More than 2,000 small businesses in the Richmond electorate have taken advantage of the Australian government’s instant asset write-off according to 2015-16 Tax Office data.
Announcing the information today, the Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams said the instant asset write-off has struck a chord with the small business sector.
Senator Williams said 540 businesses in the Byron Bay area had made a claim in the 2015-16 financial year.
Canegrowers will continue to have safeguards under a mandatory Sugar Code of Conduct despite Labor backing a motion to abolish it.
An attempt by Senator David Leyonhjelm to disallow the Competition and Consumer (Industry Code-Sugar) Regulations 2017 drew Labor support but Government Senators with the support of cross benches voted it down.
Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams told the Chamber the seeds for the Code were sown at a meeting he held in 2014 with representatives of the Tweed Canegrowers’ Association at Condong.
The contract has been signed for the construction of the Airport Boulevard at Ballina.
The Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams says he has been advised by the Minister for Regional Development Senator Fiona Nash that the Australian government will provide $3 million towards the total overall cost of $6.7 million to construct a new access and link road system at the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport.
Ballina Shire Council will fund the balance of the $6.7 million and manage construction of the project.
Over $18,000 will be provided to groups in the latest round of funding under the Men’s Shed program.
Nationals Duty Senator for Hunter John Williams said he is pleased to provide the good news that these valuable organisations will receive Australian government funding to help with purchases of tools and equipment and to run courses. Senator Williams announced the following allocations –
Cessnock Men’s Shed and Community Garden will receive $4,000 to run mental health seminars;
Wangi Men’s Shed at Arcadia Vale will receive $4,472 to purchase specialised equipment and install roof solar panels;
Muswellbrook Men’s Shed will receive $3,633 for specialised tools and first-aid training;
Branxton Greta Men’s Shed will receive $3,441 for equipment and fire-fighting appliances and signage; and Lake Macquarie Classic Boat Association will use its $2,500 to purchase specialised tools and equipment.
Former part-pensioners in Richmond will have their pensioner concession card reinstated from this week.
It is good news for 856 people in the electorate who lost their card in January as a consequence of reforms to the pension assets test which were designed to make the pension system more affordable and sustainable for the future.
The Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams says some part-pensioners with high levels of assets lost access to their part-pensions and their pensioner concession card which had afforded them a range of State, territory and local government benefits such as discounted council rates.
Senator Williams said the pensioner concession card will be automatically reinstated from this week and all eligible people should have them within a fortnight.
He said they will also retain the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card which continued to be provided after the January 2017 pension changes.
ENDS
Former part-pensioners in Hunter will have their pensioner concession card reinstated from this week.
686 part-pensioners lost their card in January as a consequence of reforms to the pension assets test which were designed to make the pension system more affordable and sustainable for the future.
The Nationals Duty Senator for Hunter John Williams said some part-pensioners with high levels of assets lost access to their part-pensions and their pensioner concession card which had afforded them a range of State, territory and local government benefits such as discounted council rates.
Senator Williams said the pensioner concession card will be automatically reinstated from this week and all eligible people should have them within a fortnight.
He said they will also retain the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card which continued to be provided after the January 2017 pension changes.
ENDS
