30 March 2023 Mr COULTON (Parkes—Chief Nationals Whip) (11:17): I too rise today to speak about the resources statement to parliament. I’m very proud of the record of the Parkes electorate for being a powerhouse in mining and resources for a long, long time. If we start at the western part of my electorate, at…
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton has today questioned why the Federal Labor Government has stalled funding for regional grants programs this financial year. The Labor Government is delaying the release of eligibility criteria and funding guidelines for the Growing Regions Program and Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program according to Mr Coulton. “The…
28 March 2023 Mr COULTON (Parkes—Chief Nationals Whip) (16:12): I’d like to bring to the attention of the parliament a couple of outstanding young residents of the Parkes electorate. Goodooga, in northern New South Wales, a very small community about an hour’s drive north of Brewarrina, has been the home of some amazing families of…
27 March 2023 Mr COULTON (Parkes—Chief Nationals Whip) (16:33): Next week I’ll be travelling to Wilcannia to attend a ceremony that I’ve been looking forward to for some quite some time. It will be the sod turn—the ceremonial start—of the Baaka centre. The Baaka centre will be a facility right in the middle of Wilcannia…
27 March 2023 Mr COULTON (Parkes—Chief Nationals Whip) (17:51): I too rise tonight to speak on the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management Reform) Bill 2023. While he is still in the chamber, I’d like to acknowledge the contribution of the member for Grey and his commitment to his vast electorate, but particularly to Ceduna.…
Issues with the Safeguard Mechanism I spoke in Parliament on 21 March on the Labor Government’s Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2022 and made the observation that it all sounded very similar to around a decade ago with the Carbon Tax. Again, Labor is looking to use a tax system rather than innovation to reduce…
22 March 2023 Mr COULTON (Parkes—Chief Nationals Whip) (13:45): Last week I was at a location called Merrywinebone, in my electorate. I met with farmers, rail operators, grain traders and representatives of the Walgett Shire Council about the need to upgrade the 52-kilometre section from Merrywinebone back to Burren Junction on the Walgett line. Rail…
Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton is calling on the Labor Government to immediately address whether they will require struggling aged care homes to meet rigid staffing requirements by July or risk closure. Following the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety the Labor Government announced its Aged Care Reform as part of their…
21 March 2023 Mr COULTON (Parkes—Chief Nationals Whip) (21:25): I’ve got a real feeling of deja vu coming over me here tonight. Listening to the member for Forde’s contribution on the Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2022 reminded me of sitting in this place a little bit more than a decade ago debating a very…
20 March 2023 Mr COULTON (Parkes—Chief Nationals Whip) (18:35): I think it’s time for a bit of history revision in this place. I want to remind the members present that I actually voted for the Murray-Darling Basin Plan when it came through in 2012. I’ll take the member for Makin up on his point that…