By JAMIE CHAFFEY, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR PARKES
Last week, I shared with Parliament the frustration experienced by councils throughout the Parkes electorate with securing roads funding for roads network that have repeatedly been hit by floods.
Narrabri and Gunnedah shires have again had disaster declarations following flood events. This might have been good news for those shires if they were not already completely disheartened by the fact they are still chasing roads flood funding from three years ago.
They are not alone. I believe there is far more than $100 million in disaster funding outstanding for roads in New South Wales regional councils.
As well as having to wait for these funds, Councils are being advised by the NSW Government that they can only return those roads to their original condition – not improve them to safeguard against future floods.
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The same roads will flood again – and again. This is not good financial management.
The disconnect between the available federal funding and the NSW Government’s role in the management of that funding must be fixed.
Our regional roads are critical.
At the other end of the spectrum are local government areas struggling with drought.
Next week, I will attend the 2025 National Drought Forum in Gawler in South Australia.
It is important to discuss the extreme challenges of drought at a policy level and bring together people from all sides of the table.
Drought can be crippling, affecting every part of the lives of farming families and many others. I know this first-hand from living through several droughts as a farmer.
I hope this summit will look at what practical measures can be taken to help people plan, prepare and deal with drought conditions.
Renewable energy: While people throughout the Parkes electorate deal with floods and drought, they are also falling under the wheels of Labor’s ambition and stubbornness in sticking to policy that is hurting regional Australians.
I was appalled to hear the Industry Minister Tim Ayres referring to regional Australians as the “big obstacle” to Labor’s renewable energy agenda.
These “big obstacles” are the same people who supply our country with food and fibre and so much more.
They are families who contribute more than their share to the wealth and sustainability of our nation.
This is an insult to regional Australians that reveals the unseemly rush towards wind, solar and battery energy as nothing but a power move – and not one that will mean more power for Australians.
We are all now opening our power bills to find something that is not surprising – they have risen dramatically yet again.
Youth Parliament: Lastly, it’s my pleasure to encourage the young people of the Parkes electorate to put their hand up for National Youth Parliament in 2025. One 16-17-year old representative from every electorate in Australia will be selected to travel to Canberra next year for a five-day hands-on learning program.
I spoke to the great students at West Wyalong High School about the program last week.
This is exactly what we need to teach our young people what the government of our country is all about – and how they can take their place in it.
If you are interested, or know someone who is, you can find out more at https://nyp.houseofrepresentatives.gov.au/
