Coulton welcomes continuation of Rural Financial Counselling Service =
06-May-2011
Federal Member for Parkes Mark =
Coulton has=20
welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Agriculture that funding =
for the=20
Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) will be extended four=20
years.
Funding for the service was due =
to cease=20
from July this year, however Mr Coulton had been working with the =
Central West=20
RFCS and the Bourke RFCS to lobby the Minister to extend the=20
funding.
=E2=80=9CI worked closely with =
RFCS Central West=20
and Bourke RFCS to lobby the Government to extend the funding past July =
2011,=E2=80=9D=20
Mr Coulton stated. =E2=80=9CThe service is of great benefit to the many =
people in rural=20
and regional areas that face financial =
difficulties.=E2=80=9D
The RFCS provides free and =
confidential=20
financial counselling to primary producers and agriculturally dependent =
small=20
businesses. The service is jointly funded by the Federal and State =
Governments=20
and employs 110 people throughout Australia.
=E2=80=9CI am pleased that the =
Government has made=20
the right decision to continue funding this valuable service,=E2=80=9D =
Mr Coulton said.=20
=E2=80=9CThe RFCS has provided our farmers and small businesses with =
financial guidance=20
over some very difficult years of drought and more recently=20
flooding.=E2=80=9D
Mr Coulton made representations =
on behalf=20
of the Rural Financial Counselling Service to the Minister for =
Agriculture as=20
concern was growing that no commitment for funding past July 2011 had =
been made.=20
=E2=80=9CThere was too much =
uncertainty for the=20
many Rural Financial Counsellors based throughout the Parkes Electorate. =
Although delayed, the announcement is very much =
welcomed.=E2=80=9D