A detailed progress report, The First 100 Days of Government, is available at my website www.johncobb.com.au or from my office.

One of my first actions as the member for Calare was to vote to scrap the carbon tax. Scrapping the carbon tax will benefit an average family by $550 every year and will remove a $9 billion weight from the economy - creating more jobs and opportunities. The bill to scrap the carbon tax is before the Senate.

We have also scrapped Labor’s $1.8 billion tax hit on cars as well as made self-education more affordable for people who are seeking to improve their skills and get ahead.

Illegal boat arrivals have slowed by about 80 per cent and there has been real progress in securing the borders. 

Locally, I’m pleased to see federal funding flow into the electorate for Charles Sturt University, local arts projects, the Orange museum and Parkes Airport, and I will continue to advocate for the region, and do what I can for those in Lithgow, Bathurst and Orange that will be affected by the decisions of their employers.  

Youth Allowance

HIGH school leavers might be enjoying a well-earned summer break, but those thinking about going on to tertiary study or an apprenticeship should start applying for Youth Allowance now.

Eligible students of Calare aged 16 to 24 can lodge their claim 13 weeks before their course or apprenticeship  starts and students are able to apply now to ensure their payments start as soon as they begin the next stage in their lives.

The new year period is one of the busiest for the Department of Human Services, which expects to receive the bulk of the 340,000 new Youth Allowance claims early in 2014. Eligible students and apprentices could beat the rush by applying online now - www.humanservices.gov.au. 

NBN roll-out

THE government recently asked NBN Co to conduct a strategic review to find out the cost and time needed to finish the project. 

The independent review reveals Labor’s mismanagement of the NBN has led to the single largest waste of taxpayers’ money in the nation’s history.

The report also revealed that if Labor’s policies are left in place, households will pay up to 80 per cent more for broadband each month, and only two in 10 Australians would receive the NBN by 2016. Furthermore, the cost of completing the NBN under Labor’s plan has blown out to $73 billion - $29 billion more than we’ve been told. 

I’m pleased that Calare is now actually on NBN roll-out agenda - under Labor we weren’t even on the list - and it will be rolled out gradually across the electorate on a needs basis. A new NBN roll-out schedule will be released in 2014 along with a revised NBN Co corporate plan.

This government is absolutely committed to making sure Australians are told the facts about the NBN - no more spin.  We will complete the NBN sooner, at less cost to taxpayers and more affordably for consumers.