Image: Voices for Indi hosted the Australian Rural Leadership Program in Oxley on Sunday 12 February.

INDI IN THE NEWS

• Action on trains in Parliament

Cathy tabled a motion calling passenger services to be considered core business for the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).

• Media release: Government challenged to act now on rail woes

Grade 5-6 students from Beechworth Primary School visited Parliament House and learned about how government works – story below.

INDI IN THE NEWS

Question to Minister delivers results for local dairy farmers

Cathy called the Minister for Agriculture and Water Barnaby Joyce in Parliament on Tuesday to deliver the report on November’s dairy roundtables. On Wednesday morning a report was released recommending a review of the Farm Household Allowance scheme. The report will be discussed at a community meeting for dairy farmers on 22 February at 10am at the Tangambalanga Community Centre.

• Video: Minister challenged to provide dairy report – Cathy’s question and the Minister’s response
• Media release: Dairy roundtables report welcomed, action now required

Image: Christine Thorpe (representing Cathy McGowan), Paul Kavanagh (Wodonga Apex Club), Darren Moffitt (Wodonga Aboriginal Network), Cr Anna Speedie (Wodonga Mayor) open the new outdoor pizza oven. Story below.

INDI IN THE NEWS

Childcare reforms must consider rural families

Proposed childcare reforms may mean mobile services such as that offered by Albury Wodonga Community Early Years Childcare may no longer be viable. Cathy will continue to work with the Minister’s office to seek a solution before the legislation is put before the Parliament.

• Media release: Don’t forget regional families in childcare package

Image: Nicholas Megarrity, Young Citizen of the Year from Tungamah (Moira Shire), was one of many worthy recipients of local Australia Day Awards for 2017. 

INDI IN THE NEWS

Australia Day message – congratulations to award recipients

Congratulations to all who received awards, both national and local, on Australia Day. Medals in the Order of Australia were awarded to Indi residents Stewart Coutts, Athol Graham, John Heaney, Gerard O’Loughlin and Alan Stafford of Benalla, James Marsland of Tawonga South, and the late Don Chambers of Rutherglen. Paul King, Wodonga, was awarded the Australian Fire Service Medal.

• Australia Day message from Cathy

Rural and regional plan message in the Border Mail – opinion piece

The Border Mail published a blunt message in an opinion piece from Cathy about the needs of rural and regional Australians.

• Neglect cutting the heart out of Australia

CSU working on regional policy: The team from the Institute for Land, Water, and Society at Charles Sturt University visited the Wodonga office to discuss vital research being done at the Wodonga and Wangaratta campuses. Congratulations to our young people who have received university offers this week.

Call for debate Bill to detail rural and regional Budget impacts

Cathy introduced a Private Members Bill into the parliament in October to ensure rural and regional impacts are detailed in budgets and budget updates. 

• Media release: PM challenged to reveal budget impact on regional Australia
• Editorial Border Mail: Neglect cutting the heart out of Australia
• Join the discussion on Facebook

Welcome to 2017! Koala Cherries in Yarck (pictured) are one of Indi’s innovative agribusinesses adding value to their outstanding products. It’s a privilege to be an independent voice in parliament advocating for the needs of local businesses like these and the broader community.  The big focus this year will be pushing for a national plan for rural and regional Australia. A plan is needed to help keep businesses like Koala Cherries sustainable into the future. Watch this space!  - Cathy

INDI IN THE NEWS

Joanna Garoni is one of 13 recipients of Commonwealth funded Local Sporting Champions grants. See story below.

Community lobbying drives great result for Rutherglen detour

Effective lobbying from the Rutherglen community has resulted in a win for safety. The Victorian Government has pledged $2 million to match federal funding announced earlier this year for the Rutherglen heavy vehicle detour.

• Media release

Minister asked re superannuation

Cathy has written to the Minister for Revenue and Financial Services Kelly O’Dwyer to act on superannuation underpayments. The Minister has been urged to take whatever steps are necessary to enable the ATO to do its job in a timely way.

• Information about the Senate enquiry into superannuation guarantee monies (deadline 17 February 2017).

INDI IN THE NEWS

Devil River mobile phone tower launched

Representatives from the CFA, SES, Victoria Police and Parks Victoria gathered with Cathy and the Telstra team on Thursday to celebrate the launch of the Devil River mobile phone base station. Mobile phone coverage and high speed data will be a boon for safety and tourism for the area.

• Locations to be addressed in Round 1 of the Mobile Black Spot Program

Dairy farmers share stories of delays and heartbreak

Dairy farmers in Indi shared their stories about delays in accessing Farm Household Allowance in Tangambalanga on Monday. Local farmers have convened an action group and Cathy will be contacting the Minister for Agriculture to follow up on the roundtable meeting. In the meantime the Department of Human Services has provided a fact sheet and a checklist for farmers seeking to access the FHA.  

Volunteer grants applications close soon
Kinglake Op Shop volunteers Monika, Joanne and Liz enjoy giving back to their community. $10 million in volunteer grants between $1000 - $5000 are available. Applications close 20 December. 

INDI IN THE NEWS

Dairy farmers prepare to ask questions at roundtable meeting

Dairy farmers across Indi are gearing up for the dairy farmer assistance roundtable to be held at the Tangambalanga Community Hall on Monday 12 December 10.30am-12pm. Contact 02 6024 6284 or email cathy.mcgowan.mp@aph.gov.au for more information.

• Media release: Action for Indi’s dairy farmers

Wine tax rebate win for Indi

Indi vignerons have played a key role in the announcement by the Turnbull Government to change the Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) Rebate to assist winemakers and associated tourism. 

• Media release: Wine tax rebate win for Indi

Students from Kiewa Valley Primary School visited Parliament House on Wednesday. Story below.

INDI IN THE NEWS

Indi wins again under Mobile Blackspot Programme

Effective lobbying for telecommunications has led to another great result for mobile phone black spots in Indi. The electorate has been allocated eight more mobile base stations from Round 2 of the Mobile Blackspot Programme, funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments and Telstra.

• Media release
• National map of Mobile Black Spot Programme allocations