The Australian government is providing $98 million under Round Six of the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program (HVSPP) to make our roads safer.

The Nationals Duty Senator for Richmond John Williams says the government will provide up to 50 percent of the cost of successful projects to a maximum of $5 million.  

He said Tweed, Byron and Ballina Shire Councils are eligible to apply for funding for projects that will upgrade road infrastructure to improve heavy vehicle safety and freight efficiency, saving lives and reducing travel times for freight on Australia's roads.

The Hon Dr David Gillespie MP

Assistant Minister for Health

Member for Lyne

Senator John Williams

Senator for New South Wales

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

13 December 2017

In big news for regional and rural Australia, the Federal Nationals in government are delivering on their commitment to significantly increase the number of rural-based doctors in training, by expanding opportunities to work in primary care settings.

Announcing up to $13.6 million for the first round of the Rural Junior Doctor Training Innovation Fund (RJDTIF), Federal Assistant Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said 11 organisations would be funded to provide 121 training rotations in rural locations, which is the equivalent to 26 full time positions.

“This program will help address the gap in the rural training pathway for new medical graduates and support interns based in rural areas by providing rotations in general practice,” Minister Gillespie said. 

Two organisations in the Richmond electorate will receive funding for projects to honour Australia’s wartime history.

The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams said grants have been provided under the Australian government’s Saluting Their Service program to ensure we honour our military history in ways that are meaningful to our community.

He said Kingscliff RSL Sub-branch will receive $862 to install a plaque commemorating the Indigenous Defence Service at the Memorial Walk in Kingscliff.

A Senate inquiry will consider whether mobility scooters need greater regulation to ensure the users and pedestrians are safer.

The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee will conduct the inquiry following a motion moved by the Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams.

Senator Williams’ wife was seriously injured when she was struck by a mobility scooter as she stepped onto a footpath in August last year, and upon investigation he found that while there are different regulations in different States, generally there are few restrictions. 

·         Applications now open

·         Scholarship value of $4,800

·         Mentored by an experienced dentist

Applications are now being sought for the 2018 NSW Regional Dentistry Scholarship.

The NSW Regional Dentistry Scholarship aims to support a student with strong links to regional New South Wales to train for a professional dental career. The scholarship is awarded annually to a student commencing dentistry studies.

MEDIA RELEASE

Darren Chester

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport

A/g Minister for Regional Development

A/g Minister for Local Government and Territories

John Williams

Senator for New South Wales

Melinda Pavey

NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight

Pru Goward

NSW Member for Goulburn

The Australian and NSW Governments will be delivering all the short-term works in the Barton Highway Improvement Strategy in the next three years, while also looking to bring forward works to duplicate part of the Barton Highway.

Commuters will start seeing works such as tree trimming, adjustments to existing line marking, and installing updated road signs and safety barriers as priority actions under the Barton Highway Improvement Strategy kick off.