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…
DetailsAssistant 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…
DetailsWith 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…
DetailsSport 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…
DetailsSport 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…
DetailsThe Coalition recognises the important part that General Practitioners play in delivering health services in regional Australia. In the 2014/15 Budget the Coalition Government has allocated $52.5 million to rural and regional areas across Australia for general practices to build facilities needed in order for GPs to take on more trainees. This funding will be…
DetailsI was very pleased to receive a call from the office of Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce late last week advising me that we had successfully secured a pledge that a re-elected Coalition Government will contribute $25 million towards vital cancer services for the people of Western New South Wales (NSW). According to Cancer Council…
DetailsThe recent announcement that the Coalition Government will cut the proposed backpacker tax from 32.5 per cent to 19 per cent from 1 January 2017 is good news for the Parkes electorate. The Government recognises that working holiday makers are an important part of Australia’s $43.4 billion tourism industry and a key source of labour,…
DetailsI welcome last week’s announcement by the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Christian Porter MP of a $20 million Volunteer Grant funding round. This Commonwealth Government funding provides a fantastic opportunity for community organisations to apply for grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 to assist their volunteers by helping to make their work…
DetailsNow is the time to fix up the confusing issue of country of origin labelling. Consumers should be able to tell by a simple and clear labelling system where produce comes from. Australian farmers also deserve the opportunity to clearly present their proudly Australian grown products to the market. The Prime Minister has charged senior…
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