Wellington

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has hailed Treasurer Dominic Perrottet’s fifth Budget as one that caters for everyone and will help the state’s continued recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Perrottet handed down his Budget speech in NSW Parliament on Tuesday, where he outlined the state’s desire to drive investment while removing cost-of-living pressures on people and helping those most in need. “If you look at the projects and priorities outlined by the Treasurer, there is a desire to help people as much as possible while remembering that we are still recovering from the financial impact of the […]

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders believes the NSW Government’s Start Strong Free Preschool program is one of the best things to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Education Minister Sarah Mitchell announced on Sunday that tomorrow’s NSW Budget will include $150 million for the program, which will see families save up to $4000 per year per child in preschool fees. “One of the first things the government did when COVID hit was assign funding into early education so staff could stay employed and spots were retained for children when families were forced to stay

More than $2 million has been pumped into the coffers of local businesses as a result of the NSW Government’s popular Dine & Discover program. Data from the Department of Customer Service has shown the success of the rollout, which provided four $25 vouchers to every adult in NSW in an attempt to stimulate the economy in the wake of shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Two of the vouchers were for use in hospitality venues, while the other two were for events and/or experiences. As of June 10 there had been 61,691 vouchers redeemed in the Dubbo electorate. Of

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders says a dedicated drug court for the region is a signal of the NSW Government’s commitment to tackle the region’s ice issues. Mr Saunders joined Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Attorney General Mark Speakman at Dubbo Courthouse on Thursday to announce funding of $27.9 million for the expansion of the drug court to Dubbo will be included in the 2021 Budget, which will be handed down by Mr Perrottet next Tuesday. The Drug Court, currently at Sydney, Parramatta and Toronto, is a multi-agency response to drug-related offending. The court is

The battle against the next drought begins today with the NSW Government announcing a combined $64 million in the 2021-22 NSW Budget over four years for the ‘Future Ready Regions’ strategy that will help farmers and regional communities grow, thrive and plan for the future. Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders were at Boxleigh Park Merinos in Wellington today to meet with local farmers and make the announcement. “It’s great to see this new strategy build on the NSW Governments enourmous investment in preparing communities for drought including the popular $1

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has welcomed a move to extend and expand the very popular Regional Seniors Travel Card program. It was announced on Wednesday that the program, which allows eligible seniors access to a pre-paid $250 VISA card for use on pre-booked NSW Trainlink Regional trains and coaches, fuel and taxis, will run for another two years after an initial two-year trial in 2020 and 2021. It will also be expanded to include people of Age Pension age who receive either a Disability Pension or a Carers Payment from Services Australia. So far in 2021, 4858

Big ticket tourism attractions that will put regional towns on the map and improve accessibility for people with disability are set to receive a significant funding boost, thanks to the NSW Government. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders today announced applications are open for the $30 million Regional Tourism Activation Fund to deliver new or upgraded tourism infrastructure and improve accessibility and inclusion for people with disability. Mr Saunders said the fund will support the construction of new iconic visitor experiences or unique event spaces, boosting the profile of regional NSW and giving people even more reasons to take

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders has backed a move by the NSW Government to extend the popular Dine & Discover initiative by a month. Mr Saunders said the stimulus had proved popular and played a valuable role supporting local businesses as well as reviving consumer confidence, and said giving people until July 31 to use the vouchers would mean another bumper school holiday period for the hospitality and events industries.  “This program is win-win for communities – it’s provides local businesses with much needed stimulus and families with hip pocket relief,” he said. “People of all ages and

Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders is encouraging people in the community to put their hand up for help if they are struggling, with more mental health support available than ever before.  An extra 57 Ongoing Response and Recovery Specialists will provide counselling and other services as part of the NSW Government’s investment in mental health support. “The great thing is that the counsellors are members of our community, so they are ideally placed to provide local insight, as well as helping individuals and families access further mental health support close to home,” Mr Saunders said. “We know that

Twenty young people in the Dubbo electorate will receive cash grants of $1,000 to help achieve their academic aspirations and training goals as part of a NSW Government scholarship program. Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) Scholarships will help lift the load for students in their final years of high school and early years of tertiary education. “The program is an investment in the future of young people growing up in social housing, or who are in out-of-home care,” Mr Saunders said. “These scholarships aim to improve school completion rates, boost