The end of this week Australia will see world leaders arriving for the G20 Leaders’ Summit. As host, it has been up to Australia to make sure the meeting isn’t just a high-level talk-fest. We are determined that world leaders use their influence to deliver the economic growth, jobs and financial stability that will benefit…
The Abbott Coalition Government is cutting red tape to make life easier, help small business, strengthen our economy and create jobs. For the first time in history, the Government is dedicating two days of Parliament each year to removing red tape. During the Spring Red Tape Repeal Day on 29 October, nearly 1,000 pieces of…
Scrapping the carbon tax has delivered families and businesses in New South Wales the biggest drop in electricity prices on record. The ABS has released the Consumer Price Index for the September Quarter 2014 -the first outcome since the Coalition scrapped Labor’s damaging carbon tax. These figures revealed that electricity prices had the largest fall…
Small business is not only the engine room for the national economy, it is also crucial to the long term viability of our regional communities. The Federal Coalition has announced a number of low cost measures to help small business as a part of the Abbott Government’s Australian Small Business Advisory Programme (ASBAS). The Government…
There is great potential in Australia for developing the production and marketing of industrial hemp. Traditionally there has been resistance to growing hemp because of its association with the cannabis plant. Hemp is similar in appearance to the Cannabis plant but does not possess the same characteristics which have caused Cannabis to be banned. Hemp…
Last week the guidelines for the National Stronger Regions Fund were released by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss. The National Stronger Regions Fund will invest $1 billion over 5 years in economic development projects and small scale community infrastructure across Australia. The Fund will provide up to 50…
Six local engagement officers, chosen from over 100 applicants, have been selected and will be located within communities in the Murray Darling Basin to assist with participation in decision making around Commonwealth environmental water. The local engagement officers will be based in Dubbo, Deniliquin, Leeton (NSW), Mildura (VIC), Berri (SA) and Goondiwindi (QLD). I welcome…
On the advice of the relevant security and intelligence agencies the National Terrorism Public Alert level has been increased from medium to high. This means that the current situation in Australia has changed from medium – “terrorist attack could occur” to high- “terrorist attack is likely”. This system is designed to guide national preparation and…
Accusations that the Coalition does not support the renewable energy sector are simply not factual. It was the Howard Government that initially introduced the Renewable Energy Target (RET) back in 2001. Since then a lot of changes have occurred in the energy sector. In 2010 the RET target was increased to 45,000 gigawatt hours by…
While parts of NSW are experiencing an exceptional season there are areas in the North West of New South Wales which are still in the grips of severe drought. Areas in Bourke, Brewarrina and Walgett are experiencing a one in one hundred year drought. There is assistance available to farmers and households who are suffering…