I speak today in support of the motion of the member for Fowler in solidarity with the people of Palestine. Until a number of years ago, I was blissfully unaware of the intricacies of what was going on in that part of the world. I would see the news reports that were coming through about…
It is in vogue to talk of disaster and desperation to grab headlines and gain attention in the hallowed halls of policy in Canberra. But this approach masks what is happening in regional Australia and undermines the goal of those seeking to highlight the importance of our regions. Regional Australia has done well to avoid…
Mr COULTON (Parkes—Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government and Assistant Trade and Investment Minister) (14:48): I’d like to thank the member for Dawson for his question and recognise his knowledge of and passion for the exporters in his electorate, particularly in the beef and sugar industries. All members on this side of the…
I’ve got to admit the drought is severe. We have never experienced a level of dryness and drought like we’ve seen over the last three or four years. But, despite that, unemployment levels in regional Australia are quite low. Indeed, before the drought, unemployment in Dubbo was 2.2 per cent and across my entire electorate,…
Mr COULTON (Parkes—Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government and Assistant Trade and Investment Minister) (15:08): I thank the member for Indi for her question and I recognise her knowledge, history and understanding of rural and regional health issues before she came to this place. The Australian government is committed to improving the outcomes…
21 August 2019 MARK COULTON: Look, thank you Philip and Danny for your introduction, and it’s certainly great to be here. The room’s full of dignitaries. It’s dangerous starting to recognise people, but I’d certainly like to recognise my former boss and the chair of the ARTC, Warren Truss; Dr John McVeigh, the local Member…
Mr COULTON (Parkes—Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government and Assistant Trade and Investment Minister) (16:30): I rise to sum up on the Farm Household Support Amendment Bill 2019. I understand we’ll be dealing with the amendments after I sum up. This bill demonstrates the government’s responsiveness to the needs of farming communities in…
Mr COULTON (Parkes—Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government and Assistant Trade and Investment Minister) (14:47): I would like to thank the member for Flynn for his question. I know how important regional connectivity is to him and his electorate. This government is committed to supporting Australians through adversity. The member would well know…
Mr COULTON (Parkes—Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (10:46): The drought continues to bite across regional Australia in the eastern States, particularly in my electorate of Parkes, the just under 400,000 square kilometres that I represent in this place. There has been some relief in the north-eastern part of the electorate, and we’re starting…
Mr COULTON (Parkes—Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:29): From time to time, as I go around my regional electorate, I come across a bit of criticism as a local member. People might express some frustration and talk about things that maybe they're not completely happy about, but there are a couple of things…