Photo Caption: Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt, Moree Plains Shire Council Mayor Katrina Humphries and Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton at the announcement in Moree – local councils and community organisations in Moree, Wee Waa, Narrabri and Walgett are set to benefit from $1.7 million in grants from the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program.

Water funds flow for local projects

There was plenty of great news to share across the electorate last week, thanks to a series of grants awarded under the Murray-Darling Basin Economic Development Program. It was terrific to be joined by my colleague and Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt last week for visits to Moree, Bourke and Dubbo for a series of funding announcements and meetings with constituents.

With more than $3.4 million in grants allocated within the Parkes electorate under this round of funding, we’ll now see some important local projects get up off the ground to benefit communities at Narromine, Moree, Narrabri, Wee Waa, Walgett, Brewarrina, Bourke and Menindee.

One of the grants announced last week was more than half a million dollars for Moree Plains Shire Council to develop a business incubator and co-working space. This initiative will provide local and visiting workers with a place where they can work, develop business ideas and be surrounded by likeminded people – as Mayor Katrina Humphries said, it’s clear to see Moree is open and ready for business. We’ve seen just how well a co-working space works in Dubbo at The Exchange, run by Jillian Kilby and her team, and I’m sure it will make a great impact in Moree too.

While we were in the electorate, the Minister and I also met with various irrigator and environmental groups to hear some of the challenges and opportunities faced by interested parties concerning water. There can often be complex discussions when it comes to this topic and I was pleased the Minister was able to be onsite to meet with my constituents and hear some of their perspectives.

Discussions about border controls

I was pleased National Cabinet discussed at its most recent meeting the significant impact that state government restrictions are having on families who live along our state borders and across regional areas.

Much of the Parkes electorate contains sparse populations that travel large distances to conduct business and receive essential services from across the border.

I have been hearing from a wide range of constituents about the impacts it is having on their lives. These impacts are frustrating, especially so in communities that remain largely COVID-free.

It is clear that while ever state governments decide to keep these restrictions in place, more common sense and workable solutions are needed.

There have already been come changes made to ensure definitions of border communities is more reflective of those regions.

It has been agreed that the medical expert panel, the AHPPC, will provide advice on how a COVID ‘hot spot’ will be defined using clear medical and scientific evidence.

More needs to be done to ensure those who need to cross the border for health care, access essentials, or commerce, especially agriculture, can continue to do so.

It is paramount that even during this pandemic people are still able to get the medical treatment they need.

The restrictions on agricultural workers is also a priority, with National Cabinet agreeing to the development of a nationally consistent approach, through a new Agricultural Workers Code.

Potential COVID-19 vaccine

Australians will receive a COVID-19 vaccine if it proves successful, resulting from an agreement between the Australian Government and UK-based drug company AstraZeneca.

Under the deal, every Australian would be able to receive the University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for free, should the trials prove successful, safe and effective.

However, it needs to be said that there is no guarantee that this, or any other, vaccine will work, which is why the Government is continuing discussions with many parties around the world while backing our own researchers at the same time to find a vaccine.

The Government is taking advice from Australia’s best medical and scientific expertise to ensure our work to select, produce and purchase COVID-19 vaccines and treatments is based on the best available knowledge.