Catching up with John Sahyoun on Myall Coast Radio to discuss Anthony Albanese’s Voice referendum, cost of living, energy and the division of powers and responsibilities between local government, the states and the Federal Government. You can listen online at: https://2mycfm.com
Read MoreDr GILLESPIE (Lyne) (09:42): People in the Lyne electorate are now facing 20 to 30 per cent increases in their electricity bills. Around the National Electricity Market, electricity prices continue to rise regularly. All this is self-made harm on the back of really bad energy policy. The national energy market rules and the renewable energy targets that deliver continual subsidies for wind farms and solar panel farms, and the restrictive trade practices the National Electricity Market rules install, prevent coal-fired power stations from remaining economic. These rules have led to the closure of several big power stations, the latest being Liddell.
Read MoreIt was a pleasure to support the Puppies in Parliament event hosted by Vision Australia.
Vision Australia representatives highlighted the important work being done to enhance the mobility and independence of people who are blind or have low vision and the work of their Seeing Eye Dogs and Seeing Eye Puppies.
Read MoreDr GILLESPIE (Lyne) (19:55): I rise tonight to inform people of a part explanation for why the Minister for Climate Change and Energy keeps standing up in this place and saying that renewable energy is the cheapest form of energy, but your bill keeps going up and up. Not only is he a maestro at engineering and electrical system distribution but he is a master of spin. But might I tell you, people know this because they see their bills going up.
Read MoreDr GILLESPIE (Lyne) (18:40): This is a really important bill that we are discussing now, the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023, as it will take Australian industrial relations, particularly in the small and family business space, back 30 or 40 years. The title is misleading as the bill does much more than close a few loopholes. I know many businesses that will close because this will be too complex and to onerous for many small and family businesses. It will increase union control and increase right of entry and access to many small and family businesses.
Read MoreIt was great to have Dr Chris Keefer at Parliament House to discuss Canada’s nuclear energy.
Dr Keefer is a Canadian emergency physician and the President of the grassroots non-profit Canadians for Nuclear Energy. He is also the host of the Decouple Podcast which explores the science, technology and politics of the energy transition.
He is Founder and Director of Doctors for Nuclear Energy (D4NE) an international, volunteer group of doctors that see nuclear energy as an irreplaceable part of the just transition to a low-carbon future.
“As doctors, we understand the need to fight climate change and eliminate air pollution while maintaining the power we need to operate hospitals 24/7/365.
“The evidence is in. Nuclear energy provides the reliable, low-carbon power we need to efficiently decarbonize. Dr Keefer said.
Read MoreCommunity Pharmacists turned out in force on Federation Mall outside Parliament and I was there to support them.
Many of our small Community Pharmacies are the only health facility in rural towns.
The Albanese Labor Government is proposing changes that will see their dispensing income cut in half with proposed changes as scripts are core income.
What business can survive with this?
Pharmacies stayed open during the pandemic when others closed.
Catching up with Hope Skin Cancer & GP Clinic’s Dr Muneef Al-Jawabreh and Practice Manager, Debbie Smith, to discuss potential policies to help ease the doctor shortage in regional Australia, including increasing doctor supervision ratios.
As Federal Regional Health Minister, I announced on behalf of the former federal Coalition Government a $1-billion Rural Health package to boost doctor numbers in the bush and during the election campaign, the Labor Party announced it would match this commitment.
We are still waiting for delivery of this commitment.
Read MoreIt was such a pleasure to join Breanna and Cheryl of the Karuah Progress Association on a tour throughout the town to view all of their incredible beautification projects, which include the regeneration of native vegetation along the river, the commissioning of renowned local artist, Jordon Lucky, for the painting of vibrant murals, and the installation of planter boxes and seating along shop fronts.
This is a Progress Association that the town of Karuah should be proud to have and I congratulate them on their work.
Read MoreRecently, Senator Hollie Hughes and I were given a tour of the sustainable forestry operations in and around Wauchope and Herons Creek by the Australian Forest Products Association.
We saw first-hand the stringent and careful process involved in selective harvesting approaches in NSW and also caught up with the @Pentarch Group timber mill to discuss the challenges facing the timber industry in the face of sustained disruptions.
The continuation of sustainable forestry is imperative and we must support our local timber industry to ensure Australia’s economic and environmental future.
Read MoreI recently caught up with members of Maitland’s U3A, Historical Society and Cultural Group to discuss the establishment of the ‘Maitland Cultural Hub’.
It is proposed that the hub is located in a centralised location within the former Maitland City Council Administration building.
Such a dedicated space would enable the region’s nationally significant and unique heritage to be better showcased and appreciated.
Read MoreFederal Member for Lyne, Dr David Gillespie, has congratulated MidCoast Council on the completed upgrades to Gloucester’s District Park, which was supported with $200,000 from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.
“The funds from the former Federal Coalition Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program have enabled several improvements to be made to the park including the repair of 600 lineal metres of damaged pathway, and the installation of four picnic tables, shelters and slabs,” Dr Gillespie said.
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Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie has congratulated Maitland City Council on improvements to the John Wilkinson Sporting Precinct, including upgrades to the sporting facilities, new footpath and cycleways, and the new children’s playground.
“I’ve been working with Council to address local community priorities through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program and I’m delighted that through the assistance I was able to secure in the previous government we have been able to improve these facilities here in Bolwarra,” Dr Gillespie said.
Read MoreFederal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie has congratulated MidCoast Council on the completed construction of a new amenities block for Bulahdelah’s Lions Park which was made possible through $300,000 from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.
“I’ve been working with Council to address local community priorities through the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program and I’m delighted that, through the assistance I was able to secure in the previous government, we have been able to improve these facilities here in Bulahdelah,” Dr Gillespie said.
Read MoreFederal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie will today inspect the recently completed public infrastructure work that will support the construction, Fig Trees on the Manning, and receive a briefing about the next steps for the Manning Valley’s new residential and commercial precinct.
Development of the Fig Trees on the Manning Taree can now proceed following the installation of the traffic lights at the Manning River Drive and Bligh Streets, which was the final piece in the public infrastructure work, required under the precinct’s original planning approval.
Read MoreFederal Member for Lyne, Dr David Gillespie, has met with MidCoast Council to receive a briefing on the latest stretch of upgrades to The Bucketts Way at Clareval.
This stage of the project involves an almost 1km section of road approximately 4km north of Stroud Road. Works will include widening of the road, resurfacing and drainage improvements.
The Nabiac Showground will receive further upgrades thanks to the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.
Federal Member for Lyne, Dr David Gillespie, said $50,000 in funding would be allocated towards the installation of a new, suspended ceiling in the hall to enhance the internal appearance of the structure.
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The Laurieton Men’s Shed will install a new solar power system, thanks to the support of a funding grant announced today by Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie.
The Men’s Shed has secured $10,000 in Federal funding towards the $14,420 project.
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We have a toxic brew in the economy at the moment. I know that it's Thursday and everyone is keen to get out of here, but this is a really serious issue, because people are hurting in Australia. Everywhere you look, inflation is eating away at the value of their savings and their assets.
The year-on-year CPI issued by the Ai Group was seven per cent for the last year. Inflation is eating away any wage rise that people get. Admittedly, it may finally be working. The monetary policy that the Reserve Bank governor was basically sacked for has had its effect, and that monetary policy is slowing things down.
Read MoreThis bill's title, the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Amendment (Using New Technologies to Fight Climate Change) Bill 2023, explains an awful lot.
This bill is all about enabling approval for engineering activities that will help reduce the effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This bill implements Australia's international obligations under the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter, commonly known as the London protocol.
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