NEWS
New drink and drug driving laws DRIVERS who are caught driving with a blood alcohol level of .05 or more will now lose their licence for three months under new drink driving laws that were introduced from the start of this month. As well as losing you’re their licence, drivers will also be required to complete a drink driver behaviour change program and get an alcohol interlock installed in any vehicle you drive (once re-licensed) for at least six months. This also applies to commercial drivers who commit their first drink driving offence with a blood alcohol content under .05.
Mall concepts on the table
AT last nights ordinary council meeting, Greater Sheppar ton Cit y Cou ncil councillors were presented with the four concept options put together by Spiire that outline ideas for the future of the Maude Street Mall. Option one includes, spending $15.8M that would see the mall opened up to two way traffic between Fryers and High Streets, with an art walk area created in Stewart Street, a possible playground
The changes to penalties are supported by research demonstrating that licence disqualification can cut repeated drink driving incidents by 70 percent and that using alcohol interlock devices can reduce repeated drink driving by 63 percent On top of the new laws for drink driving, those caught driving under the influence of illicit drugs will now lose their licence for a minimum of six months (instead of three) and will also need to complete a drug driver program before getting their licence back.
and ‘Riverine’ pocket park installed on the Fraser Street entrance as well as the planting of 54 new trees and the addition of 34 new car parks. Option two would cost $15.9M and would see one way traffic introduced from Fryers Street, exiting at Stewart Street and one way traffic from High Street and exiting at Stewart Street, with the addition of a ‘Riverine’ pocket park with an option to incorporate a playground at the Fraser Street entrance, the addition of a Stewart Street arts walk, 37 new car parks. Option three would cost $18.4M and would see no traffic introduced and would see a wake setter waterplay area, flexible
KNOW THE NEW RULES… There are some new laws that have been introduced for drug and drink drivers on the roads. Photo: Nicholise Garner.
event space, ‘Riverine’ pocket playspace, knowledge hub, canopy, an orchardists garden, urban lawn area and Stewart Street arts walk created with 20 new trees planted. Option four would come at a cost of $16.4M and would see two way traffic introcued from the High Street entrance to the centre of the mall and one way traffic introduced from the Fryers Street entrance that would exit at Stewart Street, as well as the installation of a ‘Riverine’ pocket park, wake setter waterplay area, flexible event space, urban lawn area, an orchardists garden and Stewart Street arts walk. See next week’s edition of The Adviser for the full story.
Winners in this year’s budget
WORKING Australians, small business, health, education, the elderly and security are the big winners in this year’s Federal Budget, with the government working to ensure a stronger economy is built to benefit all Australians. As part of the budget the plan is to deliver lower, fairer and simpler taxes to encourage and reward working Australians, back businesses to invest and create more jobs, building on our legislated tax cuts for small and medium enterprise, supporting businesses to compete globally, delivering infrastructure that industry and workers rely on; and targeting incentives to promote research, development and new technology and to guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on including record funding for hospitals and schools, a comprehensive approach to aged care so older Australians can live life to the full, and guaranteed funding for disability services. The budget also outlined the government’s plan to keep Australians safe by strengthening security at airports and investing more in our intelligence and security service so they can respond to new and challenging threats and to also protect our unique environment with smarter biosecurity systems and continue to safeguard our borders as well as working to ensure the government lives within its means with a forecast return to modest budget balance in 2019-20, increasing to a projected surplus of $11B in 2020-21. Member for Murray, the Hon Damian Drum said, “Our tax relief
plan will encourage and reward hard working Australians. 53,708 of taxpayers in Murray will receive a new offset of up to $530 a year under our plan to reduce cost pressures on household budgets. “There is great news for small businesses with the $20,000 instant asset write-off continuing for another year, helping small business invest in new equipment. This is on top of legislated tax cuts for small and medium businesses that are helping them to grow, create more jobs and pay higher wages.” The Turnbull-McCormack Government’s $75B rolling infrastructure plan will continue building the roads, rail and airport networks Australia needs to strengthen the economy, bust congestion in cities and make rural roads safer. “We are guaranteeing the essential services Murray families rely on, by increasing total health and hospitals funding by 30 percent, delivering a 50 percent average increase per student in fair, real needs based school funding over the decade, and more child care support to those families who need it most,” Mr Drum said. “As part of the Turnbull-McCormack Government’s commitment to guaranteeing essential services, our ‘More Choices for a Longer Life’ plan will help older Murray residents live healthy and connected lives with increased financial and skills support and 14,000 more home care places.”
The Adviser. Australia No. 1:1405 Wednesday, May 16, 2018 – Page 3
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