At today’s Senate Estimates, the Nationals Senate Team secured a commitment from government that they will keep the Regional Forestry Agreements (RFAs) and reject the recommendations from Professor Samuel’s review into the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. “As the Assistant Minister for Forestry, my view is that we stick with RFAs, they are something…
The Australian Senate today acknowledged the importance of the NSW coal industry in passing a motion by the Nationals highlighting its reliability and importance in our national energy market and to the people who call the Hunter Valley home. Nationals Senate Leader, Senator McKenzie stated: “The National Party Senators know it will be industry, manufacturing…
Today the Nationals Senate Team showed their support of the importance of nuclear power to secure lower energy costs, provide reliable power for Australian industries, including manufacturing and capitalise on a low emissions future. Nationals Senate Leader, Senator McKenzie stated: “The National Party Senators back regional Australia and know how important low cost, reliable power…
Our thoughts are with the workers and their families who will be impacted by Energy Australia’s decision to close the Yallourn Power Station four years early. The Yallourn Power Station has long been a pillar of strength for Victoria and the National Energy Market. It has provided the reliable generation needed to keep energy prices…
On RN Breakfast with Fran Kelly Deep coalition split over climate policy – RN Breakfast – ABC Radio National The Prime Minister’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 has been complicated by growing divisions between the coalition parties. Junior partner, the Nationals, say they wont support a target to decarbonise the economy unless…
In a stunning show of contempt for Australian workers and industry, The Greens this week confirmed in the Senate they were against Australian manufacturing. In opposing a Nationals motion that backs Aussie jobs and manufacturing the Greens suggested growing our economy would be a catastrophe. The Nationals motion supporting manufacturing jobs in regional Australia was…
My piece on Country Party giant Sir John “Black Jack” McEwen in The Australian On this day 53 years ago, prime minister Harold Holt went for a swim at Portsea and didn’t return, resulting in the Country Party’s John McEwen becoming our accidental prime minister. But McEwen, whose statue in Canberra’s parliamentary zone was unveiled…
Today I will introduce a Private Senator’s Bill that will bring surety and job security to the almost 200,000 people employed directly and indirectly in Australia’s valuable native hardwood timber industries. My Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Regional Forest Agreements) Bill 2020 to amend the EPBC Act and Regional Forest Agreements Act seeks to…
Meeting manufacturers and food processors in person and virtually over the months, it’s evident the COVID pandemic has exposed not only our current reliance on other countries but also the need to capitalise on the opportunities we have here in our regions. Here’s a summary of a statement on manufacturing I made to the senate…
North-east Victoria will benefit from the $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy announced today, Wodonga-based Nationals Senate leader and Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie said. “The Modern Manufacturing Strategy is part of the Liberal and Nationals Government’s JobMaker Plan that will revive a new era of manufacturing, rebuild regional economies and create jobs as we recover from…