Legislation for on-the-spot fines for farm trespass has finally passed state parliament after two years of delay by the Andrews Government. Amendments to double the maximum fine for illegal farm invasion and close a loophole on licensed river frontages have been blocked by Labor, the Greens and Independent MPs. The Nationals proposed two amendments to…
Amendments to double the maximum fine for illegal farm invasion have been blocked in Victorian Parliament by Labor, Greens and Independent MPs. The Liberals and Nationals proposed two amendments to the Livestock Management Amendment (Animal Activism) Bill 2021 to double the maximum fine for individuals in line with New South Wales’ hefty penalty scheme –…
The Victorian Nationals have stopped an attempt from the Andrews Labor Government to simultaneously hide changes impacting regional communities and axe an important source of revenue for local newspapers. Labor’s Regulatory Legislation Amendment (Reform) Bill 2022, introduced in Victorian Parliament in February, would have removed the requirement for state departments and councils to inform communities…
New data from Victoria University’s Mitchell Institute shows large gaps in the provision of childcare across rural and regional communities, including the Euroa electorate. The study, which classifies communities as a childcare ‘desert’ or an ‘oasis’, depending on the availability of care, shows most local communities are a desert with either no childcare service or…
Many communities in regional Victoria are “highly under-serviced” by public transport, with flow on effects to liveability acting as a handbrake on potential population growth, a new report has found. Infrastructure Australia released the 2022 Regional Strengths and Infrastructure Gaps report last week, shining a light on the poor state of transport infrastructure across regional…
The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is calling on Independent MPs in Parliament’s Upper House to vote in favour of greater protection for our Victorian farmers through harsher on the spot fines. Ms Kealy, together with her National Party colleagues, has continued to call for tougher penalties to be imposed against animal activities who…
The Nationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, rode in support of mental health awareness on Sunday 20th of March, with the Black Dog Ride. Mr. McCurdy said, “There has never been a time where mental health awareness has been so prominent, yet there is still more to do” “Too many of our friends and…
A new survey today detailing the declining mental health of young people after the pandemic has further highlighted the urgent need to rejuvenate Victoria’s fatigued mental health workforce. The survey, conducted in February by research company Resolve Strategic, found a quarter of young Australians thought about suicide in the past two years. The highest number…
Infringements issued by the Department of Justice and Community Safety for alleged COVID breaches have raised the ire of small business owners who have endured the burden of changing compliance complexities for two years. Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said small businesses should have been helped, not hounded, as what they had to…
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy recently spoke in Parliament highlighting his concerns about the Andrews Government’s 2021-22 budget skipping regional schools within the Ovens Valley region. In Parliament Mr McCurdy said, “There is plenty of money being spent on education in Melbourne and not enough in our regional towns. “When we…
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy is eager to see whether the Independent MP’s in Parliament’s Upper House vote in favour for greater protection for our Victorian farmers through harsher on the spot fines. Mr McCurdy said, “In Parliament earlier this year I called for tougher penalties to be imposed against animal activities…
Local outcomes on better health, education, employment and housing for Aboriginal Victorians is in the spotlight today for National Close the Gap Day. Victoria has failed to close the gap in four of the seven original priority target measures and has recorded declining outcomes in education participation, Indigenous suicide rates and out-of-home care. Aboriginal Australian’s…