Feature Story

Macquarie Ice Rink

The ultimate in playgrounds for those who enjoy playing in the cold, the iconic Macquarie Ice Rink provides the perfect excuse to dust off your skates and take to the ice. Located within the Macquarie Shopping Centre, it offers a broad range of skating disciplines including ice dance, theatre on ice and ice hockey. Perfect for families, in addition to birthday party hosting, learn to skate sessions and mega skate sessions, it offers Friday night disco nights and even has a kiddies club for an hour each Monday and Friday during school terms.

WHEN: Open every day except Christmas Day WHERE: Level 1 Upper of the Macquarie Shopping Centre COST: From $27 for adults, $25 for children. Under-5s pay $10 with a full paying adult

The Winter Village

Sydney winters can be underwhelming in the frost department, but there are few better chances to break out our winter woollies than when the Winter Village makes its Sydney debut. Staged across five separate locations across the country and featuring a homage to all things frosty, this event offers regular snow showers alongside ice skating and food and drink pop-ups. Highlights include the chance to secure a private igloo for dining under the stars, with a hefty menu on offer with fried chicken bites, mac ‘n’ cheese croquettes, dirty fries, and chocolate ice cream sandwiches for dessert to warm your bones and soul.

WHEN: To be announced WHERE: Parramatta COST: Free but some events may be ticketed

Vivid 2021

Spark your sense of wonder and give in to your inner child by making Sydney’s most famous festival of lights and music your must-do winter activity. The opportunities for sensory overload are endless with you and your family able to view mesmerising art displays and 3D light projections, listen to an eclectic line-up of musical performers or lose yourself in thought-provoking talks and workshops from some of the world’s greatest minds.

WHEN: 6-28 August WHERE: Various locations across Sydney COST: Free but some events may be ticketed

Sydney Solstice

Sydney Solstice redefines the longest night of the year, with a 12-day celebration highlighting the city’s music, food, drink, arts and culture offerings. Four local precincts surrounding the CBD, Darling Harbour, Oxford Street and Newtown will feature more than 80 attractions for every age and appetite. Here’s a chance to revisit your favourite city locations and see how Sydney Solstice has transformed them into a dance stage (Chinatown), winter wonderland (Darling Harbour) or unexpected music venue (Sydney Observatory, the inner west and beyond). Sydney Solstice also invites you to discover new places – such as the CBD’s buzzing new small-bar district and the new South Eveleigh precinct – while also allowing you to explore the city’s hidden corners.

WHEN: 8-20 June WHERE: Various locations COST: varies

State-wide winter adventures

For those with a bit more time on their hands (school holidays start end of June), here are some far-flung options:

Pie Time in Southern Highlands

The Southern Highlands will be celebrating the iconic Aussie pie throughout June, with hundreds of events, activities and festivals such as Pie Teas, the Pie Fest in Bowral, Pie-Cycle tours and Sweety Pie and Bubbles experiences.

WHEN: 1-30 June

A painter’s journey in Corowa

Follow in the century-old footsteps of English-born Australian artist Tom Roberts on the new Shearing the Rams Trail in Corowa. The new hiking track explores significant sites surrounding Roberts’ stay in the region, including the Brocklesby Station, now famous in his 1890 Shearing the Rams painting.

WHEN: From now and ongoing

Guided coastal hike at Lake Macquarie

The rugged coastline of Lake Macquarie, on NSW’s Central Coast, is, so they say, best explored on foot. If that sounds tempting, check out the new CoastXP’s Caves Guided Coastal Hike. On the two-hour, 8.5-kilometre trek, you’ll discover sea caves, spot native wildlife, wander by spotted gum forests and learn about local geology, Indigenous history and conservation of this precious coastal paradise.

WHEN: From now and ongoing

Visit Coolamon Railway Station

A new sun-filled café has opened at the heritage Coolamon Railway Station, in the country town of Coolamon in The Riverina – perfect for a three or four day adventure. The Station Collective celebrates coffee, conversation and community, and on the menu expect house-made cookies, delicious lunches and iced tea made with native Aussie ingredients.

