The Port Renewal Steering Committee and the Port Adelaide Rowing Club held their inaugural Australia Day Sprint Regatta on the Port River, with a viewing platform aboard the One and All. It's terrific to see the reactivation of water sports in the Port.

The Labor Government has increased the childcare rebate to cover 50% of your costs. This is not means tested.

Now you also have the choice about how you receive the rebate either monthly, fortnightly, quarterly or yearly. In addition, you can receive the rebate direct or have it paid to your provider to reduce the amount you pay them. More

The Labor Government is providing 10,900 families in the Port Adelaide electorate with a new cash payment to help make ends meet.

From 2013, local families will receive a new Schoolkids Bonus worth $410 for each child in primary school and $820 for each child in high school.

The payment will help pay for things like uniforms, books, school excursions, stationery and other costs like music lessons and sports registration fees. More

Mark attended the Port Open Day with Premier Jay Weatherill and State Member for Port Adelaide Susan Close. The Open Day followed extensive community consultation on the government's exciting redevelopment plans for the Port.

The Premier has announced the establishment of the Port Adelaide Renewal Steering Committee to ensure locals have a voice and are fully informed about the planning process and all other aspects of the Port Adelaide Renewal.  More

The South Australian Aviation Museum at Port Adelaide is one of only six organisations nationwide to receive a retired F-111 fighter jet to display from the Federal Government.

"It is fantastic news that an iconic F-111 Fighter Jet will be housed right here in Port Adelaide," Federal Member for Port Adelaide Mark Butler said.

This will provide a huge boost to tourism in the Port.  More

The Prime Minister visited ASC and announced the Government will provide $214 million for the next stage of the Future Submarine Project. The subs will be assembled in SA. This is great news for jobs in the Port and Peninsula. More

Mark attended the official opening of new facilities at Settllers Farm Primary and Junior Schools. The Federal Government provided $5.85 million for undercover shade areas, new classrooms, a green upgrade with a recycled water and irrigation system, and a significant upgrade to ICT infrastructure and hardware across the campus.

Over 220 local seniors joined Mark at the Port Adelaide "National Conversation on Ageing" Forum. The views of local seniors helped guide the Gillard Government's aged care reform proposals being led by Mark as Minister for Ageing.

The Australian Government has embarked on the most comprehensive review of school funding since 1973.

Mark encourages all families, teachers and principals to get involved in public or online forums as they are announced in the coming months.

Clink on the link to learn more ... More

More than 2000 people per week will use the new Burton Park and Adams Oval facilities for structured sport, officially opened by Mark recently.

At Burton Park, three full sized soccer pitches and two large regional playgrounds have been constructed. At Adams Oval, there's a new soccer pitch, new lighting, and upgraded clubrooms, 100 new carparks and improved power supply.

The Australian Government invested $4.36 million in the projects through the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program.

Mark's next round of street corner meetings kicks off shortly in the inner west and northern areas of the electorate - keep an eye out for an invite.

Local schools continue to benefit from the roll out of the Building the Education Revolution with new classrooms, school halls, science and language centres. Largs Bay Primary School, Salisbury Downs Primary School, Mawson Lakes School and Our Lady of the Visitation are just some of the local schools to share in the Government's $16.2 billion investment.

Mark met with Uniting Care Wesley in Port Adelaide to discuss how the Government will work with the community to help people who are both long term unemployed and living with a mental illness lead more socially and economically productive lives. More than $78 million over five years is available to support some of the most marginalised members of the community to find and retain employment.

Mark was appointed Federal Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform in December 2011 and relishes the opportunity to work in these portfolios at a time when the Australian Government is committed to delivering long lasting reforms to these sectors.

Woodville High School, Seaton High,
Le Fevre High School, Mount Carmel College, Portside Christian School, Croydon's Islamic College, Ocean View College, Parafield Gardens High and Paralowie R-12 have all secured funding for access to world-class education and training facilities through the Australian Government's Trade Training Centres in Schools program. The Government's $2.5 billion program aims to increase educational and training opportunities for young people, creating a pathway to future employment opportunities.