Coulton’s Catch Up: Care Finder help for vulnerable elderly people; Volunteer Grants; Committee work; Shows are back

Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton attends the 2023 Warialda Show Care Finder help for vulnerable elderly people Those needing intensive support with access to My Aged Care may be pleased to know that the Federal Government’s Care Finder Program is now available through various services in the Parkes electorate. The Care Finder…

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Coulton’s Catch Up: Budget 2023-24 released; Far West students visit Canberra; Meeting with the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association; Pharmaceutical Society of Australia expresses concerns

Budget 2023-24 released The Federal Labor Budget released on Tuesday 10 May has confirmed my fears that the Labor Government has taken regional Australia and working Australians absolutely for granted. Labor has again demonstrated that they are quite willing to spend money taken out of regional Australia, but they aren’t willing to put it back…

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Coulton’s Catch Up: Changes to the PBS risk unintended consequences; More funding for Parkes electorate councils; The Coronation of King Charles III

Changes to the PBS risk unintended consequences I have warned that recently announced changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) may have unintended consequences for our towns. The Labor Government has announced a coming change to dispensing limits so that 60-days-worth of medicines can be accessed at one time in order to halve costs for…

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Coulton’s Catch Up: Senator Bridget McKenzie visits the Inland Rail – Anzac Day in Broken Hill – Saluting Their Service Certificates of Appreciation

Senator Bridget McKenzie visits the Inland Rail Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Senator Bridget McKenzie joined me to view the progress which has been made on the Inland Rail at Narromine and Narrabri, and to discuss the dangers posed to this crucial project by Labor’s indecision. Any delays or slowing of this project…

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Coulton’s Catch Up: Down the Track for good food – Visits to Men’s Sheds – Youth Week 2023 – Improvements for Lachlan and Western Regional Services

Down the Track for good food I met up with the young people at Down The Track in Lake Cargelligo early last week where they were working hard in the Trackin’ Good food van. This food van is part of one of two streams offered by the Down The Track program, including hospitality and agriculture.…

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Coulton’s Catch Up: Anzac biscuit recipe on its way – Former Chief Medical Officer retires – Servicemen and women of Dunedoo honoured in book – Saluting Their Service

Anzac biscuit recipe on its way In coming weeks residents of the Parkes electorate should receive a special card to commemorate Anzac Day and the sacrifices our brave servicemen and women have made to keep us safe during conflict. On the back you will find an original recipe for Anzac biscuits provided by Bob Lawson…

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Coulton’s Catch Up: Community Celebration in Wilcannia – Visiting the new Broken Hill Children’s Contact Service – Release of the Schott report on the Inland Rail

Community Celebration in Wilcannia In Wilcannia last week I was pleased to attend the Community Celebration to launch the Central Darling Shire Heritage Trail. As part of this project the Central Darling Shire Heritage Trail Tourism App has been created. This app provides self-guided driving and walking tours of towns such as Wilcannia, Whitecliffs and…

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Coulton’s Catch Up: Tyron and Jolie excel in shearing – Where is key funding for the Parkes electorate? – Supporting the resources sector – Rural generalists program is going well

Tyron and Jolie excel in shearing Two young people from the Parkes electorate – Tyron Cochrane from Goodooga and Jolie Orcher from Bourke – have excelled in the Junior Golden Shears, a prestigious New Zealand shearing competition. Tyron is only eighteen and is the first Australian to win since 1961 as well as the first…

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Coulton’s Catch Up – Issues with the Safeguard Mechanism, uncertainty around the Inland Rail, Voice to Parliament developments, aged care staffing requirements

Issues with the Safeguard Mechanism I spoke in Parliament on 21 March on the Labor Government’s Safeguard Mechanism (Crediting) Amendment Bill 2022 and made the observation that it all sounded very similar to around a decade ago with the Carbon Tax. Again, Labor is looking to use a tax system rather than innovation to reduce…

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