You may have heard about the recent Daily Telegraph story alleging Parramatta City Council as the most extravagant and wasteful when it comes to catering expenses for Councillors and their staff, at the expense of the taxpayer. “… pastry cups filled with smoked chicken, fresh mango and coriander salsa and berry tarts: $106,075,” as quoted by the Daily Telegraph’s Vicki Campion. 

Tobacco smoking is the largest preventable cause of death and disease in Australia. It causes one in nine new cancers (10,000 cases every year) and one in five cancer deaths (more than 7500 cancer deaths every year). Smoking is also responsible for many cases of heart disease, stroke, chest and lung illnesses and stomach ulcers.

Parramatta City Council is weathering the financial storm with a break-even budget (ie Management Plan) that went on public exhibition in late May 2009. We adopted the draft budget which commits $127 million to services in the City with a further $40.2 million dedicated to infrastructure project.

The draft budget was launched to the local community, business and residents at an Expo on Thursday, 21 May 2009 with feedback sought before Council adopts the final draft budget.

Volumes of research demonstrate beyond doubt the positive contribution that intact, stable marriages make to the wellbeing of children and society. Marriage is the key. Australia needs to invest in it now if it is to deliver the best opportunities for its children in the future.