We Australians are a laidback lot and long may it be so!  We have just celebrated our national holiday, Australia Day, with pride and united under our one flag, as we should.  Speaking of which, I have large stickers ‘Together under our flag’ which you can put on your wheelie bin or other prominent place – just email anne.webster.mp@aph.gov.au and I’ll send you a reasonable number you request.

We Aussies tend to meander into February after a good summer break but not this year, as the intensity has been as hot as a heatwave after the national tragedy that was the Bondi massacre on 14 December.  We marked a National Day of Mourning on 22 January and we federal parliamentarians returned to Canberra for a messy couple of sitting days that I have spoken about elsewhere – today I want to focus on our volunteers.

Despite our long summer holiday period, it’s no holiday for our farmers who face the dual challenge of bringing in a harvest – be it grain, pulses, hay or otherwise – while preventing fire, or indeed volunteering with their fellow community members in the Country Fire Authority.

Volunteers are Australia’s heroes and I want to focus on them this Australia Day period – thank you for everything you’ve done to keep us safe over this summer.  I was in Natimuk on 12 January as soon as I could get to the area after the fires.  I have lobbied the Albanese Government for Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements money for affected districts and worked with Horsham Rural City Council for the best outcomes.

Natimuk is a courageous Australian community faced with the consequences of poor government.  Whether it’s underfunding of the CFA or rock-climbing bans, Natimuk is fighting hard for its survival.  I am here to help them, and you, however I can.

That’s my message to all the Wimmera and Mallee as we get back to business in Canberra.  I will, as I have always done, raise your voice in Canberra on the matters that most concern you.  Feel free to email me at anne.webster.mp@aph.gov.au with your thoughts, concerns or feedback.