'Infrastructure for the future'

Labor's fibre-to-the-premises National Broadband Network scheme, promised to deliver to Kyneton and central Victoria within three years, will be the answer for rural homes, says Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters said.

Rachel Wattie

The Federal Coalition's fibre-to-the-node broadband plan, relying on a decaying copper network, has been branded inadequate.

Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, says Tony Abbott's scheme, which promises to deliver earlier and cheaper broadband to Australia, is "like building the Calder highway with dirt roads for off ramps", and Kyneton NBN Action leader, Andrew Hedge, says the copper network is "not up to the task".

The fibre-to-the-node plan has failed to address central Victorian residents' problems with internet access, Ms Chesters said.

But Labor's fibre-to-the-premises scheme, which is currently being rolled out, promising to deliver to Kyneton and central Victoria within three years, will be the answer for rural homes, Ms Chesters said.

"It means that more people can move into Kyneton and central Victoria, and bring their small business with them."

Kyneton residents would be able to 'telecommute' (work from home), or from a local 'hotspot', rather than having to commute all the way to Melbourne.

The Coalition's promised download speed of between 25 and 100 megabits per second by the end of 2016, and 50 to 100 megabits per second by 2019 is not fast enough, Ms Chesters said.

Labor's NBN, promising 100 meg this year and 1000 meg next year, is essential for healthcare, business and education opportunities.

"The future of our economy depends on homes and businesses being able to connect to the world in a faster way," she said.

"It's infrastructure for the future."

Kyneton NBN Action leader, Andrew Hedge, said the most important thing people in Kyneton want is to feel that they are on an equivalent service to people in the major cities.

Kyneton's current internet connection, ADSL2+, doesn't get half the top speed the technology should be able to get, he said.

"The copper is clearly not up to the task."

Meanwhile, Kosmac & Clemens Optometrists' senior optometrist Ed Kosmac, residing just eight kilometres out of Kyneton, doesn't have a copper line at all for internet, and has to rely on mobile broadband to access the internet - paying $59 for only 10 gigabytes per month.

"That's pretty much the maximum we can get," Mr Kosmac said.

The 10 gigabytes usually only lasts about two weeks, he said.

"So we are constantly going two weeks without internet."

"It certainly isn't adequate living on a mobile broadband service."

What is the National Broadband Network?

- Labor is currently rolling out the National Broadband Network (NBN) to Australia, promising construction will have started for 48855,500 homes and businesses by June 30, 2016.

- Labor has recently expanded its plan to include NBN availability to 4,900 homes and businesses in Castlemaine; 2,400 in Kyneton; 2300 in Romsey and Lancefield; and 1,000 in Maldon by June 30, 2016.

- The NBN provides speeds up to 100 megabytes this year, and up to 1000 megabytes next year.

- NBN replaces the copper network, which wasn't originally built with the internet in mind.

- With NBN, 93 per cent of Australian homes and businesses will have access to broadband with speeds reaching one gigabyte per second via fibre-to-the-premises scheme. The remaining seven per cent will have access to broadband speeds up to 12 megabits per second via fixed wireless and satellite technologies.

- Fibre-to-the-premises delivers broadband to Australians via an optic fibre, which is a thin glass or plastic strand that carries light along its length, and is capable of providing faster speeds than copper or wireless technologies.

- There is an increasing trend across countries such as Japan, South Korea, Denmark and Sweden to roll out fibre-to-the-premises as the preferred technology.

- According to a survey done by Australian-based marketing solutions provider, ExactTarget, 13 million Australians spend over 18 hours a day online, suggesting the government's investment into broadband services is appropriate.

Learning indigenous history

As part of National Reconciliation Week, grade five and six students from 11 of our local schools this week had the unique opportunity to learn about the history of the Wurundjeri people, the significance of Mt William Stone Axe Quarry in Lancefield and the Sunbury Rings. Macedon Ranges Shire Council and the Wurundjeri Tribe Land & Compensation Cultural Heritage Council Elders made presentations to the school children at the Kyneton Town Hall on Wednesday.

In October, the students will visit the Mt William green stone quarry site to experience firsthand this local prehistorical aboriginal site.

Pictured from left are Jude (Malmsbury PS), Maggie (Woodend PS), Annette Xiberras (custodian of Mt William Stone Axe Quarry), Willy Xiberras, Stuart (Woodend PS) and Sarah-Cait (Malmsbury PS). Photo: Chris Fleming

Campaigning for schools - Labor candidate launches education petition

Woodend Primary School principal, Andy Kozak, and Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters with her petition. Photo: Chris Fleming

Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters visited Woodend Primary School last week to launch her 'Macedon Ranges supports Fairer Funding for our Schools' campaign.

