The Hon Michael McCormack MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Leader of The Nationals
Federal Member for Riverina
Senator The Hon Michaelia Cash
Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education
Senator for Western Australia
Senator John Williams
Senator for New South Wales
The Liberal and Nationals’ Government will invest $60 million to trial a wage subsidy as an incentive for employers in regional and rural communities to engage more apprentices.
Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education Senator Michaelia Cash said the trial would see up to 1,630 new Australian Apprentices in areas of skills needs.
“There are 3.3 million Australian small businesses which contribute around $395 billion annually to our economy. Small business plays a vital role in our community, from giving young Australians their first real job to supporting our local charities and sporting organisations,” Minister Cash said.
“Through this incentive we are securing the skills our regional and rural businesses need to remain competitive and give local students new opportunities at home.”
Today in the Australian newspaper my opinion piece on coal-fired generation appears on page 14. It is titled We Fiddle, Our Coal Burns Across The World.
"There has been a lot of discussion of late on coal-fired electricity and climate change. The IPCC has come out with another meeting and people like former Liberal leader John Hewson have entered the debate. Take a look at the facts. Australia has 22 operating coal fired generating plants of at least 30 megawatts capacity producing 128 million tonnes of CO2 per year, with no plans to construct any new ones. Compare that with China, our biggest trading partner, which has 1,003 coal fired power generating plants operating to the same capacity and a further 130 under construction. I repeat another 130 under construction.
Students are being encouraged to apply for an Australian government-funded scholarship to study a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) course.
Senator for New South Wales John Williams said scholarships of up to $18,000 are available to help students with the costs of studying STEM at university or a vocational education and training institution.
More than 1200 rural, regional and remote students will receive support through the program.
“The scholarships may also include internships to help students develop their professional experience and ensure they’re job-ready.
New guidelines will also make it easier for drought-affected students to apply, including families receiving the Farm Household Allowance”, Senator Williams said.
Applications close on Friday the 14th of December 2018.
The Hon Michael McCormack MP
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Leader of The Nationals
Federal Member for Riverina
The Hon Melinda Pavey MP
NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight
State Member for Oxley
The Hon Ben Franklin MLC
Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy and Northern New South Wales
Simon Richardson
Mayor
Byron Shire Council
Senator John Williams
Senator for New South Wales
MEDIA RELEASE
9 October 2018
Booyong Bridge was officially opened today, the first of five new bridges being built as part of the Bangalow Bridges Replacement project.
Deputy Prime Minister, Nationals’ Leader and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the new bridges would play an important role in the regional economy.
“Around Australia the Liberal and Nationals’ Government is investing in regional roads to ensure people can get home sooner and safer, as well as boosting productivity and creating local jobs,” Mr McCormack said.
People in the Richmond electorate are being invited to have input into the Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission into the aged care sector through an online feedback tool.
The Royal Commission will primarily look at the quality of care provided in both residential and home aged care for senior Australians, but will also include young people with disabilities living in residential aged care settings.
Senator for New South Wales John Williams said whilst we rely on so many people and facilities to care for our aged, it is unfortunate that following intensified policing and inspections major problems have been found and the Royal Commission is a necessity.
Over the past year the Department of Health had closed a number of aged care services with an increasing number under sanction to improve their care.
Senator Williams said whilst the final Terms of Reference will be determined in consultation with the community including residents, their families and aged care providers, the inquiry will focus on –
The tabling of a Senate report into the possible regulation of mobility scooters will hopefully be the forerunner of a national standard for the machines according to the Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams.
After his wife was badly injured when struck by a mobility scooter Senator Williams’ office received numerous emails detailing similar accidents and near misses and he subsequently launched the inquiry through the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee..
Senator Williams said upon investigation at that time he was staggered to find there were very few rules governing their use, and only in Queensland are they registered.
In evidence to the committee, Professor Ozanne-Smith from Monash University’s Department of Forensic Medicine said there were 132 deaths involving mobility scooters between 2000 and 2017 – 129 were users and 3 were pedestrians.
Senator Williams said she estimated that at least 350 older scooter users are admitted to hospital suffering serious injuries each year and probably even higher numbers in recent years as more are being used.
“There is no compulsory training in their use, no need for users to be medically assessed, no need for safety equipment such as helmets – yet these machines can use footpaths and shopping centres mingling with pedestrians.”
