I have spent the past week in the stunning Far West including Broken Hill, Menindee, Wilcannia and White Cliffs meeting with organisations about a range of important matters.
It was great to visit the Broken Hill Military Museum, a museum run by a dedicated committee of volunteers who do a great job in commemorating important moments in history. The Broken Hill Military Museum was a recipient of the 2024-25 Volunteer Grants.
I also met with law-abiding gun owners at the Broken Hill Sporting and heard of their frustrations with the gun reforms from both the State and Federal Labor Governments. The reforms have caused extreme confusion and concern across the Parkes electorate where law-abiding gun owners, including sporting shooters, know there will be consequences to these decisions.
I met with the White Cliffs Miners Association to discuss their ongoing battle to proceed with working mining claims, an issue that is impacting on the whole town. White Cliffs has been fighting this issue for eight years, and I will continue to make representations to the government on their behalf.
The previous couple of weeks in Parliament were about fighting for a fair go for regional Australians – in particular, the people of the Parkes electorate.
We are all being hit by the rising cost of living. One of the most significant expenses we face is the power bill. Despite the huge amount of spending on alternative energy, power bills have continued to climb and are a serious concern for many households, particularly during times of extreme weather like heatwaves.
I have twice taken the Albanese Government to task during Question Time over their broken promise to cut power bills by $275 by the end of 2025. I am yet to receive a straightforward answer and, in the meantime, the bills keep climbing.
In the past week in Parliament, we debated Appropriations Bills to add an additional $12.7 billion to the 2025-2026 Federal Budget for items the Labor Government had somehow failed to factor into their initial budget.
That’s a lot of extra cash to be paid by Australians when our country is already hitting $1 trillion in national debt.
Worryingly, it does not even take into account the money that will be needed for the gun buyback rushed through earlier this year. That could cost anywhere up to $10 billion and still, we have no idea how it will work.
Neither have these bills included any compensation for small business owners. I have already heard from gun shop owners across the electorate, including in Walgett, Dubbo, Broken Hill and Moree about the devastating impact new gun laws are having on their family businesses.
This lack of clarity and funding only adds insult to the injury of gun laws introduced in haste and without any consultation.
While spending is needed to right the wrongs legislation is wreaking on regional Australia, this Appropriation Bill was a clear indication of poor planning and spiralling spending that can only add to further inflation.
On another matter of concern to people throughout the region, the 2026 Basin Plan Review is now open for public consultation, and it is critical for people to have their say.
There are a lot of problems with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan including unrealistic water recovery and water buybacks, and the 2023 removal of the cap on Commonwealth water purchases.
The way to have your voice heard is to have a say. Submissions are due by Friday, 1 May and you can find out more here: www.mdba.gov.au/water-management/2026-basin-plan-review
I have been holding “Pollies in the Pub” events throughout the electorate to give people the opportunity to ask me questions about federal matters in person. This week, I was at the White Cliffs Hotel to meet White Cliffs locals. These events are a great opportunity to come and say g’day.
I will be at the Lake Cargelligo Bowling Club on Thursday, 26 February at 6pm along with Shadow Minister for Water and Crown Lands and Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke, and we will both be at the Railway Hotel at Condoblin at 6pm on Friday, 27 February. Come along, say hello, and ask us any questions you might have about federal issues.
Finally, it is an honour to return to the Shadow Cabinet as the Assistant Shadow Minister for Agriculture and the Assistant Shadow Minister for Resources.
I will work in partnership with the Shadow Ministers for these portfolios, and with the Coalition team, to hold the Albanese Labor Government to account and help the voice of regional Australians be heard in Canberra.
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