Gippsland National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants and providers are being disproportionately affected by the Albanese Government’s recent decision to freeze allied health pay rates and halve travel allowances. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester says the changes are worsening inequality for regional communities. Mr Chester met with Noah’s Ark Regional Operations Manager Michelle Kenny,…
DetailsKurnai College is helping young Gippslanders complete their Year 12 VPC, alongside VET modules and other qualifications, through a dynamic educational program designed specifically for young parents balancing study and the challenges of raising children. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester visited the Kurnai Young Parents Program, delivered through the Latrobe Valley Flexible Learning Option…
DetailsThe Albanese Government’s refusal to accept a transparency amendment on regional spending by streaming platforms has left regional Australians on the cutting room floor, Shadow Minister for Regional Communications Dr Anne Webster said today. In the House of Representatives debate Dr Webster moved an amendment to Government’s Communications Legislation Amendment (Australian Content Requirement for Subscription Video…
DetailsThe Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has called on the Allan Labor Government to urgently commit to major repairs on the South Gippsland Highway. Speaking in Parliament, Mr O’Brien said he continues to receive growing complaints from locals as the condition of the highway deteriorates from one end of the electorate to the…
DetailsThe Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien is urging locals to take extra care around water this summer. The 2025 National Drowning Report reveals 52 people drowned in Victoria between 30 June 2024 and 1 July 2025, an 8 per cent increase on the 10-year average. Mr O’Brien said the figures are a sobering…
DetailsEssential palliative care services are being underfunded across Northern Victoria, The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has told Parliament. Palliative Care supports patients, families and their carers – not just managing symptoms and pain relief for those who are terminally ill, but providing nursing support and advice, and assistance with equipment, respite, and…
DetailsDear Editor, As we head into one of the most dangerous fire seasons in years, a new report has confirmed serious staffing shortages across the CFA, including Gippsland. The Fire Services Implementation Monitor’s 2024–25 Annual Report makes clear that vacancies, fatigue and a lack of senior operational staff are now entrenched. Local brigades have been…
DetailsThe Allan Labor Government is facing scrutiny over how its overhaul of Protective Services Officer (PSO) deployment will protect regional commuters, as new data shows a sharp rise in crime across Gippsland’s public transport network. Latest figures from the Crime Statistics Agency reveal that criminal incidents on and around public transport in the six Gippsland…
DetailsThe Allan Labor Government has been accused of severely cutting back on work given to contractors engaged in fire mitigation in East Gippsland. Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said the contractors who rely on this work for their income, had also been misled by the Environment Minister, Steve Diomopoulos. Mr Bull told…
DetailsMore support is urgently needed for farmers suffering devastating wild dog attacks, Nationals Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, told State Parliament. Mr Bull said the scale of losses locally is untenable, quoting an email he received only days ago: “Hi Tim, this is getting very frustrating for us. Between us and our local…
DetailsShadow Minister for Regional Communications and Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says she hopes the Albanese Labor Government’s latest funding initiative genuinely helps regional media. Today Communications Minister Anika Wells launched the Journalism Assistance Fund (JAF), offering a potential $13,000 per annum for a full-time equivalent journalist for three years working in a local…
DetailsShadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, and Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says Friday afternoon’s quiet shelving of Labor’s proposed default speed limit reduction is a victory for Coalition advocacy and common sense. The Albanese Labor Government was consulting on slashing the default limit from 100 kilometres an hour to as…
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