The Nationals have 24 Members in the NSW Parliament.  All of these Members attended the conference, including Deputy Premier and Leader of the NSW Nationals, the Hon Troy Grant.

 

The conference was also attended by some of my Federal Nationals colleagues including Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Nationals, the Hon Warren Truss MP and Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of the Nationals, the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP.

 

There were a wide range of issues discussed at the conference including education, coal seam gas, research assistance and daylight savings.

 

One of the highlights of the conference was the Federal President of the NSW Nationals, Christine Ferguson, being awarded a Life Membership for her services to the party.  I take this opportunity to thank Christine for her dedication and ongoing contributions to the NSW Nationals.

 

………………………………………………….

 

The Regional Telecommunications Independent Review Committee last week released the 2015 Regional Telecommunications Review Issues Paper for public comment.

 

The Committee is inviting submissions from the public and interested stakeholders on key telecommunications issues affecting people in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia. 

 

Of particular interest to the Committee is how the Australian Government and other levels of government, industry, and the community can support access to telecommunications services that meet the needs of people living in regional, rural and remote parts of Australia.

 

I strongly encourage individuals, businesses, peak bodies and other interested organisations throughout the local area to make a submission to the Committee. 

The issues paper is available at www.rtirc.gov.au/issues-paper with submissions due by Wednesday, 15 July 2015.

 

The Committee will report its findings to Government by 23 August 2015.

Please visit www.rtirc.gov.au or call 1800 064 851 (a free call from a landline service) for more information.

 

………………………………………………….

 

The Australian Woman’s Weekly, in partnership with Qantas, is calling for nominations for Australia’s 2015 Women of the Future Award.

 

Now in its third year, this Award aims to help Australia’s young women of the future fulfil their dreams.

 

The Award is on offer to young woman aged between 18 and 28 who, through their smart and inspirational ideas, will be part of building our nation’s future.

 

If you know a young local woman with a great business idea, an inspiring charity, a creative venture to fund or innovation to research that will make the lives of Australians richer and more rewarding, please encourage them to apply or nominate them for this Award.

 

Entries close on Wednesday, 24 June 2015.

 

Further information about this Award is available at http://ww.aww.com.au/women-of-the-future/.