Small business – there are 2.1 million small businesses in Australia 🇦🇺 and ‘red tape’ and over-regulation are choking them.
The seed of this over-regulation lies in a lack of governing responsibility. How do we ensure regulation is valued and adhered to while also making sure it respects our small business owners? This is a united approach where we don’t throw out regulations that are needed, but we also don’t want to ‘turn the screws’ on business and create more work than is necessary.
The streamlining of Small Claims Tribunals to facilitate timely and inexpensive solutions to inter-business and customer/business disputes would be a commonsense priority to reduce the strangulating effect currently experienced by many small businesses.
The seed of this over-regulation lies in a lack of governing responsibility. How do we ensure regulation is valued and adhered to while also making sure it respects our small business owners? This is a united approach where we don’t throw out regulations that are needed, but we also don’t want to ‘turn the screws’ on business and create more work than is necessary.
The streamlining of Small Claims Tribunals to facilitate timely and inexpensive solutions to inter-business and customer/business disputes would be a commonsense priority to reduce the strangulating effect currently experienced by many small businesses.
Health, Welfare and Training Industries
‘Common Sense Sustainability’ is particularly pertinent to these areas, which comprise the vast and rapidly becoming unsustainable financial burden on the national economy. A lifestyle and personal responsibility approach to healthcare is absolutely necessary if we are to avoid the bankruptcy of the Medicare system.
Health in crisis – a tax on Big Sugar products and 'fake food' to begin to address the obesity crisis and its impacts on the health system...
Tightening of regulation on the processed food industry in line with current scientific findings on the effects of overconsumption of added sugar and salt on the human body and the resultant burden placed on the health dollar through out of control obesity and diabetes, and associated diseases is an urgent consideration.
This could be through a sugar tax on 'toxic foods' which are destroying the health of the population while subsidising sustainable food producers who are providing healthy alternatives that support the health of the population.
The regulation of the tobacco industry, which stretched over an inordinate 50 years, is a model to be emulated but the time frame is far more urgent.
Appropriate labelling of alcoholic beverages in light of medical information now available, as recently reported in The Lancet, should also be considered. This is not about prohibition but about education and transparent information that allows people a clear choice.
With lifestyle related illness and disease our number one killer it is clear that a personal responsibility approach in partnership with the modern wonders of medicine is imperative moving forward.
This could be through a sugar tax on 'toxic foods' which are destroying the health of the population while subsidising sustainable food producers who are providing healthy alternatives that support the health of the population.
The regulation of the tobacco industry, which stretched over an inordinate 50 years, is a model to be emulated but the time frame is far more urgent.
Appropriate labelling of alcoholic beverages in light of medical information now available, as recently reported in The Lancet, should also be considered. This is not about prohibition but about education and transparent information that allows people a clear choice.
With lifestyle related illness and disease our number one killer it is clear that a personal responsibility approach in partnership with the modern wonders of medicine is imperative moving forward.
Education and Training: time to bring back common sense principles, purpose and a people first approach
Education and Training have the potential to truly equip people in life and professional skills. But are they delivering well rounded and enthusiastic people ready and able to work and feel a sense of true purpose in their vocation?
Endless training courses to ‘disappear’ numbers from the unemployment statistics are a fig leaf we can no longer afford. On the job training, apprenticeships and the instilling of pride in service and workmanship are commonsense principles that have always worked as they are about people first, not about profit. Similarly education and training courses that are truly relevant to the jobs they are designed to educate students for, bring infinite value to our communities.
After all, people first is real profit.
Endless training courses to ‘disappear’ numbers from the unemployment statistics are a fig leaf we can no longer afford. On the job training, apprenticeships and the instilling of pride in service and workmanship are commonsense principles that have always worked as they are about people first, not about profit. Similarly education and training courses that are truly relevant to the jobs they are designed to educate students for, bring infinite value to our communities.
After all, people first is real profit.
Social Welfare – genuine support and empowerment?
The Welfare and Aboriginal Affairs Portfolios will similarly benefit from adopting best practice as well as a common sense and people first approach that respects all people as equals. Intergenerational unemployment, long term substance abuse and general feelings of hopelessness need to be addressed with services that bring genuine care, empowerment and purpose to the people they are designed for. Too often the deliberate stigmatisation of those in need (in order to receive funding), and red-tape bureaucracy, interfere with best practice and true support for those on the ground.
