East Gippsland firewood merchants and timber harvesters are warning this winter’s firewood shortage is likely just a foretaste of a permanent shortage should the government proceed with its plans to end native timber harvesting in the state. Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, says the suspension of timber harvesting after the bushfires is…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien says State Parliament must be allowed to sit to ensure democracy continues to apply in Victoria. Mr O’Brien said he was frustrated current COVID restrictions were stopping him doing the job he was elected to in Parliament on behalf of Gippslanders. Parliament was scheduled to resume from the winter break…
The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath is calling on the Andrews Government to implement consistent daily metropolitan border protections on Gippsland bound VLine services. Ms Bath said sporadic public transport checking is not an effective border control measure. “The Premier must dedicate additional resources to conduct checks on all major arterial VLine…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has contacted the Premier’s office seeking clarification as to why Gippsland isn’t being given additional resources to tackle COVID-19 outbreaks. Mr O’Brien was alarmed yesterday at the announcement of the Premier that additional contact tracing and testing resources would be sent to Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo…
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy is calling for local Victorian farmers to be allowed access to their livestock and crops on the NSW side of the border. Mr McCurdy said he had been fielding up to 20 calls a day from Ovens Valley farmers who have been affected by the hardened border…
Union politics is jeopardising food security at a time of crisis. The horticulture sector fears a union call to end the Working Holiday Maker Visa will push up the price of fruit and vegetables at a time when our communities need a reliable, affordable supply of fresh food. Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said…
East Gippsland’s young adults need to be able to obtain their driving licences during the Coronavirus lockdown. Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said it was not right the State Government had basically shut up shop and removed the ability for young drivers to sit their learner test, or undertake their probationary licence…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien, has encouraged Gippslanders to do the right thing – stay home, wear a mask and support local businesses as we face the challenge of stage 3 coronavirus restrictions. Mr O’Brien said it was extremely frustrating for Gippslanders to be subject again to new restrictions when 99…
A review of the Victorian timber industry’s Code, announced by the Andrews Labor Government today, is another nail in the coffin for local jobs and industry confidence. Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said the Government’s review of the Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014 will do nothing to protect jobs. “The Andrews Labor…
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has called for uniformity on bushfire apps and information between Victoria and New South Wales. “What we had over last summer for those living in border communities, was different apps and different symbols being used. The road closure apps are also different between the states, which is very…
Empty words from the Andrews Labor Government aren’t enough to fix the challenges facing Victoria’s cross-border communities. While we all understand the critical need to stop the spread of this deadly virus, the closures have forced families apart, cut countless workers off from their workplace and stopped the flow of goods and services. Further restrictions…
Further measures must be enforced to protect regional Victoria from Melbourne’s coronavirus crisis. Unnecessary travel into regional Victoria will only increase the risk of spreading COVID-19, and delay the easing of restrictions in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire. The recent case of a Melbourne woman forcing the shutdown of several businesses in East Gippsland after breaching…