Water Minister Lisa Neville has announced plans to make Melbourne’s expensive desalination plant even bigger today, while doubling down on Labor’s no dams policy. Minister Neville’s comments again prove how short-sighted the Andrews Labor Government is when it comes to planning for Victoria’s future water needs. Comment attributable to Shadow Minister for Water Steph Ryan…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has called on the Andrews Labor Government to review plans for centre-line barriers on the proposed new section of the South Gippsland Highway between Koonwarra and Meeniyan. Mr O’Brien has written to the Minister for Roads after a series of complaints and problems were identified with…
The interim report of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Victoria’s waste crisis has delivered a damning verdict on Labor’s failure to manage the waste and recycling industry. It is now a month since the last recycling company was shutdown by the Environment Protection Agency, with more than 4,000 tonnes of recyclables currently going to landfill each…
Animal activists invading people’s properties can expect to face tough new sanctions after new farm trespass laws passed the Federal Parliament last Friday. The news comes as a Victorian Parliamentary committee investigating the issue prepares to hold a hearing in Wangaratta next month. Member for Euroa and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan…
The Minister for Child Protection has been questioned if any of the recommendations from an Ombudsman’s 2017 Report into Kinship Carers have been implemented. The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath echoed the concerns of Gippsland kinship carers in State Parliament last week that none of the seven recommendations from the ‘Financial Support…
Community groups and councils are being encouraged to apply for Community Safety Fund grants of up to $25,000 for local community crime prevention projects. The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy said the grants, established by the former National-Liberal Government, help not-for-profit community groups and councils deliver projects that prevent crime, improve safety…
A group of rail experts has recognised what the Andrews Labor Government fails to see – the need for a dedicated line for Gippsland trains through Melbourne. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien welcomed the report of the Rail Futures Institute which proposes a South East FastLine between Southern Cross and…
The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy has spoken in Parliament, demanding answers from the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate about why it has taken so long for the EPA to act on the Kaniva toxic waste dump. The illegal toxic waste dump is the largest ever in Victoria’s history, with 50 million…
The Victorian Nationals have taken a strong stand on behalf of local irrigators at The Nationals’ Federal Council in Canberra today, fighting to protect them from further water loss. The Nationals’ Federal Council also passed a motion put forward by Victorian Shadow Water Minister Steph Ryan calling for 300GL of environment water to be traded…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien congratulates Landcare groups across Gippsland who were successful in the latest round of the Victorian Landcare grants program. “It’s great to see a number of our hard working Landcare groups successful in obtaining grants for a wide range of environmentally conscious projects and I can’t wait to…
The Andrews Labor Government has taken the scalpel to the Lower Hume Primary Care Partnership (PCP) as Labor’s health funding cuts continue to be exposed. The organisation, which operates across Mitchell and Murrindindi shires, focuses on preventative healthcare, Aboriginal health, family violence and care of people with chronic diseases. Concern is mounting about the future…
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has called on the Andrews Labor Government to explain what it’s doing to address critical GP shortages in rural health, as communities in western Victoria continue to go without a local GP. Daniel Andrews recently announced a $50,000 incentive to encourage teachers to relocate to country areas in an…