The Andrews Government has turned it back on farmers again, denying biosecurity threats exist in its plan to open up licensed river frontages to camping in Victoria. During state parliament in May, The Nationals called on the Andrews Government to halt its plan, citing landholders’ concerns about biosecurity, farm trespass, public liability, waste management, bushfire…
A plan to merge Mildura Base Public Hospital under the Bendigo Health service must not go ahead. Local people are being asked to add their names to a petition pressuring the Labor Government to get its hands off our regional hospitals. Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh was in Mildura today to launch the local…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has encouraged Gippsland landholders to have their say on new regulations that will permit camping on Crown land river frontage with grazing licences. The Andrews Labor Government has legislated to allow camping despite the opposition of The Nationals and many farmers with licences to graze Crown…
The Andrews Labor Government needs to step back from its plans to classify animal manure as industrial waste according to The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien. Reports this week indicate that the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) intends to classify animal manure such as cow, chicken and sheep manure as industrial waste potentially…
Inadequate resourcing has taken the teeth out of wild dog control in Victoria, leaving livestock at risk and exposing landholders to further emotional and financial trauma. The Andrews Labor Government’s lax management is seeing attacks increase, with reports today landholders near Wyperfeld National Park in Victoria’s north-west have lost more than 300 sheep to wild…
Out of control roadside vegetation must be addressed as Gippsland moves towards summer and the impending bushfire season. The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region and Shadow Assistant Minster for Public Land Use Melina Bath has raised concerns about the ongoing poor standard of roadside vegetation control during State Parliament today. Ms Bath today sought…
The Andrews Labor Government needs to lift its game to prepare for the coming fire season, Member for Euroa and Nationals deputy leader, Steph Ryan has warned. In a scathing report released last week, the Victorian Auditor-General found Labor had monumentally failed to meet its prescribed burning targets. Ms Ryan also raised concerns about long…
The Victorian Auditor General’s long-awaited report into Reducing Bushfire Risk released today, reveals the Andrews Labor Government has over the past four years not even reached half (43%) of its arguably already low fuel reduction burn target. Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said the independent report showed what most East Gippslanders knew, not…
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy has raised concerns about the condition of bushland roads and tracks in Victoria’s public parks. In Parliament this week Mr McCurdy questioned the Minister for the Environment on the issue. “Parks Victoria has neglected our regional parks and camping sites,” Mr McCurdy said. “The evidence…
The Agriculture Minister’s recent hollow announcements around timber plantations does nothing for security of the local industry, says Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull. “When you have the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining And Energy Union (CFMMEU), slamming a Labor policy, it’s a fair indication it is seriously flawed. “The CFMMEU says the policy…
The Andrews Government’s native timber transition plan has been labelled a sham after Labor walked away from establishing hardwood plantations. During State Parliament Ms Bath pushed Minister for Agriculture, Jaclyn Symes for answers, however the native timber industry continues to be met by silence from the Minister. Ms Bath cited the former HPV plantation at…
Insufficient firewood collection areas are available to local residents, Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said. Mr McCurdy said the opening of the Spring firewood collection season on 1 September once again failed to provide adequate designated collection sites. “I am yet again disappointed there have not been more local firewood collection…