A pledge for 350 extra staff in our severely under-resourced mental health workforce shows the Andrews Labor Government has abandoned Victorians struggling in the shadow pandemic. Labor’s lockdowns have seen more Victorians than ever reaching out to mental health services, but a shortage of workers means many people are being told they’ll have to…
The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath has labelled the Andrews Government’s latest Forestry Plan announcement a farcical con, saying it’s as useful to workers and industry as a two-legged chair. Last week the Andrews Government announced it would spend $100 million on “opt out packages” and “innovation vouchers” for businesses reliant…
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy previously spoke in Parliament about the excessive costs imposed by the Victorian Government on regional residents through the new regional swimming pool compliance rules in Victoria. In Parliament Mr McCurdy said, “I was recently contacted by a concerned local community member, who felt that the new swimming…
As dwindling timber supply puts a handbrake on home building and makes it harder to transport goods around the nation, the Andrews Labor Government has today announced it will spend more money shutting down Victoria’s sustainable, legitimate native timber industry. Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas will further worsen the timber shortage with today’s pledge of $100…
Growers in north-west Victoria have endured another year with a crumbling, inefficient freight rail network, while the Andrews Labor Government refuses to provide $5 million to get the Murray Basin Rail Project back on track. Today marks 12 months of the Andrews Government refusing to co-contribute $5 million for planning, following a $200.2 million fund…
The Victorian Liberals and Nationals vehemently oppose a plan from Labor and greens groups to introduce dingoes into state and national parks in Victoria. A parliamentary inquiry into Victorian ecosystems has recommended the Andrews Labor Government trial the reintroduction of dingoes as an apex predator in Victorian parks. The plan has generated significant concern among…
The Andrews Labor Government is consigning Gippsland rail passengers to continued future delays at the same time as its spend-a-thon on city infrastructure reaches epic proportions of waste and mis-management. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien recently called on the Government again to undertake a feasibility study into a dedicated Gippsland line…
The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is calling for the Victorian Government to do more to support businesses in managing the onerous task of enforcing COVID restrictions and to address COVID-related workforce shortages in regional areas. Speaking in Parliament, Ms Kealy said she had been contacted by a number of businesses with deep concerns…
Analysis of the state’s public transport patronage figures has revealed the Andrews Government’s limited free public transport for the holiday period would have lasted less than four hours, pre-pandemic. The Government has today announced a mere 250,000 vouchers for free travel in December and January – more than a month since the Liberals and Nationals…
Indefinite closure of Melbourne metro’s City Loop Network will throw the CBD into chaos at a key moment in the city’s recovery. The Transport Department has confirmed today the City Loop will have to close for “a period of time” after the Andrews Labor Government neglected to schedule the critical Fire and Safety Upgrade during…
People living in communities along Victoria’s border were asked for evidence loved ones were dying from cancer and personal financial statements, a damning report on Victoria’s border permit scheme has found. Residents from Shepparton, Numurkah and Mooroopna were among those subject to months of navigating complex and unworkable rules after the Andrews Labor Government slammed…
The Andrews Labor Government has secretly instituted a planning change that will make life even more difficult for wind farm neighbours trying to build on their own properties. The Government’s change to Victorian planning provisions under amendment VC212 means that neighbours of a windfarm can no longer build a house, bed and breakfast, worker…