Dear Editor, The Nationals and Liberals have secured a parliamentary inquiry that will get to the bottom of Labor’s 2026 summer bushfire preparedness and response. Volunteers, firefighters, farmers, emergency service personnel and community members, will get the opportunity to put their experience on the record, and ensure Victorians are better protected in the…
DetailsFarmers across south-west Victoria are feeling the strain as the summer heat continues on the back of extended dry periods. Many are looking to strengthen their on-farm water supply, but approvals for new or expanded dams can be confusing when time and conditions are against them. Farmers have raised concerns about delays and unclear…
DetailsA renewed call has been made for the Allan Labor Government to urgently fast-track planning for a redeveloped Bairnsdale Regional Health Service (BRHS/Bairnsdale Hospital) to address critical capacity shortfalls that are already compromising patient safety. Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said that in 2022, the BRHS Board completed a comprehensive hospital master plan…
DetailsApplications for the Arthur Grassby Kokoda Scholarships – an adventure of a lifetime – are now open to Year 11 students residing in East Gippsland Shire. This year’s trek will be in the June-July school holidays, and it is anticipated 6-7 students will be selected from the region to walk in the footsteps of…
DetailsCycling Without Age Gippsland has rolled into the new year with renewed energy, as the local volunteer-run charity looks to expand its operations and continue bringing joy and connection to older Gippslanders and people with mobility challenges throughout 2026. Cycling Without Age Gippsland is part of a worldwide movement, with chapters operating across Australia, and…
DetailsVictoria’s crime crisis continues to worsen under Labor as new data confirms there are now 367.7 fewer full time equivalent (FTE) Victoria Police officers than when Jacinta Allan became Premier. New Victoria Police employee numbers by location data has confirmed 15,601.75 FTE officers as of December 2025, down from 15,969.45 in September 2023. Over this same…
DetailsThe Nationals’ Melina Bath has gone into bat for local schools identified in the damning 2025 School Condition Report, demanding the Allan Government prioritise school upgrades in her electorate. After a two‑year Freedom of Information battle with the Education Department the report revealed the hidden decline in Victoria’s school infrastructure. The report rates schools on…
DetailsThe Allan Labor Government’s financial mismanagement has continued, with the revelation contractors supporting this summer’s bushfire effort haven’t yet been paid. It’s understood multiple contractors providing heavy machinery to support bushfire suppression haven’t been paid, despite some starting work on fires in December. In many cases, the outstanding amounts tally into the hundreds of thousands…
DetailsClean Up Australia Day will take place on Sunday 1 March 2026 with communities across the nation once again coming together to help protect and care for the environment. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien is encouraging locals to get involved following the strong success of last year’s clean-up efforts across the region.…
DetailsLocal legitimate tobacco retailers are being urged to ensure they are properly licensed, with Victoria’s new tobacco licensing scheme now enforced as of 1 February. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien said while the Allan Labor Government was late to act, the introduction of a licensing scheme was a step that The Nationals…
DetailsThe latest publicly available data from the Victorian Agency for Health Information shows Victoria’s ambulance service is continuing to decline from years of under resourcing and denial from the Allan Labor Government. Fewer than 2 in 3 (64.1 per cent) of Code 1 Ambulance Victorian responses occur within the benchmark 15 minute period, with the…
DetailsChanges to taxes and charges affecting property came into effect from 1 January 2026, prompting The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien to urge landholders to make sure they understand their obligations. Mr O’Brien said while The Nationals strongly oppose the new and increased property taxes introduced by the Allan Labor Government, landholders still…
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