Stay Smart Online Week Stay Smart Online Week, from 9-13 October, is a national awareness raising initiative to encourage Australians to be more proactive about their cyber security. Cybercrime is estimated to cost the Australian economy more than $1 billion a year, and around 43 per cent of cybercrimes are targeted at small businesses. The…
Government delivers more than $1 billion under the National Landcare program The Coalition Government is continuing its longstanding commitment to natural resource management, investing more than $1 billion for phase two of the National Landcare Program, which will be delivered from July 2017 to June 2023 as announced in this year’s Budget. Phase two of…
The Nationals-Liberal Government is committed to maintaining a strong social security safety net. The Government announced a significant package of welfare integrity measures which are being implemented from 2015-16 to 2019-20. The package consists of five measures which were included in the 2015-16 Budget, 2016-17 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook [MYEFO] and the 2016-17 MYEFO…
4.7 million Australians to benefit from September pension indexation 4.7 million pensioners and allowance recipients will receive an increase to their welfare payments from 20 September 2017. As a result of the regular twice-yearly indexation, pension payments including Age Pension and Disability Support Pension will rise by $6.10 a fortnight to $894.40 for singles and…
Reducing the pressure on housing affordability The introduction of legislation into Parliament will help to reduce pressure on housing affordability for first home buyers and downsizers. The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS), announced in this year’s Budget, will give first home savers the ability to accelerate their savings by at least 30 per cent. First…
Last week Members of Parliament had the opportunity to engage in discussion and provide feedback to Professor John Halsey, who has been charged with overseeing the Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education. Regional, Rural and Remote Australia is well represented in the Electorate of Parkes. The problems faced by young people from this…
Celebrating National Science Week It is important to note the 20th anniversary of National Science Week to be held from 12 to 20 August. The school theme for this year’s National Science Week is Future Earth. It is very fitting that students and teachers from schools across Australia are this morning presenting a national plan…
More than $3 million in Building Better Regions’ Fund grants It has been another terrific week of announcements with the declaration of more than $3 million in grants under the Building Better Regions’ Fund [BBRF]. After a competitive merit-based selection process, Australian Government funding has approved four projects in the Electorate of Parkes under the…
IT has been a great week for funding announcements in the Electorate of Parkes. $1.5m to address family violence in Bourke In Bourke up to $1.5 million is being allocated for a tailored project to address family violence experienced by Indigenous women and children. The funding forms part of the $25 million Indigenous-focused package under…
Calls for submissions to regional education review Members of the Electorate of Parkes community are invited to have their say in a landmark review into regional, rural and remote education initiated by the Nationals/Liberal Government. This marks an important milestone of the independent review with the release of a discussion paper and launch of an…