Today I attended a hearing at Parliament House, Sydney, to address an Upper House Inquiry into the NSW Government's grant programs.
I am pleased that the Chair of the committee Mr David Shoebridge MLC has agreed to travel with me to regional NSW to witness, for the first time, the incredible recovery and transformation occurring due to record funding.
The committee commended me for showing up to the hearing and offering clear and succinct answers to questions which have been plaguing them for months.
It was an important opportunity for me to inform the committee of the incredible job opportunities and benefits the NSW Government's record funding programs have afforded this state and the hundreds of jobs, economic prosperity and visitors generated as a result.
It was also a fantastic opportunity for me to clarify to the committee the criteria and process around the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery fund, which continues to deliver unparalleled support to communities impacted by the horrific bushfires of last summer.
It is inaccurate to say that any LGA has missed out on recovery funding and I was pleased to clarify for the committee that the fund has not been fully allocated with a further $250 million in grants currently being processed.
Applications closed on 28 January this year and high impact areas which are yet to receive funding will receive priority in this round.
I and my Nationals colleagues spend our days traveling through regional NSW, meeting with locals, families and communities, learning their stories, discussing their needs, and bringing that information back to NSW Parliament to find resolutions on their behalf.
Regional NSW is a promising, beautiful and thriving place to live, study, start a business or raise a family and as a consequence, they need and deserve their fair share of government support of which we will continue to deliver, and I am pleased the committee now understands this.
