I was very pleased to be joined by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester and former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson in Narrabri last week where we reaffirmed the Coalition’s commitment to the Inland Rail project. I first spoke about the importance of the Inland…
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…
DetailsIf you’ve been following the Federal election campaign, you’ve probably heard Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull referring to the Government’s national economic plan for jobs and growth. With last week’s announcement of a review of the non-permanent resident tax rate to backpackers, I found myself reflecting on not just the economic but also social issues that…
DetailsThere has been a lot of talk about the nbn rollout of late with many questions being asked about who will be able to access what services and when. One service that is particularly relevant for many businesses and residents in the Federal electorate of Parkes is nbn’s Sky Muster satellite network which was officially…
DetailsOn Sunday, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that a double dissolution election will be held on Saturday, 2 July 2016. It has been a great honour to have represented the Federal electorate of Parkes for the last three parliamentary terms and I would be privileged to continue to represent the people of Western New South…
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…
DetailsAnzac Day always prompts us to take a moment to remember those who have served our country and the price they have paid, sometimes with their health and wellbeing, and in many cases with their lives. I attended the Kokoda Barracks in Dubbo a couple of weeks ago to look at the refurbishment of war…
DetailsIt is very welcome news that when Federal Parliament returns this week, the Coalition Government will introduce two bills to abolish the Gillard Government's Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) and provide certainty to numerous small business owner-drivers across Australia. The RSRT has set a controversial minimum rates order that industry groups, farmers and truck drivers…
DetailsI welcome the Commonwealth-State joint-funding announcement of $2.59 million in projects to help better protect New South Wales (NSW) communities from the threat of bush fire. This funding commitment will contribute $300,000 to the NSW Rural Fire Service for aerial firefighting supply tanks in the Warrumbungle, Moree Plains, Narromine, Gwydir and Narrabri local government areas.…
DetailsWith 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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