CONGRATULATIONS to Mr Leo Nelson of Albury – named the 2010 Murray Volunteer of the Year – for his outstanding contribution to the community. Leo was recognised for his tremendous contribution through the Lions Club of Albury over the past 50 years. There are 2.4 million volunteers in NSW and these awards recognise the outstanding [...]
REFLECTING as we come to the end of another parliamentary sitting year, it seems events relating to weather and water have again dominated the landscape and headlines in 2010. The drought, which defined so much of inland NSW for the past decade seems to have finally broken and with that, delight that the dust, crop [...]
IN Parliament earlier this week we debated a Bill that would ensure the government was accountable for the National Broadband Network, a Bill that affects every Australian taxpayer directly because of the enormity of the cost of implementation. In October 2008 the now deposed Prime Minister made a speech about transparency in decision making. Ironically, [...]
As our NSW students reach the end of the HSC exams and the School Certificate begins I thought it worth reminding parents and students of a major change introduced in 2010. In January, NSW introduced a new school leaving age, meaning that students will complete Year 10 and then have a number of options in [...]
Sussan Ley, Federal Member for Farrer. You might have caught this week’s news from Canberra regarding the Federal Coalition’s pursuit of a Judicial Inquiry into Labor’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) School Hall Program. As your local federal member, I have heard many eye-opening accounts on some of these projects across the vast length and [...]
Last Monday in Parliament House in Canberra, I asked the Water Minister, Tony Burke about the impact of devastating cuts to irrigation entitlements in North East Victoria as proposed in the Murray Darling Basin Plan. Mr Burke refused to answer my question.I have also called on Mr Burke and Ms Gillard to attend the community [...]
FIRE Action Week is an important reminder for all in our community to take time out to prepare for the upcoming fire season. As we head into the second fire season since the tragic Black Saturday bushfires hard lessons have still to be learnt by the Brumby Labor Government. One of the most publicised recommendations [...]
WHAT a great excuse to get out and about over the NSW long weekend! Fantastic spring weather saw people out in the garden and attending a range of events like the Culcairn and Walbundrie Shows which are such an important part of our rural lifestyle. The local organising committees are to be congratulated for the [...]