Federal Government drought assistance Most of the Parkes electorate is experiencing the ongoing challenges of the current drought. Dry conditions continue across almost all of New South Wales, and I can see the devastation many communities are facing as a result of this. I recently travelled west through my electorate to places like Narromine, Warren,…
Funding for financially vulnerable I am calling on local community organisations to apply for funding to support financially vulnerable Australians access critical services in the Parkes electorate. The Federal Government is providing $328 million in grant funding for community organisations to administer financial crisis assistance and education programs, through the Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity…
On the road across the Parkes electorate I spent last week on the road, travelling from Moree to Narrabri, Dubbo to Condobolin, Lake Cargelligo, Cobar, Wilcannia and Menindee to Broken Hill, and everywhere in between. The Parkes electorate is just shy of 400,000 square kilometres, and often the best way to serve its many and…
Country of Origin Labelling Country of Origin Labelling became law on 1 July 2018. From 1 July 2016, they were optional and have now become mandatory. Food produced or manufactured from 1 July 2018 and sold in retail stores in Australia must display Country of Origin labels, meaning customers can now easily choose Aussie produce. …
Australian Aid: Friendship Grants As the Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, as well as Member for the Parkes electorate, I am pleased to share the news about Australian Aid Friendship Grants. These grants will bring a new and diverse group of community partners from across Australia into the aid program by awarding grants…
More support in dry times In early June 2018 I hosted the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack, Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud, and Ministers John McVeigh and Bridget McKenzie on a visit to drought-affected areas in my electorate. We visited Philip and Ashlea Miles at their property “Strathmore” via Trangie, met…
Tackling the scourge of ice The Coalition Government is delivering on its strategy to tackle the scourge of ice in our communities, and I’m pleased to announce another four Local Drug Action Teams (LDATs) will be established across the Parkes electorate. These LDATs are Kirkala-Pithiluku Aboriginal Corporation at Broken Hill, Moree Local Drug Action Team,…
Mental health a priority in the bush With dry times impacting heavily on many of the farming communities across the Parkes electorate, I am pleased to advise the Coalition Government will provide funding to support the mental health of farmers, as well as mining workers and Indigenous Australians living in rural and regional Australia. Two…
Time running out to switch to new child care system Now is the time for families across the Parkes electorate to make the switch to the Coalition Government’s new child care and early learning system, or risk missing out on the new subsidies. Around 46% of families across the electorate have already made the switch.…
Focus on Cyberbullying – National School Chaplaincy Programme The Coalition Government has backed school chaplains with hundreds of millions of dollars in new funding, having announced its ongoing support of the National School Chaplaincy Programme. This Programme provides vital pastoral care services to thousands of students and school communities across Australia, including in the Parkes…