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…
The Clontarf Foundation is making a difference in communities right across the Parkes Electorate. The Foundation operates through Academies which are associated with local schools and engages young aboriginal boys to keep them in school. Academies have been operating in Moree, Bourke, Coonamble and Brewarrina for the past couple of years and this year a…
The safety of regional and rural students will receive a boost of $1.1 million through the Federal Government’s Regional School Busses programme. This programme will upgrade over 61 buses across the country to enable kids to buckle up on their way to and from school. Sadly around 25 people are killed in bus crashes each…
The annual Pollie Pedal has succeeded in raising over $700,000 for Carers Australia. This is a great achievement and I am pleased to have been involved in the ride. Tony Abbott founded the Pollie Pedal in 1998 with a group of enthusiastic riders and since then the event has grown to be a significant charity…
It is important for Australia to be united if we are to deal with the challenges that we will inevitably face in the future. Australia is a country which shows a remarkable ability to pull together in times of crises and the sense of community is especially strong in country areas. Tragedies like the loss…
Australia is a country which is lucky enough to have a safety net. If we want to continue to have a country which can support all its citizens then we need to ensure that our welfare system is sustainable. For our system to be sustainable we need to ensure that any person who is capable…
In August community information sessions will be held around the country to offer communities the opportunity to learn more about the National Landcare Programme. The National Landcare Programme is designed to deliver simple, local and long-term solutions to environmental challenges. It is important that farmers, environmental groups, local Landcare bodies and natural resource management organisations…
The Federal Government has allocated $35 million over 5 years for research into juvenile diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong auto-immune disease that usually occurs in childhood but can be diagnosed at any age. It is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and most newly diagnosed cases are in children under…