OAKESHOTT TO HOST SEVEN COMMUNITY FORUMS

THE community forums hosted by Independent Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott, which were attended by more than 630 people last year, are back.
Seven forums will be held in community halls, church halls and senior citizen centres over the next week, starting in Laurieton on Tuesday and ending in Port Macquarie on August 7.
This year’s agenda will be set by the community with the issues to be discussed taken from the floor.
“More than 150 questions were taken over 12 hours during last year’s forums, ranging from carbon pricing to coal-seam gas, from business challenges to the war in Afghanistan,” Mr Oakeshott said.
“This year, I think the questions will be closer to home as many people want to know where some of the projects that have been funded are up to, such as hospital upgrades, roads and improved higher education opportunities.
“National reforms that will be particularly relevant to the Mid-North Coast, such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the Gonski review of school education funding, will, no doubt, also be raised.
“But the topics up for discussion really will be up to those who attend.
“These community forums are the perfect opportunity to have any question answered and any topic discussed,” Mr Oakeshott said.
The free community forums will be at:
• Laurieton School of Arts (49 Bold St), Tuesday, 31 July, 12.30pm-2.30pm
• Harrington Function Centre (7 Caledonia St), Tuesday, 31 July, 6.30pm-8.30pm
• Wingham Citizens Centre (Primrose St,), Wednesday, 1 August, 12.30pm-2.30pm
• Wauchope Senior Citizens Centre (47 High St), Wednesday, 1 August, 6.30pm-8.30pm
• Taree Uniting Church (29-31 Albert St), Thursday, 2 August, 12 noon-2pm
• Gloucester Senior Citizens Hall (30 Hume St), Thursday, 2 August, 6.30pm-8.30pm
• Port Macquarie CWA Hall (Town Green end of Horton St), Tuesday, 7 August, 6.30pm-8.30pm