COULTON’S CATCH UP 4 APRIL

With state Premiers in Canberra for the latest Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting, the states and territories agreed to sweeping reforms to country of origin food labelling which will give Australian consumers clearer and more meaningful information about the products they buy. This agreement comes after decades of frustration on the part of consumers…

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Coulton’s Catch Up 3rd November

 The Abbott Coalition Government is cutting red tape to make life easier, help small business, strengthen our economy and create jobs. For the first time in history, the Government is dedicating two days of Parliament each year to removing red tape. During the Spring Red Tape Repeal Day on 29 October, nearly 1,000 pieces of…

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Coulton’s Catch Up 3rd March

 Last week the Australian Government completed an intergovernmental agreement between all jurisdictions on the Murray Darling Basin Plan. This Agreement included a commitment to cap water purchases at 1500 gigalitres and prioritise water infrastructure programmes. Both are key to binging balance back to the Murray Darling Basin discussion.   Many of the valleys in the Parkes…

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Coulton’s Catch Up 3rd February

 I have been a supporter of “work for the dole” for a long time. When I was Mayor of Gwydir Shire Council I had significant exposure to work for the dole programs that were successfully implemented under the Howard Government. The people that took part in work for the dole often expressed to me their…

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COULTON’S CATCH UP 3RD AUGUST

I was very pleased to host the Regional Higher Education Forum in Narrabri last week alongside the Chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Education and Employment, Senator Bridget McKenzie.   The meeting was attended by parents, students and people interested in education from a range of different locations within the Parkes electorate.  Representatives from…

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Coulton’s Catch Up 31st March

 Nothing is clearer to Australians during a drought than the importance of water in sustaining us. I am very pleased that areas of the Electorate have received some rain over the last several weeks but I am still conscious of those areas that have missed out.  Our hopes are with those families, that they find…

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COULTON’S CATCH UP 31ST AUGUST

Whilst our Prime Minister, the Hon Tony Abbott spent last week visiting Indigenous communities in the Torres Strait and on the tip of Cape York, I too spent the week meeting with some organisations undertaking significant work with members of Indigenous communities across the Parkes electorate.   I had the pleasure of attending two events…

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COULTON’S CATCH UP 31 OCTOBER

Assistant Minister for Rural Health visits Dubbo I was very pleased to host my National Party colleague, Assistant Minister for Rural Health Dr David Gillespie, in Dubbo last week. Minister Gillespie was appointed to the Rural Health portfolio following the Federal election in July this year. He comes with an extensive medical background including 21…

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COULTON’S CATCH UP 30TH NOVEMBER

With only one parliamentary sitting week left for 2015, the Coalition Government is working very hard to address some of the key issues facing our communities.   One of these is mental health.  Last week the Coalition Government released its response to the National Mental Health Commission’s Review of Mental Health Programme and Services.  The…

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Coulton’s Catch Up 30th March

 Sport plays an important part in the lives of Australians and being active is an essential part of leading a healthy lifestyle. The Australian Government currently spends about $100 million a year on various initiatives to encourage participation in sports. The sports sector also generates nearly $13 billion in income every year and employs more…

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