I was very disappointed to learn that as part of the Australian Electoral Commission’s (AEC) current review of voter services for the next Federal election, it is proposed that almost 20% of polling places in the Parkes Electorate will be abolished. The AEC have proposed the abolition of polling places at Albert, Baan Baa,…
DetailsThe Federal Government has allocated $35 million over 5 years for research into juvenile diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong auto-immune disease that usually occurs in childhood but can be diagnosed at any age. It is one of the most common chronic diseases in children and most newly diagnosed cases are in children under…
DetailsThe Federal Government has released the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO). The purpose of the MYEFO is to provide an update on the economic and fiscal outlook for Australia. It also provides an update on the Federal Government’s budgetary position. It doesn’t come as any real surprise that the Government’s budgetary position…
DetailsDubbo Sports Awards huge success I was very pleased to host the 14th annual Dubbo Sports Awards alongside my colleague Federal Member for Calare, Andrew Gee and the Dubbo Sports Council at the Dubbo RSL on Friday evening. This year, the event recognised the outstanding achievements of Dubbo’s and Wellington’s most talented sports people across…
DetailsFollowing extensive sittings of Federal Parliament in Canberra and hours of debate, the Government’s Senate voting reform bill has finally passed through the Parliament. These reforms were vital and are designed to empower voters to have their preferences reflected in any Senate election, by improving the transparency of Senate voting arrangements. The reforms include the…
DetailsLast week, I was pleased to be given the opportunity to tour the northern NSW Murray Darling Basin with the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment, the Hon Bob Baldwin. Also joining us on the tour was the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder together with representatives from the Department of the Environment and…
DetailsOne of the most rewarding aspects of being a Federal MP is meeting and working with inspirational people. Recently I had the privilege of becoming the first supporter to sign up to Kelly Foran’s Friendly Faces’ fundraising campaign. Kelly, who lives in Maules Creek, has faced many adversities in her life. In 2002 she was…
DetailsSmall business is not only the engine room for the national economy, it is also crucial to the long term viability of our regional communities. The Federal Coalition has announced a number of low cost measures to help small business as a part of the Abbott Government’s Australian Small Business Advisory Programme (ASBAS). The Government…
DetailsIn 1789, Benjamin Franklin wrote that there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. It could be argued that there is in fact another certainty in life that we all experience every second of every day: ageing. Australia has an ever increasing ageing population and the people of the Parkes electorate are…
DetailsI was very concerned to hear of Labor’s announcement that they intend to introduce an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and use Commonwealth legislation to reinstate native vegetation laws and restrict land clearing if elected to Government at this year’s Federal election. Labor’s intention to introduce an ETS represents yet another new Labor tax on hardworking…
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