Last Week, Tony Abbott announced that a Coalition government will build a 15,000 strong Green Army and provide real and practical solutions to local environmental issues.

If elected, the Green Army will become the largest standing environmental workforce in Australia’s history and deliver hundreds of on-the-ground environmental projects each year across Australia.

The Green Army, primarily made up of young people, will clean up riverbanks, creek beds and revegetate sand dunes, as well as undertake remediation and conservation projects around Australia.

At the same time as improving the local environment, the Green Army will foster teamwork, local ownership and community spirit in our young people.  Participants will also receive training and a training wage which will be a stepping stone to more opportunities.

It should be a means for young people to gain a meaningful understanding of what it is like to be part of something bigger than themselves.

The Coalition will deliver a cleaner environment and a more sustainable future without the impost of a Carbon Tax which is causing real economic damage to our economy and the living standards of Australians.

By strengthening the economy and living within our means, the Coalition will be able to take direct action to improve the environment and reduce carbon emissions in a practical and affordable way.

Click here to read more about the Coalition’s policy to build a Green Army which is part of our Real Solutions Plan to build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia.

Newsagents, dry cleaners, butchers, restaurants, fruit shops and small businesses across Bonner will benefit from the Coalition’s policy to reduce red and green tape says Ross Vasta, Member for Bonner.

“No matter where I go through Bonner small business owners and community groups tell me they are spending more time than ever complying with red tape.           

“Small business owners are expected to be the chief salesperson, the HR manager, the financial controller and the lawyer.  It’s a tough ask at the best of times, and even tougher when you are expected to comply with more and more regulation.

“Small businesses don’t have compliance departments – and nor should they.  We need common sense to prevail again.

 “Under the Rudd-Gillard Government, 21,000 additional regulations have been added despite having promised to cap the growth of regulation.

‘Our policy will cut $1 billion in red and green tape costs every year – that means more jobs, more productive businesses, more efficient government and less costs to consumers and taxpayers.

Ross Vasta said the Coalition’s policy to Boost Productivity and Reduce Regulation will shift the focus from more regulation to less. 

If elected, a Coalition government will undertake a range of measures to deregulate the economy. These include:

• Repealing Labor’s carbon tax;
• Setting aside two Parliamentary sitting days for the repeal of legislation each year;
• Reporting to Parliament annually on red and green tape reduction;
• Creating a dedicated unit within each department and agency that is charged with driving red tape reduction;
• Linking the remuneration of senior public servants to quantified and proven reductions in red tape;
• Establishing a one-stop-shop for environmental approvals;
• Allowing small businesses to remit compulsory superannuation payments made on behalf of workers directly to the Australian Taxation Office;
• Transferring administration of paid parental leave from business to the Family Assistance Office; and
• Amending the Future of Financial Advice legislation to reduce compliance costs for small business financial advisers.

Ross Vasta said he recognised that all modern economies need regulation, but excessive regulation results in more costs than benefits and destroys the incentive to work, or in the case of community groups, it destroys the incentive to volunteer.  The Coalition will restore the balance.

“I want to make it easier for small businesses to employ people and for community groups to do their work without worrying about red tape.

“My message to Bonner small businesses is that the Coalition has a smart plan to cut red tape and costs and that starts with the removal of the carbon tax.