Everything is back in full swing

Things are back in full swing for the year. Parliament is back; the first sitting week was in early February. That first week was even busier than expected, there was a lot going on, plenty of meetings, visiting councillors and representatives from community groups and other organisations.

There was also a lot happening in the chamber. I spent a fair bit of the time catching up with government ministers and the Premier to talk to them about a range of issues relevant to Barwon, high on the priority list were the issues of health, education, housing and transport.

After the sitting week was over, I took a trip to Victoria for an important discussion about a very exciting investment opportunity for Barwon. You’ll hear more about that in due course.

This week I will be travelling to Wagga for Investment, Industry and Regional Development Committee hearings before heading back around the electorate. Hope to see you soon.

Royal Far West funding boost

Royal Far West is an organisation that does some great work to help overcome some of the disadvantages experienced by families in rural and remote areas, connecting them with assessment, health and disability services as well as arranging accommodation for those who need to travel to access such services. During the first sitting week of parliament for 2024 I went and met with some of the dedicated people from Royal Far West to discuss some of the things that could be done to improve health outcomes for people living in country areas. They need additional support to meet a growing demand for services. Several other MPs, including Michael Regan, Independent Member for Wakehurst, helped organise the meeting.

Health Minister Ryan Park also attended the function and last week announced a funding boost for the organisation of $369,000. This is an important step; it will help Royal Far West move closer to their funding goals. I will continue to advocate for more funding so that they can continue their work.

Butler and Barwon military tradition

On February 6, I spent a very proud morning seeing my son Gabe heading off to 1 Recruit Training Battalion (RTB) Kapooka. Bound for Infantry. Gabe is the latest generation of my family to enlist.

I was in his shoes at 17 years of age back on February 28, 1995. I went on to serve in 6RAR in Support Company in Reconnaissance, but thankfully I never went to war.

My father, Royal Maurice Butler, joined the army in the 1950s and served in Korea, seeing action at the battle of Kapyong. He ended up TPI – totally and permanently incapacitated. He rarely spoke about his experiences and continued to battle his inner demons.

His father Francis William Butler lied about his age to serve in World War I. He was briefly sent to the front before being sent home for being underaged. In World War II he was back, this time lowering his age slightly to join up. He was put into 2/2 HQ Guard Battalion, along with a lot of other older men – which is why the guard battalions were nicknamed the “olds and bolds”, or less charitably the “ruthless and toothless.” He signed up in October 1942 but was discharged in December 1943.

I must admit that I had mixed feelings about saying goodbye to Gabe, but I know that after three months he will come back. He will be different, but with a head full of new knowledge and he’ll be very fit.

But I also know that, given the unstable international situation at the moment, there is an outside chance that he will be sent overseas to serve in some conflict or as part of a peacekeeping force. I also know that is what military service is about. It is not only a family tradition but a strong tradition in towns across Barwon, people who signed up for service, writing a blank cheque for their country, knowing full well they could pay with their life.

Many people in Barwon answered the call, in conflicts from at least the Boer War to the present day. The evidence is there right across Barwon, in the form of the many prominent memorials to people who served. These memorials are often the focal point of the town and are important gathering places. It shows the respect we have for people who have donned a uniform in the service of their country, and I would urge every young person to consider time in the forces as a career option or as a life changing experience.

I recently delivered a Private Members Statement in Parliament talking about my family tradition of military service and Barwon’s strong tradition.

Sink or swim in Parliament

In the first sitting week I delivered a notice of motion to highlight the disproportionate number of drownings that occur in remote or very remote places. While the most popular swimming spots along our coast are patrolled, our inland waterways are mostly not.

I have been speaking about this to the Royal Life Saving Society Australia, an important organisation integral to educating communities about water safety and training people to assist in an emergency. The more people we have trained to swim and to act if there is an emergency, the more lives will be saved.

The society has therefore organised to have some water rescue training delivered in Parliament this year, which will allow Members of Parliament to lead by example in getting skilled up in water safety and rescue.

Yes – there is a pool in Parliament, although I have not used it since coming to office, so this will be a great first swim. I will keep you posted.

New year REZ solutions

It is widely known that the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) and the process of making it happen, has been fraught from the outset. It is impossible to stop the REZ, it has bipartisan political support, so our focus in Barwon has been on making sure that the implementation of the zone is fair, that the communities affected are consulted and that it brings some benefit to those communities.

While I was in Parliament this month, I met with the Hon. Penny Sharpe, Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Heritage, to discuss the valid concerns locals have raised about how this project is being rolled out.

Earlier this year I raised concerns about the disappointing, often disrespectful, consultation process for the REZ and expressed the need for local communities to have a more comprehensive say in how the $128 million Community and Employment Benefit Fund would be distributed. I discussed these issues with the Minister and am pleased to say that we agree.

The Minister believes that the process, at a local level, has been flawed and is keen to work with me and my team to get better outcomes and real engagement for communities directly impacted by the REZ.

While I was in Wagga last week, I also discussed the issue with fellow independent crossbencher Dr Joe McGirr. There is no doubt renewables will be a part of our energy future, but the process used to engage and consult with communities needs to be genuine, fair and transparent.

Joe and I are concerned about how communities are being treated and will be looking to move legislation that requires the proponents of large-scale renewables to be accountable for how they deal with the public.

We should not lose highly productive farmland to these projects, and if communities don’t see the benefit, they should be able to reject the proposal.