Recognising sporting talent – Dubbo Sports Awards It was a pleasure to host the 16th annual Dubbo Regional Sports Awards on Friday evening at the Dubbo RSL Club. Member for Calare, Andrew Gee, joined me in conjunction with the Dubbo Regional Sports Council to shine a light on the outstanding achievements of the most talented…
DetailsGreater access for regional students Those in regional and remote communities will have greater access to higher education, as a result of the Coalition Government’s recent announcement of an additional $134.8 million. Every Australian should have access to our world-leading higher education system. Our Government’s investment will give students in my electorate greater choice and…
DetailsVisa program changes to benefit farmers The Coalition Government has made changes to two visa programs that will help resolve agricultural labour shortages in the Parkes electorate, assisting farmers to continue to do what they do best. Adjustments to the Working Holiday Maker (WHM) subclass 417 and 462 visa program have been designed to target…
DetailsTravels through Western NSW Last week saw me travel to eight towns in the Parkes electorate. Commencing in Dubbo and heading on to Warren, I visited the Men’s Sheds at both Warren and Trangie, which each successfully received grants under the Federal Government’s National Shed Development Programme. Warren Men’s Shed will use their $2,000 for…
DetailsAnother week in Parliament has come to a close. While Parliament is not sitting, I can be found travelling some of the 400,000 square kilometres that make up the Parkes electorate to meet with constituents and work from my Dubbo, Moree, or Broken Hill offices. Many miles are done in order for me to hear…
DetailsPhoto Caption: Robyn and Mark Coulton with Jillian Kilby. Parliamentary sitting fortnight commences I spent last week at Parliament House in Canberra, marking the commencement of another parliamentary sitting fortnight. During the week I had the privilege of speaking to students and staff from St Joseph's School Mungindi and St Joseph's Warialda, as well as…
DetailsDrought Finance Taskforce A new Drought Finance Taskforce was announced last week, which will look at how the government and banks can further support farmers and small businesses. I’m pleased the communities in my electorate dealing with the drought continue to be a priority for the government through the expansion of the $1.8 billion Drought…
DetailsHoliday in your own backyard Australians are choosing to holiday in their own backyard and are spending record amounts, according to the latest National Visitor Survey. This is great news, and I’d like to see more people getting out and about in the Parkes electorate where there is a hugely diverse offering for visitors. With…
DetailsInnovation for irrigators I was pleased to attend an event near Narromine recently, to launch Australia’s biggest solar diesel hybrid pumping system, installed by Australian company, ReAqua. I was joined by NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair, and Member for Dubbo, Troy Grant, as the pump was switched on for the very first time…
DetailsCut them up, not out The recent discovery of strawberry contamination is very disappointing. Like many Australians, I see this as senseless sabotage on a primary industry worth half a billion dollars. I’d like to remind readers that Australia has a strong record on food safety, and these incidents are rare and isolated. Nevertheless this…
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