Motion 11: That this Conference calls on the Victorian Nationals to develop policy which legislates a rehabilitation and bond scheme for renewable energy projects on agricultural land and regulates the safe disposal of wind and solar materials at end of life.

  • Announcement to come

Motion 12: That this Conference calls on the Victorian Nationals to develop policy that requires renewable energy proponents to compensate adjoining landholders for any increase in insurance cost incurred in relation to risk associated with the renewable energy project.

Motion 14: That this Conference calls on the Federal Nationals in government to change the diesel fuel rebate to an ‘off road’ rebate.

  • The Nationals have consistently defended the fuel rebate system as a fair refund mechanism for off-road fuel use and to ensure that the cost of business inputs are not taxed. This proposal risks increasing costs for rural industries and adding red tape to the rebate system. We will continue supporting policies that reduce costs for regional industries.

 

Motion 15: That this Conference calls for the minimum age for learner driver permits and probationary driver licences to be available from age 17.

Motion 16: That this Conference calls on the National Party to develop and implement a Victorian agricultural freight strategy to prioritise infrastructure that will have the greatest impact on reducing freight costs for growers.

Motion 17: That this Conference calls on the Victorian Nationals to develop a policy for implementation in Government that temporary speed restrictions may only be activated when road works are taking place and for a limited time immediately after a road is repaired.

Motion 18: That this Conference calls on the Federal Nationals in government to abolish the luxury car tax.

  • Under Labor, Australians are facing higher costs on ordinary vehicles through the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard. The Nationals believe Australia’s vehicle tax settings deserve proper scrutiny, including whether the Luxury Car Tax remains fit for purpose and whether it is unfairly increasing costs for regional Australians. The Federal Nationals will continue to examine these issues and advocate for practical reforms that reduce costs and protect vehicle choice.

Motion 19: That the National Party investigates an increased speed limit on major dual lane freeways and highways with off-ramps and traffic overpasses, and permits road trains to use these roads.

 

Motion 21: That this Conference supports the the freezing of Federal alcohol excise tax (biannual increases), and the reduction of alcohol tax to a fair and equitable level at premises licensed venues.

  • The Nationals understand the pressure rising alcohol excise places on regional pubs, clubs, producers, licensed venues and consumers. The Nationals led the Coalition to adopt a policy calling for a review of the Federal Alcohol Tax system. Labor and the Greens opposed that review. The Nationals will continue to examine what fundamental changes to alcohol tax should be taken to the next election, including options to reduce pressure on venues, producers and consumers.

Motion 24: That this Conference calls on The Nationals to establish a Productivity Commission inquiry into the energy market within the first 100 days of forming government.

  • The National Party supports examining whether current energy settings are delivering reliable, affordable and secure power, particularly for regional and industrial Australia. The National Party will continue advocating for practical energy policy that prioritises lower power prices, grid reliability, national sovereignty and long-term economic productivity and the Nationals in Government will make representations to the Energy Minister for a Productivity Commission as a priority when elected.

 

Motion 27: That this Conference calls on the Victorian Nationals to commit to rescind the Labor Government’s 2024 Land Tax Surcharge and to reduce or cease a range of property taxes, charges, levies and regulatory infrastructure on landlords in order to support the return of rental housing and reduce barriers to businesses.

Motion 28: That this Conference condemns the Allan Labor Government for using the Emergency Services Volunteers Fund for core government services including Triple Zero, instead of directing this funding to much needed infrastructure in rural and regional Victoria, and that the replacement of old firefighting equipment is `like for like’ to ensure capabilities are not reduced.

 

Ararat Advocate Column – May 2025

Our farmers are on their knees – no food or water for stock, next to no rain for crops, dwindling cash reserves, and increasing debt to the banks.

In the grip of the worst drought in decades, dams are drying up, winter feed growth is virtually impossible, and freight costs for fodder are spiralling.

These rising costs will hit supermarket shelves next, driving up grocery prices for every Victorian household already struggling to make ends meet.

When farmers suffer, so does the rest of the state.

But rather than do everything within their power to support the people who feed and clothe us and keep our economies going, the Allan Labor Government is callously ripping money from farmers’ pockets to pay for its own reckless spending.

Labor’s new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund – which replaces the Fire Services Levy – will slug Victorians $3 billion in extra taxes over the next four years.

It will hit everyone – families, homeowners, renters, and business owners – but it’s our farmers who will bear the brunt of what is Labor’s 60th new or increased tax.

To hit farmers with increases of 150 per cent when they are battling drought – with barely a drop of government support – is cruel and unjust.

