Food produced or manufactured from July 1 and sold in retail stores in Australia must display Country of Origin labels, meaning customers can now easily choose Aussie produce.

This follows research that showed nearly three quarters of Australians think it’s important to know the country of origin of their food.

A bar graph and kangaroo will clearly display country of origin information.

The bar chart shows how much of the product was grown by Aussie farmers, and the kangaroo symbol tells us the food was processed or manufactured in Australia (pictured).

Australia grows safe, clean food and it’s important we help consumers to make a choice.

These labels are now mandatory for all food offered for retail sale in Australia.

For more information on Country of Origin labelling, visit www.industry.gov.au. 

I’m encouraging existing and prospective aged care providers in the Parkes electorate to apply for a share in a record offering of more than 14,200 new aged care places.

There is a special focus on allocations in rural, regional and remote locations.

The offering is 35 per cent bigger than the previous round, and is a result of the Coalition Government’s $5 billion aged care Budget boost.

On offer are 13,500 new residential care places, 775 short-term restorative care places and importantly,

a further $60 million in capital grants to encourage more investment in areas of greatest need.

The Coalition Government is committed to improving access to residential aged care for people living in regional, rural and remote areas, which includes the Parkes electorate.

To help them continue to live in the communities they know and love, suitable applications targeting these areas will be prioritised.

The additional 775 Short-Term Restorative Care Places are aimed at giving more choice to older Australians.

Short term restorative care aims to slow or even reverse functional decline by providing time-limited,

re-ablement care with wraparound services to help people get back on their feet again.

The 2018-19 ACAR application period is open for six weeks, from July 2 until 10 August 10.

Application forms and guidelines are now available on the Department of Health website - www.health.gov.au.

The Coalition Government is providing $20 million worth of grants valued between $1,000 and $5,000 to not-for-profit organisations,

and I am calling on community organisations in the Parkes electorate to apply.

The Volunteer Grants round is expected to open in August.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our communities in the Parkes electorate, giving up their time and expertise to help our many charities, sports clubs and schools.

These grants can be used towards the cost of essential items that help make the work of volunteers easier, safer, and more enjoyable, such as equipment, training, transport and background screening.

This is a great opportunity to utilise funding to support our volunteers.

For more information, visit the Department of Social Services’ Community Grants Hub website to subscribe to updates on the application process – www.communitygrants.gov.au.