It was wonderful to have Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Bridget McKenzie join me and Nationals candidate for Parkes Jamie Chaffey in the electorate this week to discuss all things infrastructure and housing.

During the visit we heard loud and clear from councils and local businesses, like Dubbo’s Maas Group and Fardell’s Heavy Haulage, about the absolute need to get the Inland Rail back on track as soon as possible.

This nation-building project has the potential to unlock enormous economic benefits for communities throughout the Parkes electorate, which is why the Nationals remain committed to completing the Inland Rail in full.

In Narromine, we stopped by the Wentworth Parklands residential development to check out the new builds and housing infrastructure.

This housing development was funded in-part by the former Coalition Government and is firsthand proof that the Coalition can get on with the job of addressing Australia’s housing shortage.

On Thursday Jamie and I travelled to Warren to attend Warren Central School’s end of year presentation assembly.

We also took the opportunity to visit the Warraan Widju Arts Centre and the Warren Museum and Art Gallery on Friday morning, before capping off our visit at the Warren Jockey Club Twilight Races with Nationals Senate candidate, Juliana McArthur.

Member for Parkes Mark Coulton (left) with Nationals candidate for Parkes Jamie Chaffey and Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Bridget McKenzie in Narromine.

Pooncarie Road Opens

A massive milestone for the Menindee community took place on Tuesday, with the official opening of the upgraded Pooncarie Road – a $48.8 million project jointly funded by the former Coalition Federal and NSW Governments.

I’ve been involved in this project right from the start, so I’m thrilled to see the 87.5km road from Pooncarie to Menindee sealed, ensuring more reliable, safer and smoother journeys for locals, freight operators and tourists.

I was sorry to miss Wentworth Shire’s official opening in Pooncarie, but I look forward to getting out to Menindee in February for official proceedings to open the sealed 61km in Central Darling Shire.

Coalition Energy Costings Released

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton and Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud last week announced the much-awaited costings of the Coalition’s energy policy.

The latest analysis from Frontier Economics reveals the Coalition’s balanced energy mix, including zero-emissions nuclear power, offers a cheaper, cleaner, and more consistent alternative, delivering massive savings for Australian families and businesses.

The Coalition’s energy plan will save Australians up to $263 billion compared to Labor’s renewables-only approach – a 44 per cent saving for taxpayers and businesses.

Nuclear energy sits at the heart of this plan, providing the “always-on” power needed to back up renewables, stabilise the grid, and keep energy affordable. The Coalition will ensure a sustainable and responsible shift from coal to nuclear energy by avoiding the need for Labor’s overbuild of infrastructure on pristine landscapes and agricultural land.

Australians are facing soaring energy costs, record levels of hardship, small business insolvencies, and growing uncertainty under Labor’s renewables-only energy plan. There is a clear choice as we head towards the Federal Election: Labor’s costly and unreliable renewables-only agenda, or the Coalition’s cheaper, cleaner, and consistent energy plan to secure Australia’s future.

The Coalition’s policy is the key to achieving net-zero emissions sooner. Only the Coalition’s energy plan guarantees a cheaper, cleaner, and more reliable future for Australian households and businesses while protecting our environment and securing our energy needs.

For more information visit: https://www.australianeedsnuclear.org.au/

Commentary by Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton