It is important for Australia to be united if we are to deal with the challenges that we will inevitably face in the future. Australia is a country which shows a remarkable ability to pull together in times of crises and the sense of community is especially strong in country areas. Tragedies like the loss…
DetailsAs we move through the 2015 Federal budget week, I believe it is important to reflect on last year’s budget and consider how this year will be different. Last year’s budget was tough, responding to a lot of hard decisions that needed to be made. As difficult as it was, last year’s budget was also…
DetailsBroken Hill office open to the public I was very pleased to open the doors of my Broken Hill office to residents of Far West New South Wales (NSW) last week. The office is being looked after by two new staff members. They are Broken Hill residents who, along with the staff in my other…
DetailsTackling pests and weeds in NSW Landholders throughout the Federal electorate of Parkes will soon be better-equipped to tackle the scourge of pests and weeds thanks to a share in $3 million of federal funding for 23 projects across New South Wales. This is a very welcome announcement particularly for parts of New South Wales…
DetailsThe Coalition has made the largest-ever investment in the professional development of the long day care sector. The Long Day Care Professional Development Programme will provide $200 million for eligible services to assist in up-skilling and training early childhood educators. This will help the industry to transition to changes and new regulations that have been…
DetailsIn December last year, Minister for Small Business, Bruce Billson issued a new direction to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to increase efforts to monitor pricing and profits in the fuel industry over the next three years. These monitoring reports will be useful evidence for identifying where fuel pricing has not responded to…
DetailsLast week marked three months since the release of the Coalition Government’s $4 billion Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper. This Paper contains a range of initiatives designed to deliver practical support to the agricultural sector. I am very pleased to report that implementation of programmes and policies under this Paper is progressing well with farmers…
DetailsI was very pleased to have my colleague, Deputy Leader of the Nationals and Minister for Rural Health Fiona Nash, in Dubbo last week confirming that a re-elected Coalition Government will contribute $25 million towards construction of an integrated cancer centre for Western New South Wales (NSW), based at Dubbo Hospital. On another health issue,…
DetailsOn 25th April Australians will commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Gallipoli landings during the First World War and honour the sacrifices of those service personnel who helped forge our national identity. This Anzac Day Australians are also being asked to spare a thought for our current serving personnel and recently returned veterans who have…
DetailsWith Federal Parliament currently on what is known as its “winter break,” you would be forgiven for thinking that I am currently lounging around on a tropical island enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather. Sadly from a weather point of view, like most of the residents of the Parkes electorate, I too have been…
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