Parkes Phoenix Editor

Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud

With recent scenes of chaos and panic in large cities throughout Australia, Minister for Agriculture, David Littleproud has released a statement to ensure Australians that the nation’s food security is amongst the safest in the world. “People shouldn’t panic, we have an abundant supply of top-quality fresh food produced from all parts of the country that ensures that there will be plenty of food on the table,” Minister Littleproud said.

Chairperson of Harris Farm Markets, Catherine Harris, reiterated this in saying “I am very confident that we have a very good supply of fruit, vegetables and groceries in Australia, remembering that 96% of our groceries come from within Australia.” In Forbes over the weekend and throughout the week Woolworths and Bernardi’s saw a consistently busy stream of customers. Considering recent outbursts of anger and abuse aimed at staff, Woolworths Forbes store manager, Noel Reardon wishes to remind customers that Woolworths staff are “here to help,” and that “abuse of staff will not be tolerated.”

On Tuesday, Woolworths began it’s morning by closing its doors from 9am-10am to everyone except for elderly and disabled customers, giving the more vulnerable residents of Forbes a chance to shop in safety with the opportunity to buy much needed items that might have otherwise been sold out. Retailers do not know how long the restrictions on toilet paper and other items such as, rice, tissues and Paracetamol will be in place for.

Confronting scenes of chaos and violence witnessed in recent weeks are not only wholly unnecessary, considering that there is no shortage of food in Australia, but the behaviours witnessed are not in line with the culture of Forbes, a town famous for the friendliness and generosity of its residents. With a population of 25 million, Australia can produce enough food for 75 million, which is why there is no need to panic.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud says agricultural businesses will benefit from the Federal Government’s economic stimulus package. Agriculture, fisheries and forestry will get a boost from several support measures in the package designed to support economic confidence, encourage investment and protect jobs.

$1 billion will be directed to a regional and community fund to support industries including agriculture impacted by coronavirus. “The instant write-off threshold has been increased from $30,000 to $150,000 for businesses with an aggregated annual turnover of less than $500 million. There’s accelerated depreciation deductions to encourage investment for the next 15 months. Businesses with a turnover of less than $500 million will be able to deduct an additional 50% from asset costs in the year they were bought.”

For small businesses, the life blood of the community in regional and rural Australia, there’s a 50% subsidy for apprentices. The incentive also includes a tax-free cash boost of up to $25,000 for eligible businesses that take on a worker between 1 January and 30 June this year.

David continued, “There will be another economic shot in the arm locally with the one-off payment of $750 to pensioners and those on Newstart. Take advantage of these measures to grow your business, to increase production and keep our regional and rural communities strong.”

Red Bend College students Tori McRae, Maddie Hopkins, Elliott Ruhmann and Ella Burke with You Choose founder and presenter Melissa McGuinness.

On Friday, 13th March, Red Bend Catholic College received a visitor with a very important message for the students. In 2012, Melissa and Peter McGuiness lost their 18-year-old son when he drove, speeding, under the influence of alcohol, into a stationary vehicle. The crash killed Jordan and four of his passengers. Melissa and Peter have since turned their loss into a means of preventing such senseless tragedy for others. The You Choose Youth Road safety charity Melissa and George created, travels the country giving road safety presentations to schools and youth organisations, with a mission to facilitate changes in thinking and behaviour among young drivers and passengers.

Melissa personally delivered a 75-minute interactive presentation which shared intimate dynamics of a family that could truly be anyone’s family. From the perspective of a Mum about the life of her son, a teenager who was a much loved, good person. But a teenager whose tragic choices on one night shattered five families; and left a miserable legacy for himself and his loved ones.

The presentation was relatable and immersive for the students. No one was left unaffected by Melissa’s story that taught the students that they each have the ability to save lives and to protect their families and others from the horror of road trauma through the power of choice.

You Choose has been acknowledged by a broad range of educators, police, policy-makers, academics and most importantly parents and teenagers as a unique and highly effective approach to facilitating changed behaviours in young drivers and practically reducing youth road trauma.

As of March 2020, approximately 16,000 students from 65 schools have participated in You Choose and in doing so, have become advocates for changed driving behaviours. This program has been developed and achieved while Melissa works a ‘day-job’ four days per week, and Peter works full-time five days per week.

Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack

Member for Riverina and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has welcomed the Australian Government’s $17.6 billion economic stimulus package, saying it will help keep rural and regional businesses open and people in jobs during the coronavirus crisis.

“I’m particularly pleased $1 billion has been budgeted to support regions and communities which have been disproportionately affected by the economic head-winds the coronavirus has created, including those heavily reliant on industries such as tourism, agriculture and education,” Mr McCormack said.

“Tourism, agriculture and education are three important pillars of the Riverina and Central West economy and we need to back them all the way.” Mr McCormack also welcomed the strong emphasis on supporting small and medium businesses, keeping apprentices and trainees in jobs and household stimulus payments which will benefit the wider community.

The package has four parts:
• Supporting business investment.
• Providing cash flow assistance to help small and medium sized business to stay in business and keep their employees in jobs.
• Targeted support for the most severely affected sectors, regions and communities.
• Household stimulus payments which will benefit the wider economy.

The one off payment to pensioners and those on Newstart should come as a huge relief to those who are inevitably feeling the pressure of poverty, pressure that is exacerbated by panic shopping and hoarding pantry items which has significantly reduced the amount of basic staples that socio-economically disadvantaged people often rely on.