Western NSW Cancer Centre update Last week I officially received a petition containing well over 45,000 signatures in support of an integrated cancer centre based at Dubbo Hospital. Receiving this petition is certainly one of those special moments in my parliamentary career to date. I could not have predicted the magnitude of the number of…
DetailsThe Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has announced that this year’s federal election will be conducted on new House of Representatives electoral divisions in New South Wales (NSW). This announcement has confirmed that the federal electorate of Parkes will increase in size from 256,000 square kilometres to approximately 400,000 square kilometres. This means that…
DetailsRural and regional Australia are once again benefiting from significant funding announcements from the Coalition Government. Last week’s Mobile Black Spot Programme announcement was of enormous importance to local residents. Mobile phone coverage is no longer a luxury and this Government is committed to making sure that the people of rural and regional Australia…
DetailsSix local engagement officers, chosen from over 100 applicants, have been selected and will be located within communities in the Murray Darling Basin to assist with participation in decision making around Commonwealth environmental water. The local engagement officers will be based in Dubbo, Deniliquin, Leeton (NSW), Mildura (VIC), Berri (SA) and Goondiwindi (QLD). I welcome…
DetailsPrior to the Federal Election in 2013 the Coalition made a commitment to hold a review of the Fair Work Laws. The Productivity Commission will undertake this review and has now called for submissions from the public. This independent review will assess the operation of the Fair Work framework and consider options for improvement before…
DetailsThe Abbott/Truss Government has taken another step towards delivering reform on inter-country adoptions. Adopting a child from another country is a very complex and lengthy process. The Government has recognised that this delay is not in the interests of the child who is being adopted or of the family who are looking to adopt. Prime…
DetailsNow is the time to fix up the confusing issue of country of origin labelling. Consumers should be able to tell by a simple and clear labelling system where produce comes from. Australian farmers also deserve the opportunity to clearly present their proudly Australian grown products to the market. The Prime Minister has charged senior…
DetailsI welcome last week’s announcement by the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Christian Porter MP of a $20 million Volunteer Grant funding round. This Commonwealth Government funding provides a fantastic opportunity for community organisations to apply for grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 to assist their volunteers by helping to make their work…
DetailsThe recent announcement that the Coalition Government will cut the proposed backpacker tax from 32.5 per cent to 19 per cent from 1 January 2017 is good news for the Parkes electorate. The Government recognises that working holiday makers are an important part of Australia’s $43.4 billion tourism industry and a key source of labour,…
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…
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