Michael McCormack

Never been a better time to move to the country

Regional Australia is the best place to live, work, invest and raise a family says Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals Leader Michael McCormack. Last year 65,000 more people chose to move to regional Australia from capital cities than the other way around, according to a new Regional Australia Institute (RAI) report tracking population movements between…

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Helping dairy farmers lower their power bills

Photo taken before COVID-19 restrictions. The Nationals in Government are helping dairy farmers lower their power bills with grants that will help them become more energy-efficient. Federal Nationals Member for Page Kevin Hogan said up to $20,000 was available for a dairy farming business to upgrade equipment to reduce energy consumption. “Energy use in milk…

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Regional Australia grows as people seek country living

Tens of thousands of people are choosing regional Australia over the capital cities according to a new Regional Australia Institute (RAI) report tracking population movements between 2011 and 2016. Deputy Prime Minister Nationals Leader Michael McCormack said The Big Movers: Understanding Population Mobility in Regional Australia report showed more and more Australians were attracted to…

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Fang takes aim at Shooters

NSW Nationals Upper House MP Wes Fang has taken aim at the Shooters for their support of Labor. The Shooters have recycled an out-of-area candidate to contest the Eden-Monaro by-election, but Mr Fang says it’s simply a way to shore up their friends in Labor. “The Shooters showed no interest in running for Eden-Monaro last…

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Working to improve the lives of our veterans

The NSW Nationals in Government are embarking on a major consultation project to help understand the issues facing veterans and their families. NSW Nationals Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said this process will help shape the first NSW Veterans Strategy. “By completing this survey or attending one of the forums being held across the state,…

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Senator Davey calls on Aussies to Buy Australian Made

Nationals Senator for NSW Perin Davey has called on all ‘true blue’ Aussies to buy Australian Made to help families and small businesses during the COVID-19 downturn. Australian small businesses have been hit very hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, Senator Davey said, but there was very strong support in the community to ‘buy local’. “When…

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More Aussies buying local online

The NSW Nationals have welcomed new research showing that Australians are increasingly supporting local businesses online. Conducted by Venture Insights on behalf of NBN Co, the research found that 49 per cent of respondents have increased their spending on online shopping since social distancing measures came into effect. More than two thirds (70 per cent)…

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New Clarence prison set to open

The opening of the new Clarence Correctional Centre next week will deliver 600 jobs and a $560 million boost to the regional economy, according to Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis. “Australia’s newest and largest prison will officially take its first inmate on July 1,” Mr Gulaptis said. “The state-of-the-art correctional centre, funded by the NSW…

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Michael Johnsen MP

Restoration and rehabilitation grant for Muswellbrook

NSW Nationals Member for Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen has announced $73,776 from the NSW Environmental Trust’s Restoration and Rehabilitation grant for Muswellbrook Council to restore the endangered Hunter River Redgum ecological community. Mr Johnsen said the NSW Environmental Trust grants would help Muswellbrook Council to support ongoing management and stewardship of local environmental assets and…

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Vital funding for regional airports

Regional airports will receive a funding injection in another step taken by the Federal Nationals in Government to help Australia’s aviation industry get through the COVID-19 pandemic. Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals Leader Michael McCormack said the Regional Airports Program would assist the owners of regional airports to undertake essential works, promoting aviation safety and…

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Old Cooma Road completed well ahead of schedule

A huge milestone for Queanbeyan, Googong and surrounding communities has been reached with NSW Nationals Member for Monaro John Barilaro officially opening the duplication of Old Cooma Road. Mr Barilaro said this major upgrade will make a significant difference to lives of the thousands of motorists who use the road regularly. “Old Cooma Road is…

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High point in Coffs Harbour Hospital expansion

Construction of the $194m Coffs Harbour Hospital redevelopment is powering ahead as the building reaches its highest point, NSW Nationals Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh says. To celebrate this milestone, Mr Singh joined Mid North Coast Local Health District Governing Board chair Warren Grimshaw AM and chief executive Stewart Dowrick, along with Health Infrastructure…

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Water

Nats securing Tamworth’s water supply

Tamworth’s water supply will be boosted by the environmental approval of a drought response pipeline to keep the water flowing for the 62,000 residents of the regional city. The Nationals in Government have fought hard for the approval of the project, which still ensures that rigorous assessment processes included consideration of threatened species and their…

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Tweed Valley Hospital

Tweed Valley Hospital one step closer

The final plans for the $673.2 million Tweed Valley Hospital have been given the green light by the NSW Nationals in Government, paving the way for the main building works to begin. NSW Nationals Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said planning approval of the final hospital design, buildings and landscaping works was a significant milestone…

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