Farmers in north-east Victoria had the opportunity to have their say on the impact of farm invasion when the parliamentary inquiry to fix farm trespass laws visited Wangaratta yesterday. The inquiry heard from farmers who have serious concerns for the safety of their family and livestock and detailed the emotional and economic toll of…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has again called on the Andrews Labor Government to complete the duplication of the Princes Highway to Sale after the Premier finally visited the region this week. Mr O’Brien and his federal colleague, Darren Chester, Member for Gippsland have been campaigning for the completion of…
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, has encouraged people to consider the impact that gambling has on their lives and family relationships during Responsible Gambling Awareness Week, which for 2019 runs from 7 to 13 October. Mr McCurdy is a board member of the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, which aims at prevention, early…
Daniel Andrews is ignoring the enormous stress fixed water charges are placing on irrigators within the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID). Farmers have been calling for assistance on fixed water charges or direct relief on council rates for more than 12 months, but the State Government’s drought assistance package doesn’t deliver either. Farmers are paying thousands…
The Andrews Government has cruelled farmers trying to manage kangaroo numbers by making the state’s kangaroo pet food program unworkable, Member for Euroa Steph Ryan says. Kangaroos controlled under an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) permit can no longer be processed for pet food under the Andrews Labor Government’s changes. “Removing kangaroos culled under a…
After five years as Premier, Daniel Andrews has finally made it to East Gippsland, but unfortunately only dropped in for an hour in what was clearly a box ticking visit, to make an underwhelming drought announcement before flying to Mildura. “With the current drought package coming to a conclusion, farmers have been waiting for…
Daniel Andrews has today repeated his Water Minister’s folly saying there’s no point in building dams when it’s not raining. On Melbourne radio this morning the Premier dismissed calls for the state government to look at building dams as “spurious debates” stating “dams don’t make it rain”. Labor has sat on its hands for five…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien said today’s announcement of additional drought support for Wellington and East Gippsland farmers was underwhelming. Mr O’Brien said that it was a disappointment that at last the Premier had visited, more than 12 months after his government had acknowledged drought in the region, but he still…
The Andrews Labor Government’s announcement of measures to tackle farm crime falls well short of what is needed to crack down on the theft of livestock and farm equipment. The Andrews Labor Government announced a Farm Crime Co-ordination Unit this week but despite Daniel Andrews claim it has created 70 new positions, in reality…
Victoria’s Landcare networks could be forced to cancel their facilitators next year after the Andrews Labor Government failed to fund the positions. The news comes as Landcare marks its 30th anniversary as a national organisation this week. Nationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, said The Nationals first funded Landcare facilitators in 2011. “Landcare groups…
Forests that would otherwise be dry during times of drought are being flushed with liquid gold as irrigators struggle to keep livestock watered and to keep crops alive. Media reports today highlight yet again the pressure irrigators are under while the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) flushes about 400GL of environmental water down the river…
The Andrews Labor Government still isn’t listening to farmers in East Victoria missing another opportunity to employ dedicated frontline police officers to tackle rural crime. The Andrews Government announced the Farm Crime Co-ordination Unit this week, but despite Labor’s claim it has created 70 new positions, in reality it has offered no additional resources, instead…