I would like to support the Agriculture and Water Resources Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 and take the opportunity to focus my comments on one small section of it dealing with the Farm Household Support Act 2014 and the provision to remove the delegation of the secretary's rule-making power. 

This, for me, is important legislation, and I call on the government to bring it on for debate. 

Ms McGOWAN (Indi) (12:13): In beginning my comments on this piece of legislation, I would like to acknowledge some constituents who are with me in parliament today: to the Fraser family, how fantastic it is to have you here—to Brian, Mary and Annie, thanks for making the effort.

Ms McGOWAN (Indi) (19:40): Tonight I would like to honour and acknowledge the people of the major town of Wodonga, in my electorate of Indi. My connection with Wodonga goes back a long way, and tonight I would briefly like to talk about my personal connection with and commitment to this great town, some of the statistics about it, some of the challenges that it faces and also some of the opportunities that it has presented. In talking about Wodonga, I always start with my grandmother. My grandmother was born at the turn of the last century. Her father worked in Australia Post in the olden days, and his job was to get on the train in Wodonga, go down to Melbourne and sort the mail on the way through. One of the fascinating things about having a history that goes back that far is that grandpa would tell stories of the Kelly gang and the things that used to happen in Glenrowan. That was the great-greats.

Ms McGOWAN (Indi) (13:51): Colleagues, it gives me great pleasure to welcome into the House today five members of the Albury Wodonga chapter of the Financial Planning Association. Wayne, Megan, Neil, Ron and Taki, thanks for coming and joining us. I also acknowledge the work of David, who could not be here today.

Ms McGOWAN (Indi) (10:52): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I am pleased to present a bill for an act to amend the Charter of Budget Honesty Act 1998. This bill is to be known as the Charter of Budget Honesty Amendment (Regional Australia Statements) Bill 2016.

The bill calls on the government, when formulating policy, to ensure that regional impact statements are prepared and accompany every budget and Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook report.

This amendment bill gives voice to those who live in regional Australia and it goes to the very heart of regional living and its relationship with the government and its fiscal policy.

Ms McGOWAN (Indi) (19:12): I move:

That this House:

(1) notes that:

(a) the nbnTM Fair Use Policy is unfair for rural and regional Australia;

(b) rural nbnTM users have restricted data speeds, limits on capacity and have to pay more for a poorer service;

(c) under the nbnTM Interim Satellite Service, rural users had 'off peak' data from 11 pm to 2 pm;

(d) on the new nbnTM Sky MusterTM Satellite Service, the 'off peak' data has now changed to between 1 am and 7 am; and

(e) the consequence of the nbnTM Fair Use Policy is that businesses, students, home workers and farmers have reduced Internet access and pay comparatively more; and

Ms McGOWAN (Indi) (16:44): I would like to tell you about Moyhu, a beautiful town in the King Valley in north-east Victoria. Moyhu has a population of around 300, but on Monday and Thursday nights over 100 children come from all around the region to the Moyhu and District Youth Club for their amazing gymnastics programs. The club first started in 1943, as a boxing troupe for boys. But today both boys and girls participate in gymnastics classes each week in a Nissen hut that was built in the late 1970s. The club is working towards a new building in the next five years to provide more facilities.

Ms McGOWAN (Indi) (16:25): Wednesday, 15 November was a very special day for my region, with the opening of the $65 million Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre. It was the culmination of a community campaign that began in August 2010 when 1,400 people, clad in yellow ponchos and united in the shape of a heart, gathered on the banks of the Murray River in Wodonga to seek funding for a cancer treatment centre on the border. 

Ms McGOWAN (Indi) (16:00): On Friday perfect weather and a strong field added up to a record crowd for the Wodonga Gold Cup. About 7,000 people turned up for the cup, the third cup staged by the Wodonga and District Turf Club since the public holiday was moved to accommodate Wodonga's premier race. Congratulations to Racing Wodonga's general manager, Tom O'Connor, and his committee Kevin Richardson, Terry Doolan, Colin Hayes, Paul Curtis, Trevor Cutler, Brian Flanagan, Terry Maher, Reg Ryan and Mark Bowen on a day that was a huge success. Congratulations also to Racing Wodonga's staff, stewards and race day officials, as well as all the sponsors who made it such a wonderful day. There was a huge crowd. They were beautifully dressed and well behaved. It was a credit to everybody involved.