July Newsletter 2024 - James Milligan MLA

From my Desk

Business – small, medium or large, are collectively recognised by the community as highly important contributors to the economy and provide significant employment opportunities.

Yet many small businesses are taken for granted, subject to government overreach, and often ignored in relation to basic services befitting the rates, fees and taxes they all pay.

A Liberal ethos is that everyone should have the opportunity to develop and prosper and many people opt to go into business to achieve their aims, create a great product or service, employment and dare I say it, make a profit.

Mitchell has been neglect from this government for far too many years. It is more than disappointing that when I chat with small business owners in the area, they spend more time talking about issues they have lobbied the government on with no response than chatting about how business has been. Issues such as parking, tree and nature strip maintenance, line marking, police patrols in response to theft, robbery, graffiti and vandalism, illegal dumping, commercial rates, and a regular bus schedule.

Its time the government take note and address these concerns from local business owners, their staff and customers who visit this business precinct.

Thriving local businesses often feature prominently in giving back to the community.

Firstly, let’s support local business where we can, and secondly send a clear message this October and vote out this tired, out of touch, Labor/Greens government.

Out and About

Although the weather has been cold, I have done my best to stay out and about this past month. I had my final Hot Chocolate event in Nicholls last month, before the election campaign starts in earnest. Thank you again to those who came down.

I have also done a considerable amount of doorknocking in Harrison and Crace, while myself and my team of volunteers have been phone canvassing both Crace and Palmerston. If you live in these suburbs, have you seen me about, or answered a call from my office? Let me know! I also am down at the Gungahlin town centre almost evey weekend, so if you see me out be sure to pop over for a chat!

If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes to complete my community survey: Your Suburb, Your Say. It will take you less than 3 minutes to fill out, but will provide me with the issues facing your suburb, and what I can do to help. The survey can be found here, if you could please spare a few minutes to complete it.

Well, the election is offically 93 days away! Seems so close yet so far and there is still a lot of work that needs to be done before polling day, on October 19th. If you are free and interested in helping out with my campaign, please get in touch by replying to this email, or filling out our form, here. Any help you might be able to offer would be greatly appriciated.

If you live in the Yerrabi electorate, can I count on your first prefrence vote at the pollng booths this October?

Portfolio

It was a privilege earlier this month to attend the ACT Fire & Rescue’s newest firefighters, Recruit College 50 Graduation and demonstration. The latest cohort of fire crew graduated in front of their families and friends at the ESA Training Centre, after 22 weeks of rigorous training.

Amongst the new graduates was my own friend, Jeremy Cropper, who started his training in February of this year. It’s been a tough few months he tells me, as they are shown how to think quickly and respond appropriately to high-pressure situations. He and the others will be joining stations around the ACT in the coming days, after a few days well earned rest.

As the Shadow Minister for Emergency Services it was also interesting to be shown over the ACT’s new electric fire truck. Tim and Ken were happy to show me through the vehicle, highlighting all the advances in technology and supports for our Fire personal. They assure me that training has finally started on the plug-in hybrid electric heavy duty fire truck, which has sat unused since it’s arrival in the Territory late in 2023. In a question on notice, the Minister did assure me they hoped the vehicle would become operational sometime during 2024. But we know from experience all to well how those timelines go with this failing Labor/Greens government.

In the meantime, I wish Jeremy all the best in his future as a firefighter. Well done on our achievement, I wish you all the best. And thank you for choosing a career that shows your heart for the Canberra community.