It’s been another big couple of weeks in the electorate of Parkes – both on the road and representing our communities in Canberra.
We held a very productive Network Connectivity Roundtable in Walgett to bring together stakeholders and those impacted by the lack of telecommunications in that area. People from Narrabri to Lightning Ridge, and from Parkes to Broken Hill are well aware of the problems we face sometimes just making a phone call, let alone getting a connection online.
This session was well attended and, with the benefit of hearing more first-hand experiences, I spoke in Parliament last week about the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill, a Bill that is long on theoretical technology and short on practicalities.
You can hear the full speech here.
Nyngan very happily welcomed the start of monthly paediatric clinics under Dr Nicholas Wood, and it was great to be at the morning tea to welcome him. This wouldn’t have been possible without the great work of Little Wings and the support of Bogan Shire Council. Health care is critical in any community.
The people of Tottenham have been very active in looking after their community’s health, with the opening of the Tottenham Community Gym. This is outstanding commitment by an outstanding group of people.
Together with NSW Shadow Minister for Water and Crown Lands Steph Cooke, I held a Pollies at the Pub event at Lake Cargelligo and another at Condoblin. These are important opportunities to have a chat with local people and listen to what is important to them.
Everywhere I go, people tell me how worried and confused they are about the new gun reforms – both those by the New South Wales Government and the Federal Government. At Broken Hill, I heard the concerns of law-abiding gun owners.
The reforms are causing havoc for farmers and for sporting shooters, and at least four gun shops across the electorate of Parkes are already suffering big financial implications that could have ramifications across the region.
I will continue to bring these problems to the Labor Government’s attention. It is unfair that so many responsible gun owners are being punished for the actions of two terrorists.
I also spoke in Parliament last week about my opposition to the return of the ISIS brides, over-spending by the Government, as well as courageous Dubbo’s mum Katherine McDowell’s fight to find better outcomes for people with disabilities, including her son Harley.
Katherine’s petition, Harley’s Law: National Safeguards for Terminal, Degenerative and High-Complexity Disabilities, seeks assurance that care options for people with disabilities will not be decided by automation. You can listen to my speech here.
I recently asked the 20 councils in the Parkes electorate to outline their highest priorities for funding ahead of the 2026-27 Federal Budget.
Councils across the country are doing it tough, trying to provide a huge range of services and infrastructure with a very low funding base. Rising costs and cost shifting from other levels of government have made this harder and harder.
I have sent a letter to Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers outlining eight priorities that are common across the electorate. They are: escalating costs and financial sustainability; road maintenance, freight efficiency and road safety; natural disaster preparedness, recovery and resilience; community infrastructure; airport infrastructure; regional telecommunications infrastructure; inland rail; and water infrastructure.
Let’s hope we see some improvements in the bottom line of the Federal Budget for these councils.