FUNDING FROM NATURAL DISASTER RESILIENCE PROGRAMME

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Created: 02 September 2014

Joint Media Release

Senator John Willaims and The Hon Geoff Provest MP                                          

The Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams and the Member for Tweed Geoff Provest have announced almost $230,000 in funding to help better protect the Tweed in times of emergency.

Senator Williams said the NSW Rural Fire Service will be provided with $201,000 from the Natural Disaster Resilience Programme to increase participation and the capability of Aboriginal communities in fire safety and emergency management through the delivery of culturally appropriate programmes.

Senator Williams said this will include a community-led arts project aimed at engaging with Indigenous youth through creative and artistic expression to deliver key fire safety messages.

ROADS TO RECOVERY FUNDING CAN START ROLLING

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Created: 28 August 2014

The Land Transport Infrastructure Amendment Bill 2014 has today passed the Senate.

This means local government councils in Richmond can receive their share of the $2.1 billion Roads to Recovery funding.

The Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams said the legislation had been needlessly held up in the Senate by Labor and the Greens for no good reason.

Senator Williams said no doubt the pressure put on both parties by councils led to their cave-in.

Councils will use the funding to deliver safer roads for their communities, and they will receive a bonus of double the funding under this programme in 2015-16.

TERRANORA STUDENT A TOP ACHIEVER

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Created: 25 August 2014

A student from Terranora in the Richmond electorate is one of 500 students nationwide named as winners of the Australian Student Prize.

Madison Millhouse, a student from All Saints Anglican School, was today congratulated by the Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams.

The Australian Student Prize recognises academic excellence and achievement of students in senior secondary years, with this year’s winners being rewarded for their work during the 2013 school year.

Senator Williams said Madison will receive a prize valued at $2,000.

He said the Australian Student Prize is an ideal way to reward students who work hard and perform at their very best at a time when they are making crucial decisions about their next move into the workforce or further study.

FUNDING FOR KURRI KURRI RSL

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Created: 21 August 2014

The Kurri Kurri Sub-branch of the RSL has received funding in the latest round of the Veteran and Community Grants program.

The grant for $1,700 will be used by the Sub-branch to purchase a notebook computer and digital projector to facilitate presentations for the veteran community.

The Nationals Duty Senator for Hunter John Williams said ex-service and community organisations, veteran groups and private organisations that contribute to the health and welfare of the veteran community are all eligible to apply for funding through the Veteran and Community Grants program.

CITIZENSHIP TESTING NOW AVAILABLE AT TWEED HEADS

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Created: 19 August 2014

Residents in the Tweed can now sit the Australian Citizenship test at their local Centrelink or Medicare Service Centre.

The Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Human Services Senator the Hon. Marise Payne and Minister for Immigration and Border Protection the Hon. Scott Morrison that the two agencies have formed a partnership to make it easier for people in regional Australia.

Senator Williams said Tweed Heads is one of 29 centres across Australia where people can take the Citizenship test instead of travelling to a capital city or wait for Immigration staff to visit their local area.

“In 2012, the partnership between Centrelink and Medicare was trialled at seven sites.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS FOR RICHMOND COUNCILS

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Created: 19 August 2014

New payments to councils in the Richmond electorate are being made today under the Federal government’s Financial Assistance Grants program.

The Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams said Tweed Shire Council will receive $9.408 million and Byron Shire Council will receive $2.611 million as part of a NSW distribution of $715 million.

He said the government will deliver a further $9.3 billion to local government from 2014-15 to 2018-19 through the Financial Assistance Grants program to deliver services and build community infrastructure.

“Councils may spend the untied grant according to local priorities, including for infrastructure, health, recreation, environment, employment and roads projects.