Robert Oakeshott (Lyne, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, in light of the continuing flood and wind recovery efforts underway on the Mid North Coast and North Coast of New South Wales across four electorates, in light of this being the third natural disaster in three months of this kind, in light of ongoing regional impacts of the global banking collapse felt on the ground through such examples as one local council now writing off $25 million of its investment portfolio and up to 5,000 local residents being caught by the recent collapse of three locally managed funds, in light of unemployment rates for the Richmond-Tweed and Mid North Coast now breaking 10 per cent last month, in light of employment rates and participation rates being the lowest in the nation right now, income levels being the lowest in the nation right now and tertiary education levels being some of the lowest in the nation right now and in light of poverty levels across these four electorates being some of the highest in the nation right now—in light of natural disasters, financial disasters and ongoing structural disadvantage for the Mid North Coast and North Coast regions—will you now look to increase government support and attention to our region along the lines of the seven Australia-wide Jobs Fund regions recently announced by your government?

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