Bank Reform – swift implementation of the recommendations of the Banking Royal Commission and the re-establishment of a true 'national bank' for the people...
Urgent implementation of the recommendations of the Banking Royal Commission is required and many people are also saying to me that this needs to be extended to the re-establishment of a true ‘national bank’ for the people – one that is focussed on people and small business first and foremost and not on multi billion dollar profits and bloated executive bonuses.
Basic financial services along the lines of those provided by community banks could by this means be extended to all Australians. The cost of implementation would be minimised by providing this service largely online and locally through the face-to-face medium of Post Offices.
Basic financial services along the lines of those provided by community banks could by this means be extended to all Australians. The cost of implementation would be minimised by providing this service largely online and locally through the face-to-face medium of Post Offices.
Ray Karam is a renowned Northern Rivers based businessman and father of five school-aged children. He is currently running for the 2019 Federal seat of Richmond as an Independent A former police officer and now active local community man, Ray Karam brings a love of people and business to all aspects of his work in the community.
Policies & Values
Why Ray for Richmond? Here are a few good reasons
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Media Release
What happens when a local candidate has a wife who can do the Robot??
When Ballina Mayoral candidate Ray Karam decided he was going to run for local council the first person he asked for support was his wife Sarah Karam. He would never have guessed this is what would happen next... Realising the need for greater awareness around how to vote as well as who to vote for Sarah and Ray came together to create this video to 'Represent' the essence of local politics.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW. >>> READ THE FULL STORY
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW. >>> READ THE FULL STORY
Ray in Business: Nourish Bulk Health Organic, Nourish Distributors NSW, In-Detail Car Cleaning, Belle Central and The Belle General.
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Ray Karam is the owner and proprietor of Nourish Bulk Health Organic, Nourish Distributors NSW and In-Detail Car Cleaning. Nourish opened its doors over 11 years ago in the Ballina area and supplies the local community with fresh fruit, vegetables (local, conventional and organic), bulk foods and speciality items.. Nourish Distributors NSW brings to retailers doors a whole range of 'locally' produced products that are sort after by many. In-Detail is a highly sort after and professional mobile car detailing business that has been servicing the local area for over a decade.
Nourish Bulk Health Organic moved into it's new location at shop 5 and 6, The Wigmore Arcade, River Street in Ballina in 2016. The new shop expanded the already significant range of products in a bright and easy flowing location. There are now over 130 bulk bins to choose from as well as many other local brands now being stocked in the store. READ MORE |
Life and Family
Born and raised in the town of Casino NSW, Ray Karam grew up where everyone knew everyone and everyone looked out for each other. This sense of community is something that is instilled in Ray and which he brings to all aspects of his life and work today.
Both a family man and being very community orientated Ray sees the value in maintaining the down to earth values of small town living whilst at the same time bringing the vision and sense of expansiveness needed for community growth and development.
READ MORE
Both a family man and being very community orientated Ray sees the value in maintaining the down to earth values of small town living whilst at the same time bringing the vision and sense of expansiveness needed for community growth and development.
READ MORE
In the Community
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Ray is the former Chairman of the Ballina Chamber of Commerce and former board member of the Lismore Chamber of Commerce, he also presents, writes and volunteers for a number of community-based initiatives. He regularly speaks at conferences that promote the health and wellbeing of our communities, on topics such as Men's Health, Raising Daughters, Parenting and Police Wellbeing . He currently sits on the Port Ballina Taskforce, the Ballina Action Group as well as other small community projects. He is an active member of the National Party and also sits on the P & C boards in 2 of our local schools . With a particular interest in the rise of cyber-abuse and it's effects on people from all walks of life, Ray is also involved in a number of projects that centre around raising awareness of cyber crimes.
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Ray KARAM and his run for Ballina Mayor and 'A' Ward Councillor - September 10th, 2016
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Have you ever asked a question of your local council and felt as though you weren't heard?
A fresh face to local politics Ray Karam is very connected to the community through business and local community groups. With a longstanding business in Ballina 'Nourish' Bulk Health Organics, Ray bridges the divide between councillors and community to bring an 'on the ground' perspective to be able to represent the people of the Ballina shire. READ MORE |
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