WHEN: From now and ongoing

BUDGET 2021 SECURING AUSTRALIA’S RECOVERY

While COVID-19 is still far from over, Australia is on the road to recovery.

The 2021 Budget is the next stage of the Morrison Government’s economic recovery plan. It includes: • Further income tax relief; • New apprenticeships and • Substantial new investments • Incentives for investments skills training; in aged care, health, mental and jobs; • More infrastructure; and health and the NDIS.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Australia was the first advanced economy to have more people employed than pre-COVID. Last year, Australia’s economy contracted by 2.5% – compared to 5% for Canada and Japan and over 8% for the UK, France and Italy. Housing starts are at the highest level in 20 years. There’s more to be done, but our plan is working.

INVESTMENT FOR JOBS

Over 99% of businesses, employing 11 million workers, can write off the full value of eligible assets purchased. For example, this encourages a tradie or farmer to buy a vehicle or harvester or helps a manufacturer expand their production line. TAX RELIEF

Over 10 million low and middleincome earners are getting additional tax relief this year – up to $1,080 for individuals or $2,160 for couples. This rewards hard work and generates activity, which helps local businesses and creates jobs. SKILLS AND TRAINING

The Morrison Government is supporting 450,000 new training places through the JobTrainer Fund. 50% wage subsidies will support more than 170,000 new apprenticeships and traineeships.

SUPPORTING CHILDCARE

The Government will increase the Child Care Subsidy for families with more than one child up to five in childcare. This will benefit around 250,000 families. The Government will also remove the $10,560 cap on the Child Care

Subsidy. HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH

The Budget includes new medicines listed on the PBS to treat breast cancer, lung cancer, severe osteoporosis, severe asthma and chronic migraines. Further mental health funding will provide more headspace centres, a new network of 40 Head to Health centres and more services through

Medicare.

HOME OWNERSHIP

The Morrison Government is encouraging home ownership by: expanding the First Home Super Saver Scheme; helping 10,000 more first home buyers build a home with a 5% deposit; and helping 10,000 single parents purchase a home with a 2% deposit. IMPROVED AGED CARE

A further $17.7 billion is being committed to significantly improve the aged care system. This includes another 80,000 new home care packages (bringing the total to 275,000). It also includes supporting 33,000 new training places for personal carers, higher payments for residential care, upgrading care in regional areas and stronger regulation. WOMEN’S SAFETY

This Budget invests a further $1.1 billion in women’s safety, including: more emergency accommodation; more legal assistance; more counselling; and more financial support for those escaping abusive relationships.

BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE

The Morrison Government is investing in a 10-year, $110 billion infrastructure pipeline to ease congestion, improve safety and build our economic future. The Budget includes substantial measures to encourage more R&D and onshore manufacturing. The Budget also includes further investment in dams and irrigation projects and technologies to reduce greenhouse emissions. KEEPING AUSTRALIANS SAFE

The Government is providing an additional $1.9 billion over the decade to strengthen our national security, law enforcement and intelligence agencies. To be prepared for a world that is less stable and more contested, the Government is also investing $270 billion over 10 years in our defence capability.

BUDGET BENEFITS FOR NORTH SYDNEY

Further tax relief this year for around 63,100 taxpayers

1,140 local apprentices

already supported by wage subsidies Around 34,300 local businesses can benefit from investment incentives

$3.8 billion for New South Wales infrastructure projects

PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT

Australia’s emissions are now 19% lower than in 2005 and are at their lowest level since 1995. We have the world’s highest uptake of rooftop solar in the world. In this Budget we are investing a further $1.6 billion to fund priority technologies, including clean hydrogen and energy storage. The Morrison Government is also investing in upgrading recycling capabilities. The Budget includes $100 million in additional funding to protect our oceans.

1,470 local families will benefit from more Child Care Subsidy

359,892 local telehealth

services through Medicare, since start of pandemic

TRENT ZIMMERMAN MP