Telecommunications in 2011 should be seen as one of the basic tenets of life. It should be seen as something that is available to all Australians. Indeed a mobile phone is the first point of call for most people, and in many places people have done away with their landlines and are operating completely…
DetailsMr COULTON (Parkes) (12.40 pm)-What a wonderful parallel universe some of our representatives in this place must live in! I rise today to speak about the incompetence of this government and the effect that its failures are having on the people of my electorate. This budget has confirmed what many Australians already suspected: that this…
DetailsThe topic of this afternoon’s matter of public importance is the adverse impact of the carbon tax on the Australian economy. I might just touch on the contributions we have heard from the government side. We heard the rant from the Minister for Trade, the flippant 15 minutes of diatribe that was completely unrelated to…
DetailsMr COULTON (Parkes-The Nationals Chief Whip) (11:00): I was the Mayor of Gwydir Shire Council before I came to this place, and not only were we responsible for the basics of local government-the three Rs: the roads, rates and rubbish-but also we were responsible for aged care and child care, we owned two…
DetailsMr COULTON (Parkes–The Nationals Chief Whip) (12:30): I rise today to speak about the issue of one of the communities in my electorate: the village of Toomelah. Toomelah has been in the national press this week again. I wanted to take this opportunity to address the House and express my opinion and concerns as to…
DetailsMr COULTON (Parkes–The Nationals Chief Whip) (10:27): Last night on its 7.30 program the ABC ran a very powerful piece, which I think is to be concluded tonight, about the village of Toomelah. Toomelah is a small Aboriginal community in the northern part of New South Wales at the top end of my electorate. Unfortunately,…
DetailsMr COULTON (Parkes—Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (11:25): I too take great pleasure in rising today to speak on the Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Australian Farmers) Bill 2018. I'd hoped that the member for Lyons might stay here for a minute. He might learn something. I will not be lectured by the Labor…
DetailsMr COULTON (Parkes—Opposition Whip) (13:37): Today I have the solemn duty to announce to the House the passing of Evelyn Barber from Narromine. For over 25 years, Evelyn served the people of the Parkes electorate, working in the Parkes electorate office in Dubbo for four federal members of parliament: Michael Cobb, Tony Lawler, John Cobb…
DetailsMr COULTON (Parkes–The Nationals Chief Whip) (21:11): I too rise to speak on the motion introduced by the member for Kingston. I commend her on her valiant effort in failing health as she battled through her speech, perhaps in need of a little olive oil herself. While I completely agree with the sentiment of the…
DetailsMr COULTON (Parkes–The Nationals Chief Whip) (18:08): I rise tonight to speak on the Water Amendment (Long-term Average Sustainable Diversion Limit Adjustment) Bill 2012. This bill seeks to amend the Water Act to allow for an adjustment mechanism, as agreed by the basin states and the Commonwealth. I come into this place as a member…
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