevin Rudd has outlined Labor's plan to give responsible tax cuts to working families, while investing more heavily in childcare and education to set our children on the right path.

Along with returning fairness to the workplace, investing in skills training, health care and education, these initiatives are about providing immediate assistance to working families while putting our nation on the right path for future prosperity.

Sincerely,
Bob Debus

P.S. Don't forget to check out my website, www.bobdebus.com, where you can keep up to date with the campaign, get information about events and find out more about Labor's vision for Macquarie.

Campaign updates:
Labor's tax plan: a big win for working families in Macquarie

Local working families will be the big winners from Labor's tax plan, with tax cuts to help with the rising cost of living, and a 50 per cent education tax refund to help secure the nation's long-term prosperity.

All families who receive Family Tax Benefit (Part A) will be eligible for Labor's new $2.3 billion education tax refund for eligible education expenses including:

§ Laptops
§ Home computer and associated costs
§ Home internet connection
§ Printers
§ Education software
§ School text booksWith the new 50 per cent education tax refund, a family with three children, over the course of their children's education, would receive assistance up to $21,375.

Labor's Tax Plan for Australia's Future will also:

§ Provide tax cuts of equal value to those proposed by the Coalition for people earning up to $180,000 per year
§ Defer the Coalition's proposed tax cuts for people earning more than $180,000, saving around $3 billion over the Forward Estimates
§ Direct $400 million of the savings into an initiative to drive down elective surgery waiting lists across Australia

Child care relief for Macquarie families

Kevin Rudd's $1.5 billion Affordable Child Care Plan to slash child-care costs by lifting the child care tax rebate from 30 per cent to 50 per cent is great news for Macquarie families.Labor's Affordable Child Care Plan will:

§ Increase the child care tax rebate to 50 per cent, covering up to $7500 a year of out-of-pocket costs
§ Pay the 50% child care tax rebate every three months, so parents no longer have to wait one to two years to receive their money
Parents want to make sure that child care is high-quality and affordable.

Labor's plan will help families by doing just that.

After 11 years of inaction on child care by the Howard Government, during which time the cost of child care has doubled, this issue needs urgent action.

In the Blue Mountains alone, more than 200 children under two years are on long day-care waiting lists, with more than 100 children aged between two and five also waiting for places. This year alone, 11 of the 12 long day-care centres in the Mountains raised their fees, some by up to 10 per cent, with the average cost of full-time care rising to $280 per week.

What will Labor's Affordable Child Care Plan mean for local families?

§ A family with an income of $80,000 and one child in long day care for 40 hours a week will receive almost $1500 of additional assistance each year.
§ A family with an income of $50,000 and one child in long day care for 40 hours a week will receive more than $1000 of additional assistance each year.
§ A family with an income of $35,000 and one child in long-day care for 20 hours a week will receive $330 of additional assistance each year, with 85 per cent of their total child-care costs covered by a Rudd Labor Government.

Check out the facts on the Howard Government

The Howard Government talks a lot about their record, but what are the facts on their performance over 11 years in government?

Now you can go to www.howardfacts.com and find out about:

§ Mr Howard and Mr Turnbull's plan to build 25 nuclear reactor power plants across Australia
§ The five key facts Mr Howard doesn't want you to know about interest rates (Remember his promise at the 2004 election to 'keep interest rates at record lows')
§ Mr Howard's failure to act on climate change and water for 11 years
§ Mr Howard's unfair and extreme WorkChoices laws that, according to the Government's own research, have stripped away working conditions from thousands of Australians
§ The real facts on John Howard's claim that 'working families have never been better off'

Get the facts: www.howardfacts.com

Events
St Finbars Fete

Please come and join me this Saturday (October 27) at the annual St Finbars Fete, in Levy St, Glenbrook. People come from far and wide to this community event, which raises up to $14,000 for the school.

Attractions include the Fins Finery (craft stall), Classy Cuisine, plants, vintage items, cakes, chocolate wheel, cappuccinos, pancakes and barbecue.

" Weathering Politics: Why I Joined the Kevin Rudd Team"
With guest speaker Mike Bailey – Labor Candidate for North Sydney

Enjoy high tea in Katoomba or afternoon tea in Bathurst with former ABC weatherman and Labor candidate for North Sydney Mike Bailey as he speaks about weathering politics and why he joined Kevin Rudd's team.

Mike has harboured an interest in politics during his 35 years in broadcasting, including 20 years as the ABC's weatherman, so he leapt at the challenge of standing for the seat of North Sydney, despite needing a swing of 10 per cent to unseat Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey.

Mike is committed to taking action on climate change, developing a fairer and more balanced industrial relations system and building a better health system.

Katoomba:
When: 11am-1pm , Sunday November 4
Where: The Carrington Hotel, Katoomba Street
Cost: $25
Tickets: Megalong Books, Leura or phone Kathie Herbert 4782 3384 or Naomi Parry 4782 7593.

Bathurst:
When: 3pm-5pm , Sunday 4 November
Where: Bathurst Regional Art Gallery, 70-78 Keppel Street
Afternoon tea provided

What you can do:

Help with the Campaign

There are plenty of jobs to do leading up to the big day. If you are able to help by volunteering in one of our campaign offices, letterboxing, doorknocking, staffing a polling booth on Election Day, or putting a Bob Debus poster in your front yard, car window or shopfront, please contact your nearest campaign office.

The nasty election trolls have surfaced already. Many people from the Blue Mountains report that their Bob Debus yard signs have been stolen from fences and front lawns. If this has happened to you, please contact our campaign team.

Donate

While Kerry Bartlett has access to thousands of dollars worth of taxpayer funded campaign material, we rely on community support us as we continue to fight for working families across the electorate. Any contribution big or small would be most welcome. Donations up to $1500 are completely tax deductible. Cheques can be made out to 'ALP NSW Branch – Bob Debus for Maquarie Campaign' and sent to PO Box 636, Katoomba 2780.

Contact the Campaign:

I am available to meet directly with local residents to discuss federal issues. Simply contact our team to arrange a time at our offices in Bathurst, Springwood or Lithgow.

General Campaign Contact
Ph: 1300 785 185
Fax: 1300 785 186
E: bob.debus@alp.org.au

Bathurst Office
Ph: (02) 6331 6488
Fax: (02) 6332 3388
Mail: PO Box 262
BATHURST, NSW 2795
Office:137 George St, Bathurst

Springwood Office
Ph: (02) 4751 4239
Fax: (02) 4751 4501
Mail: PO Box 636
KATOOMBA, NSW 2780
Office: 13/125 Macquarie Rd, Springwood

Lithgow Office
Ph: 6352 5570
Office: 50 Main St, Lithgow

Please pass this email on to interested friends, family and workmates. To sign up for future bulletins, email SUBSCRIBE to bob.debus@alp.org.au. If you no longer wish to receive them email UNSUBSCRIBE to bob.debus@alp.org.au.

Bob Debus | Labor Candidate for Macquarie
Springwood Campaign Office
Ph: 02 4751 4239 | Fax: 02 4751 4501
bob.debus.springwood@bigpond.com