Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (second from left) pictured with Cobar community members Colby Lawrence, Barry Knight, Reverend Graham McLeod and Cobar Deputy Mayor Jarrod Marsden at the opening of the Cobar Miners Memorial.
Opening of Cobar Miners Memorial
Last week it was a pleasure to join members of the Cobar community to officially open the new $971,000 Cobar Miners Memorial this month.
The new memorial in Heritage Park commemorates and safeguards Cobar’s rich mining history. It will bring locals together for services and community gatherings and will also be a drawcard for tourists, educating visitors to the area about past tragedies that have occurred within the mines.
The Federal Government provided $349,777 in funding for the project through the Building Better Regions Fund.
Increasing youth mental health services
I was pleased to announce last week that headspace Dubbo will be able to employ two youth advocates thanks to a share in more than $1.9 million in Federal Government funding.
The Dubbo headspace has been experiencing high demand for services, and this funding will help them expand their service, reduce wait times and develop a sustainable peer workforce.
As a result, young people across the region will have improved access to high quality, youth-friendly mental health support.
The funding is part of the Government’s $152 million investment in the headspace Demand Management and Enhancement Program, to reduce wait times and make capital improvements.
Men’s Sheds Grants now open
I encourage Men’s Sheds across the Parkes electorate to apply for funding as part of the latest round of the National Men’s Shed Development Program.
This program has already provided thousands of dollars to Men’s Sheds in the electorate, for shed improvements, new equipment and health and wellbeing events, with 10 local sheds receiving grants in the latest round.
I’ve always been a proud supporter of Men’s Sheds because they provide a safe and friendly environment for men to gather and work on meaningful projects, with the ultimate aim of improving the health and wellbeing of their members.
Men’s Sheds play a vital role in regional Australia and the Federal Government is committed to supporting them.
Applications for the next round of Men’s Sheds grants are open until 26 July 2021. Visit https://mensshed.org/development-grants for more information.
Delivering fuel security and protecting jobs
The Federal Government’s new measures to lock in the future of the refining sector, keep petrol prices low and protect jobs have passed the Australian Parliament.
The Fuel Security Bill 2021 gives effect to key measures in the Government’s comprehensive fuel security package included in the 2021-22 Budget.
The reforms will establish a minimum stockholding obligation requiring fuel importers and refiners to maintain a level of petrol, diesel and jet fuel; and create a fuel security services payment to support refiners during loss-making periods and enable them to continue refining until 30 June 2027.
These reforms deliver on the Government’s commitment to maintain a sovereign refining capability in Australia. They also ensure we have the sovereign capability to respond to a major fuel disruption, protect our fuel dependant industries, families and businesses from higher prices at the bowser, and keep Australia moving as we secure our recovery from COVID-19.
