After the week in Sydney for the State Budget and Parliamentary sittings it was good to come home to see the countryside so green and wet!
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LPG Rebate
I was glad that the news of the $90 LPG rebate was warmly welcomed by so many across the electorate. After the news of the announcement my office received a large number of calls and enquiries.
I’d like to clarify a few key pieces of information.
To be eligible for the rebate you must be a resident of NSW, be a customer of the retailer and have your name appear on the gas account and hold a pensioner concession card, DHS health care card, DVA gold card or a disability pension.
There are two ways to apply for the rebate.
If you’re a natural gas account holder you need to contact the supplier direct and if you use delivered or reticulated LPG more information will be available after 1 July 2016.
I will provide that via my weekly column or you can call my office on (02) 6882 3577 after this date.
The Bradshaw Review into Stock Theft and Rural Crime
Earlier this year I commissioned former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Bradshaw to lead a review into ways in which we can deal with the increase in crime and stock theft in our region.
Last week I wrote to residents in the Trangie area about this issue which has greatly impacted them and just as I advised in that letter to the Trangie community, now that Mr Bradshaw has completed and submitted his report, I can assure everyone that the NSW Government will work through all the recommendations made and report back to the community in due course about how we intend to approach this issue.
Plein Air Art Competition
As the local Member and Minister for the Arts, I encourage all budding professional and emerging artists with a penchant for painting ‘en plein air’ to consider submitting an entry in the NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize, with the chance to win $20,000.
The coveted prize includes a public exhibition of finalists’ works at Parliament House throughout October this year.
The NSW Parliament Plein Air Painting Prize is one of the only landscape painting prizes in Australia to celebrate this unique and age-old art form, which requires the artist to paint entirely out of doors, in direct contact with nature and the elements.
I’ve sat and watched talented artists here locally as they create masterpieces and hope that many will consider participating in this unique competition.
Entries will be accepted up until Wednesday, July 27, via electronic submission. For more information please visit www.pleinair.com.au
Citizenship Ceremony
It is inspiring to learn of the journey that many people make to become Australian Citizens.
Whether they’ve moved here from a country with a different culture and language or lived here a long time and decided that now was the right time, it is without a doubt a big decision and an absolute privilege for those people and for our community that they have chosen to become Australians.
I look forward to attending the Western Plains Regional Council Citizenship Ceremony later this week and welcoming our newest citizens to the Dubbo electorate.
Federal election
For those that become new citizens later this week, voting in the Federal election may be their first opportunity to exercise their democratic right as a citizen of our country.
I wish all candidates the very best for the final week of the longer than usual election campaign.
Stay safe these school holidays
This coming weekend marks the beginning of the NSW school holidays.
I look forward to spending some quality time with my family and hope that all those that do travel stay safe on the roads and enjoy the time with your kids.