Photo caption: Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud (left), Nationals’ candidate for Parkes Jamie Chaffey (centre) and Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (right) caught up with Kristen and Matt Smith from Lazy River Estate in Dubbo last week.
Chaffey’s campaign begins
Our Nationals’ candidate for Parkes Jamie Chaffey has wasted no time getting out and about in the electorate following his preselection.
Last week he joined me and Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud in Dubbo to mark the start of his campaign trail.
We met with local businessman John Walkom and inspected the progress of the new residential apartment block at No. 1 Church Street. This project is very exciting for Dubbo and is evidence of the growth the city is experiencing. We also caught up with Chamber of Commerce members Matt and Kristen Smith from Lazy River Estate to chat to them about the challenges of running a small business during the current cost-of-living crisis, and we visited the critical minerals project site at Toongi which will have national significance for a range of existing and future technologies.
The three of us also attended RDA Orana’s Resources Energy and Industry Innovation Forum, where I had the pleasure of providing the opening address.
These few days are just the beginning for Jamie. He’s got a lot of work ahead of him over the coming months to win over the electorate but I’m confident he has what it takes to be an effective Member. David and I will do everything we can to support him in his campaign to be elected.
Boost for emergency relief providers
There are currently so many families doing it tough as a result of the rising cost of living, so I’m pleased that emergency relief providers across the Parkes electorate have received additional funding to help meet an increased demand for their services.
Anglican Community Services, Best Employment Limited, Armidale Centacare New England North West Limited, Armidale Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated, Anglicare NSW South, NSW West and ACT, Lower Lachlan Community Services Incorporated, Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre Incorporated, St Vincent De Paul Society NSW, and the Salvation Army NSW Property Trust will each receive additional funding to service their respective communities in the New England North West, Far West and Orana and Central West regions.
Hopefully these services will be able to use this extra funding to provide additional support to those in need across our communities.
If you need financial support or emergency relief, visit: https://askizzy.org.au/. Ask Izzy is a free and anonymous way to find national and local support. It includes services like housing, meals, healthcare, counselling, legal advice and more.
Grants to improve aged care services
Aged care providers in the Parkes electorate have until 29 August 2024 to apply for funding to deliver more residential care beds or upgrade existing facilities under the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program.
This program aims to increase access to quality aged care services for First Nations communities, those living in regional, rural and remote areas, and people with complex and diverse needs, including dementia. Up to $200 million is available for new residential care services, or an expansion, upgrade or refurbishment of an existing residential aged care service.
It’s so important that our rural communities have access to aged care services so that our elderly and those in need of care can remain in their hometowns close to loved ones. For more information, visit: https://www.grants.gov.au/Go/Show?GoUuid=18d42fc9-2c08-48bf-808e-d210ad61eb68
New program for live music venues
A new program to support live music venues and music festivals is currently open.
The Revive Live program aims to provide support to established live music venues and music festivals to assist them to continue operating in the current climate, limiting venue closures and event cancellations, and stimulating long-term sustainability. Grants of $5,000 and more are available to Australian-owned organisations that have a primary purpose to host live public performances of original music.
This program is Labor’s replacement of the Live Music Australia program which was established by the former Coalition government as a COVID-19 stimulus and had supported a number of pubs in the Parkes electorate. Unfortunately, pubs and clubs are not eligible to apply for this new program which excludes organisations that receive income from gambling and those for which delivering live music is a secondary function.
For more information, visit: www.arts.gov.au/funding-and-support/revive-live
