Federation Chamber – Regional Jobs Statement

It is in vogue to talk of disaster and desperation to grab headlines and gain attention in the hallowed halls of policy in Canberra. But this approach masks what is happening in regional Australia and undermines the goal of those seeking to highlight the importance of our regions. Regional Australia has done well to avoid…

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Question Time in the House of Representatives – 27 November 2019

Mr COULTON (Parkes—Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government and Assistant Trade and Investment Minister) (14:48): I’d like to thank the member for Dawson for his question and recognise his knowledge of and passion for the exporters in his electorate, particularly in the beef and sugar industries. All members on this side of the…

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Speech in Chamber – 24 October 2019

I’ve got to admit the drought is severe. We have never experienced a level of dryness and drought like we’ve seen over the last three or four years. But, despite that, unemployment levels in regional Australia are quite low. Indeed, before the drought, unemployment in Dubbo was 2.2 per cent and across my entire electorate,…

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Question Time – Rural and Regional Health

Mr COULTON (Parkes—Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government and Assistant Trade and Investment Minister) (15:08): I thank the member for Indi for her question and I recognise her knowledge, history and understanding of rural and regional health issues before she came to this place. The Australian government is committed to improving the outcomes…

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Farm Household Support Amendment Bill 2019

Mr COULTON (Parkes—Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government and Assistant Trade and Investment Minister) (16:30): I rise to sum up on the Farm Household Support Amendment Bill 2019. I understand we’ll be dealing with the amendments after I sum up. This bill demonstrates the government’s responsiveness to the needs of farming communities in…

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House of Representatives – 25 July 2019

Mr COULTON (Parkes—Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government and Assistant Trade and Investment Minister) (14:47): I would like to thank the member for Flynn for his question. I know how important regional connectivity is to him and his electorate. This government is committed to supporting Australians through adversity. The member would well know…

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Speech in Federation Chamber – Q Fever

Mr COULTON (Parkes—Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (10:46): The drought continues to bite across regional Australia in the eastern States, particularly in my electorate of Parkes, the just under 400,000 square kilometres that I represent in this place. There has been some relief in the north-eastern part of the electorate, and we’re starting…

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Matters of Public Importance – Regional Australia

Mr COULTON (Parkes—Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment) (15:29):  From time to time, as I go around my regional electorate, I come across a bit of criticism as a local member. People might express some frustration and talk about things that maybe they're not completely happy about, but there are a couple of things…

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