The Federal Budget commitment to infrastructure spending and new investment initiatives are good news for regional areas according to the Nationals Duty Senator for Hunter John Williams.

Senator Williams said the Turnbull-Joyce government has announced $75 billion will be spent over the next ten years for critical airport, road and rail infrastructure, including an $8.4 billion injection for the Inland Rail.

He said the Inland Rail fast-track freight line will link Melbourne and Brisbane by 2024 and is projected to create 16,000 new jobs at the peak of construction.

Eighteen community groups and individuals in Hunter will receive volunteer grants that have been announced today.

The Nationals Duty Senator for Hunter John Williams said he had been advised by the Minister for Social Services the Hon. Christian Porter that $73,000 had been approved for a range of purposes including the purchase of equipment, training and transport.

Grants are between $1,000 and $5,000.

Senator Williams said the successful recipients are –

Twenty four groups and individuals in a range of locations will share in just over $88,000 in volunteer grants that have been announced today.

The Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams said the grants of between $1,000 and $5,000 will enable community organisations to better support their volunteers through the purchase of equipment as well as providing training and transport.

Senator Williams said the following groups and individuals will receive funding –

Friends of the Circus Incorporated $4,775; Tweed District Rescue Squad $3,921; Steer Project Incorporated (Yelgun) $5,000; Tweed Valley

Dear Sir,

I note the Member for Richmond Justine Elliot is still using her taxpayer-funded entitlement to mislead your readers. Her latest advertisement of the 6^th of April accuses the Australian Government of “cutting $30 billion from our schools”.  Readers should be told the truth – the cuts Ms Elliot refers to are from a 2013 election promise by Labor that was never funded and incidentally is still not funded under any of Labor’s current policies. Under the current Government from 2014-2017, total funding to government schools in NSW has been $7.2 billion , an increase of 43.7% over this period. This is the second biggest funding increase to government schools in Australia. The 81 schools in Richmond saw a 28% increase in Commonwealth recurrent funding during this period, a $438.6 million investment.  Total Commonwealth

The Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams says he is shocked at the extent of damage caused by the flooding in Murwillumbah, particularly the impact on the industrial estate in South Murwillumbah.
Senator Williams has been taken on a tour of the worst hit areas by the Member for Lismore Thomas George and General Manager of Tweed Shire Council Troy Green and heard the stories of many of those who have been affected.
He met with several business people who are in the midst of the clean-up and heard of the financial impact on their businesses.
Senator Williams said he was impressed that there is a community spirit evident with staff and equipment being offered by others to expedite the clean-up.
“Tweed Shire Council deserves credit for the way it has responded, despite losing part of its truck fleet in the flooding.

A young dentistry student who has an ambition to practice in regional areas when fully qualified is the recipient of the 2017 NSW Regional Dentistry Scholarship.

Casey Hogben of Korora near Coffs Harbour has been named as the successful applicant for the scholarship which is sponsored for the eighth successive year by the Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams and is administered by the National Rural Health Alliance.

Since 2010 Senator Williams has provided $4,800 annually to a commencing dentistry student to assist in their first year studies.