Coulton welcomes continuation of Rural Financial Counselling Service
06-May-2011
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture that funding for the Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) will be extended four years.
Funding for the service was due to cease from July this year, however Mr Coulton had been working with the Central West RFCS and the Bourke RFCS to lobby the Minister to extend the funding.
“I worked closely with RFCS Central West and Bourke RFCS to lobby the Government to extend the funding past July 2011,” Mr Coulton stated. “The service is of great benefit to the many people in rural and regional areas that face financial difficulties.”
The RFCS provides free and confidential financial counselling to primary producers and agriculturally dependent small businesses. The service is jointly funded by the Federal and State Governments and employs 110 people throughout Australia.
“I am pleased that the Government has made the right decision to continue funding this valuable service,” Mr Coulton said. “The RFCS has provided our farmers and small businesses with financial guidance over some very difficult years of drought and more recently flooding.”
Mr Coulton made representations on behalf of the Rural Financial Counselling Service to the Minister for Agriculture as concern was growing that no commitment for funding past July 2011 had been made.
“There was too much uncertainty for the many Rural Financial Counsellors based throughout the Parkes Electorate. Although delayed, the announcement is very much welcomed.”