Ms Chesters said the Federal Labor government has put on the table millions of dollars for Macedon Ranges schools that deserve and need this funding to help ensure our kids get the best education for the best start in life. 

"Right now, the Liberal State Government and Federal Opposition are refusing to back the plan," Ms Chesters said. 

"Under Labor's National Plan for School Improvement, Victorian schools would benefit from an extra $4 billion, or about $1.8 million per school on average, over the next six years. 

"With one in 12 students not reaching minimum education standards, this is money that Macedon Ranges schools like Woodend Primary School need, and need right now."

Ms Chesters said that under Labor's plan all schools would be funded through a fairer system which is based on the needs of individual students and provides extra, targeted support for schools and students who need it most.

"Liberal State Premier Denis Napthine's decision not to invest in education is devastating for central Victorian schools, parents and children.

"Instead of putting Victorian schools first, Denis Napthine has turned his back on our students and resorted to slashing vital education funding.

"That's why we're launching this campaign. 

We are calling on Premier Napthine to follow the example of his NSW colleague, Premier Barry O'Farrell, and sign up to our plan to deliver a better deal for Victorian schools.

"The Federal Government has put a fair deal on the table for Mr Napthine - offering to invest two dollars for every extra one dollar they put in. This would ensure all schools get the funding they need to deliver the best education.

"Now it is up to everyone in the Macedon Ranges to get behind this campaign and demonstrate to the State and Federal Liberals that we support the National Plan for School Improvement and that Bendigo wants the funding that is on the table for our achools."

An online petition supporting the plan can be signed by visiting Ms Chesters' Facebook page facebook.com/lisachestersbendigo and clicking the link.

Budget fails our schools

Kylie Kitchen

High priority education projects have been overlooked in the Victorian budget, to the detriment of schooling in the Macedon Ranges. 

The budget, released on Tuesday night, has failed to fund the K-12 Kyneton Education Plan, failed to commit to the Federal Government's National Plan for School Improvement (Gonski reform), and failed to reinstate TAFE funding. 

Australian Education Union Victorian Branch president, Meredith Peace, said this government has cut public education funding in real terms by at least $155 million over the next 12 months.

"The AEU has repeatedly called on the State Government to invest in public education, which is critical to the state's economic and social future," Ms Peace said.

Local Labor members of parliament have criticised the budget and its impacts on education in the Macedon Ranges. 

Labor State MP for Ballarat East, Geoff Howard said the budget is a huge letdown for the region.

"I am very disappointed that the K-12 Kyneton Education Plan did not receive any funding. For the third year in a row no school in the entire Ballarat East electorate has been listed to receive any major upgrade funding," he said.

"Our education system deserves better."

Mr Howard raised concern about the overall $69 million cut to education which is declared as 'savings' or 'reprioritisation and adjustments'.

Federal Labor Member for McEwen, Rob Mitchell, said the state's reduction in education spending proves the urgent need to reform school funding.

That is the aim under the National Plan for School Improvement. It is the Federal Government's response to the Gonski Review of Funding for Schooling.

The plan is a partnership project in which the Federal Government is awaiting state governments across the country to sign up to. So far only NSW has signed up. 

This budget was Victoria's opportunity to be part of the Gonski plan, with the agreement time closing on June 30.

Under the plan, schools across the country (in states that are signed up) would benefit from an extra $14.5 billion in public investment over the next six years along with better funding indexation. The NPSI would provide $9,271 per primary school student and $12,193 for high school students.

"If Premier Napthine will only act and sign up to our plan for better schools then there will be $4 billion more flowing to Victoria schools over the next six years, and the targeted funding available under national partnerships will be permanently locked in," Mr Mitchell said.

"But if we don't change the current school funding system, then our schools will miss out on $1.2 billion over the coming years due to expiring national partnerships and lower indexation rates."

Federal Labor candidate for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters said the state's decision not to invest in education is devastating for central Victorian schools, parents and children.

"(On Wednesday), I was in Kyneton meeting with school principals, teachers and students about the urgent needs of their schools. To be frank, their urgent needs list is just too long."

"This is on top of the $555 million the State Government has already ripped from our schools since coming to power."

Ms Chesters said if Mr Napthine refuses to sign up to the Labor Government's National Plan School Improvement, Victorian schools and students will be hit twice as hard.

"The Federal Government has put a fair deal on the table for Mr Napthine - offering to invest two dollars for every extra one dollar they put in."

State Liberal Member for the Northern Victoria, Donna Petrovich is yet to comment on the issues with education funding, but said the government is committed to improving Victorian lifestyle by investing in education, infrastructure, health, transport, environment and the economy.

"The Victorian Coalition Government's 2013-14 Victorian State Budget invests in major infrastructure and high-quality services for all Victorians, while ensuring Victoria's finances remain the strongest in the nation," Ms Petrovich said.