That Labor has introduced this cash grab because it has driven our state towards $192 billion of debt, and interest repayments of close to $30 million a day, is even more reprehensible.

It is absolutely disgraceful that Labor would use the hard-earned money of our local people – especially the incredible volunteers, many of them also farmers, who risk their lives to protect others during emergencies – to pay for its own financial mismanagement and escalating debt.

Last week I was proud to stand with hundreds of people from our great part of the state to protest against this obscene tax, which has proven yet again that Labor cannot manage money, and it’s our communities who pay the price.

Our hard-working people deserve real support when they need it and a government that stands up for them, not taxes them into oblivion.

It’s why the Nationals and Liberals announced at the protest that, if elected, we will scrap the tax and return to the simpler, fairer Fire Services Property Levy, a model that funds fire services transparently without punishing homeowners, renters, farmers and volunteers.

We will also ensure the SES has the funding it needs to support our communities.

I sincerely thank Pat Millear of Willaura, Jo Armstrong and Rob Armstrong of Ararat, and John Bennett of Kaniva for passionately sharing their stories at the protest, and everyone who took the time to travel to the rally in a sign of unity against Labor’s latest big tax grab.

I also thank the incredible emergency services volunteers for the amazing work they do and for standing strong in their communities.

The Nationals and Liberals will continue to stand side by side with them and our communities, and we encourage you to join us by adding your voice at www.scrapthetax.com.au

Emma Kealy MP

Member for Lowan

Deputy Leader of The Nationals

Shadow Minister for Agriculture

Shadow Minister for Mental Health

 

Motion 29: That this Conference calls upon both state and federal governments to fund risk and resilience education programs for all business and property owners, aimed at supporting the management of future disasters and addressing the current cost of living crisis.

  • Australia has a comprehensive, efficient and coordinated model when it comes to emergency management, and the Federal Coalition strongly supports evidence-based policy measures to help build resilience, skills and confidence to coordinate emergency management activities before, during, and after a disaster event.

Federally, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) works closely with the states and territories to lead the national approach to crisis management, and among its responsibilities is to provide strategic coordination to improve prevention, preparedness, response, relief and recovery measures across the Australian community.

 

Motion 33: That this Conference calls on the National Party to support:

  1. Immediately banning puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors (children under 18 years of age) and for the Nationals to ensure such a ban within 90 days of forming government;
  2. That the Federal National Party initiates a nationwide review of gender services conducted by an independent panel comprising of qualified medical professionals, psychologists, individuals who have undergone gender transition, individuals who have de-transitioned and parents of children prescribed gender affirming treatments to ensure ethical and evidence based medical practises; and
  3. That the Federal and State National Party protect parental rights by ensuring through legislation that no child may receive gender-related medical treatment without the informed consent of both his/her parent/s or legal guardian/s.
  • Gaelle on the record in 2024: Hansard search – Parliament of Victoria
  • The Nationals support parental involvement in major medical decisions affecting children, noting states have primary responsibility, as recently demonstrated by the Queensland Government’s decision to pause the use of puberty blockers for minors.

The National Health and Medical Research Council is currently undertaking a review of puberty blockers and it is due to report in mid-2026.

 

Motion 34: That this Conference calls on the Allan Labor Government to install satellite phones in all rural and regional ambulances.

 

Motion 39: That this Conference urges the Federal Government, by amending the Sexual Discrimination Act, to ban transgender women from competing in female categories of sports.

  • The Nationals believe changes to the Sex Discrimination Act are urgently needed, to define ‘male’ and ‘female’ and protect both genders and their safety. The Nationals will consider further policies that protect the fairness and safety of women’s sport.

 

Motion 41: That this Conference calls on the Allan Labor Government to increase funding for Protective Services Officers (PSOs) so that railway stations where appropriate in Victoria have a dedicated PSO presence.

 

Motion 42: That this Conference calls on the Victorian Nationals in government to investigate the creation of ‘retained firefighter’ positions at CFA brigades in urbanised regional towns.

Motion 43: That this Conference condemns the Allan Labor Government’s failure to adequately fund the CFA and respect our hard-working volunteers, and for The Nationals to continue to pursue the improvement and maintenance of CFA vehicles as a State priority.

 

Motion 45: That this Conference calls on the Allan Labor Government to cancel the Suburban Rail Loop and redirect this funding to major regional projects that improve access to services in regional cities, small country towns and communities across regional Victoria.

Motion 48: That this Conference condemns the Allan Labor Government for its drastic cuts to the Victorian Fisheries Authority and calls on The Nationals in government to urgently restore funding to better protect fish stocks, the marine environment, and recreational fishing in Victoria.