We have just finished the second-last week in Parliament for the year, a week that started with words of support for Dr Helen Haines MP, who was seriously injured in an alleged attack outside her Victorian electorate office.
Helen’s husband Phil has said Helen is strong in heart and mind and, as I said in Parliament last week, that is a condition we should all aspire to.
We have been reminded of the importance of respect and kindness. The unhappy and the cruellest voices are often the ones that are the loudest, but the kind words will last longer and ultimately, will mean more – even in this age of social media.
We started Monday of the sitting week with the Australian National Prayer Breakfast, an opportunity to pause, reflect and pray for our fellow Australians.
It was a challenging week in Parliament, with higher-than-expected inflation figures adding to the despair many Australians are experiencing in trying to deal with the cost of living.
It seems we are all being hit with higher and higher bills at every turn – at the supermarket, at the petrol pump, in our electricity bills, health insurance, and then there are taxes, taxes and more taxes.
Also in Parliament this week, I spoke about a 66-year-old widow in the electorate of Parkes who has been paying into private health insurance for close to 50 years. Now, soldiering on through tough times without her husband, she is being faced with a cut to the over-65 health insurance rebate.
This is just plain unfair, and Australians can’t take any more.
This is why the Nationals Plan concentrates on fixing the economy and protecting our way of life with lower taxes, cheaper power, more sensible migration and more homes. Basically, putting Australians first.
I saw some happy young local faces at Parliament, when students from St Xavier’s Gunnedah, Dubbo South Public School, St Mary’s Warren, Pilliga Public School and St Francis Narrabri visited Parliament. Great to catch up with these students as they learn all about our democracy!
The Protecting the Future of Psychology in Australia event at Parliament House included an address by keynote speaker, Malinda Guest from Narrabri. Malinda is the President of the Australian Clinical Psychology Association, and she spoke about her experiences growing up in regional Australia and witnessing the impact of mental health challenges in country communities.
Earlier this month in Parliament, I raised the issue of the Albanese government’s decision not to fund a prostate cancer specialist nurse in the Far West Local Health District.
This is a heartbreaking decision for people, including all of those in the Broken Hill community. I’m advised that the decision will put hundreds of men in Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Wilcannia, White Cliffs, Ivanhoe and the entire western part of New South Wales at further risk.
I also spoke this week about the ongoing disaster of the Labor Government’s decision not to go ahead with the Inland Rail north of Parkes. This continues to have repercussions for families and businesses across the electorate.
I had the opportunity to attend a really happy event at Pilliga. The Barwon Group of the CWA celebrated their 100th annual general meeting.
The CWA has done an enormous amount for Australian regional women and families over the past century, and it was an honour to share this celebration with them. Congratulations to all the women who have volunteered with this great organisation over the years.
Following Parliament, I held a Pollies in the Pub event in Barmedman and attended the Central West Lachlan Landcare Parkes NAIDOC Awards Ceremony, a wonderful day of remembrance and celebration.
I’m looking forward to a couple of weeks in the electorate, with plans to attend meeting and events in Narrabri, Wee Waa, Moree, Bourke, Broken Hill, Ivanhoe and Walgett. See you in the Parkes electorate!