Stay Smart Online Week Stay Smart Online Week, from 9-13 October, is a national awareness raising initiative to encourage Australians to be more proactive about their cyber security. Cybercrime is estimated to cost the Australian economy more than $1 billion a year, and around 43 per cent of cybercrimes are targeted at small businesses. The…
DetailsReducing the pressure on housing affordability The introduction of legislation into Parliament will help to reduce pressure on housing affordability for first home buyers and downsizers. The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS), announced in this year’s Budget, will give first home savers the ability to accelerate their savings by at least 30 per cent. First…
DetailsWhen I climbed off my tractor to stand for the seat of Parkes, the establishment of the Inland Rail from Melbourne to Brisbane was a key priority of mine. I spoke about it in my Maiden Speech in February 2008. Now with the allocation of $8.4 billion in the Federal Budget the completion date of…
Details300,000 small businesses benefit from instant asset write-off Almost 300,000 Australian small businesses have taken advantage of the Nationals-Liberal Government’s instant asset write-off according to 2015-16 tax office data. The instant asset write-off is directly helping small business bottom lines and improving cash flow for small business which means more investment in local communities, higher…
DetailsGrants boosting general practice in Cobar and Broken Hill Patients in Broken Hill and Cobar will soon feel the benefits of improved facilities with almost $250,000 of Federal Government grants going to the Broken Hill Occupational Health and Therapy Rehab Solutions and Cobar Primary Health Care practices. The practices are amongst 67 that were offered…
DetailsNew regulatory powers and lower NBN prices delivering better broadband for consumers New consumer protection, greater transparency and lower wholesale prices are delivering an improved experience for users on the National Broadband Network (NBN). The Australian Communications and Media Authority [ACMA] released new rules to stop the handballing of complaints between telcos and nbn, giving…
Details13 consecutive months of jobs growth Labour force figures released by the ABS show the number of jobs in Australia has increased for the 13th straight month – the longest consecutive run of jobs growth since 1994. In October, the unemployment rate dropped to 5.4 per cent. There are now 355,700 more Australians in work…
DetailsLowest private health insurance premium change in 17 years The Nationals-Liberal Government’s reforms to take the pressure off private health insurance will deliver the lowest annual premium change in almost two decades. Health funds will have average weighted premium increases of 3.95 per cent from 1 April, 2018. This is the lowest increase since 2001.…
DetailsGetting kids in the Electorate of Parkes back to school The Nationals-Liberal Government is focusing on improving school attendance across remote communities. Getting an education is not only the first step in ensuring that our young people do not end up in the criminal justice system, but also gives students a great platform to pursue further studies and…
DetailsMore than $3 million in Building Better Regions’ Fund grants It has been another terrific week of announcements with the declaration of more than $3 million in grants under the Building Better Regions’ Fund [BBRF]. After a competitive merit-based selection process, Australian Government funding has approved four projects in the Electorate of Parkes under the…
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