NSW Nationals Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has sung the praises of farmers in the Cootamundra electorate on National Agriculture Day for their contributions to the NSW primary industries sector. Cootamundra electorate farmers contributed to the state’s primary industries sector estimated output of $17.5 billion in 2017-18, despite the ongoing drought. Ms Cooke said the…
A federal Nationals MP is sick of high petrol prices and stories of farmer exploitation, calling for a Royal Commission. Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan wants the Royal Commission to cover the alleged misuse of market power by Australia’s supermarkets, and petrol retailing in Australia. “I will be moving a Notice of Motion in…
“To the many people of the west I have come to know, I thank you for your forthrightness, for your frankness in bringing issues to my attention, and for your friendship as we worked through those issues.” Since 2000, The Honourable Rick Colless has been a steadfast member of the NSW Nationals in the Legislative…
Long-serving Nationals MP Andrew Fraser has paid tribute to those who helped him throughout his 28 years in office. The Member for Coffs Harbour gave his valedictory speech in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday and made an appeal to his colleagues to govern for the majority and not bend to the will of single-issue minor…
The survival of our dairy farmers is something the Nationals in Government take very seriously, with milk prices barely covering the cost of production. Upper House Nationals MLC Wes Fang has spoken to people across the State as part of the NSW Legislative Council’s inquiry to look at the Sustainability of the Dairy Industry in New…
The Nationals in Government have announced that Essential Water customers in Broken Hill won’t pay for the cost of the River Murray pipeline, should the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) determine that the cost be passed on, as the last of 22,000 pipe sections are laid. Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the Nationals in Government…
The Federal Nationals have made it easier for farmers to apply for the fortnightly Farm Household Allowance (FHA) hardship payment. Almost $2 billion has been secured for drought relief funding by the Nationals in Government, who have also cut the FHA application form by a third and arranged for Centrelink offices in some regions to be…
The Nationals in Government are continuing to deliver vital drought relief, with an additional $75 million pledged to help affected communities. Sixty councils will be able to apply for up to one million dollars to fund projects that employ locals, and create opportunities for local businesses, ensuring towns survive the drought. This is the next step…
The Nationals in Government have rolled out a high-tech tool to deal with an age-old problem on the land. The ‘Farm Tracker’ app is recruiting farmers to collect and report on-farm weather data in order to improve the state’s overall drought monitoring. NSW Nationals Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair said the app would enable…
Two big announcements from Labor Leader Bill Shorten were “borrowed” from The National’s policy book. Last week Bill Shorten announced a Federal Labor Government would fund children to attend preschool for two years before school, starting from the age of three. He also announced 100,000 supported TAFE places if he was elected. There was little detail…