The Federal Government has announced it will split the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) after a long campaign by irrigators and the Victorian Liberal Nationals. A new statutory compliance role will split the MDBA’s conflicting responsibilities by creating an Inspector-General of Water Compliance. Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said the split would help resolve…
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy has welcomed the confirmation of an expanded border permit zone that will include Wangaratta and other Ovens Valley towns. Mr McCurdy said the expanded zone would be a welcome relief for local residents who meet the new permit criteria, who have up until now been unable to cross…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has welcomed $3.14 million in federal funding to repair notorious Gippsland South roads, including a black spot on the Hyland Highway he has been campaigning to fix. Mr O’Brien said the much-needed funding was being delivered under the Federal Government’s 2020-21 Black Spot Program and would see…
The Andrews Labor Government has been pressed to explain a malicious campaign to discredit Victoria’s recreational hunters. In State Parliament today, Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath called on Labor’s Police Minister to apologise for an unsolicited threat to suspend or cancel firearms licences if Chief Health Officer (CHO) directions are violated, despite offering no…
A move by the Andrews Labor Government to extend further strict lockdowns on Victorian families and businesses will be opposed by The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath. Ms Bath will today be debating Daniel Andrews controversial lockdown legislation in the Legislative Council. The State of Emergency powers allow the Government to impose…
Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy was recently called upon to see first-hand the damage feral pigs have caused to a local farming property. Mr McCurdy said the level of damage he saw was of great concern. “When I inspected the farmland it was like somebody had taken a set of discs…
The kangaroo harvesting program has recommenced across north-east Victoria after the Andrews Government this week buckled to pressure from Euroa MP and Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan. Ms Ryan called the government out this week for failing to meet its July deadline to provide clarity on the future of the program after it was…
Gippsland Nationals MP’s are calling on Daniel Andrews to extend small business support to include sole traders. Sole traders have been denied access to the Victorian Business Support Fund by the Andrews Government because they don’t employ staff other than themselves. The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath said it was inequitable and…
East Gippsland firewood merchants and timber harvesters are warning this winter’s firewood shortage is likely just a foretaste of a permanent shortage should the government proceed with its plans to end native timber harvesting in the state. Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, says the suspension of timber harvesting after the bushfires is…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien says State Parliament must be allowed to sit to ensure democracy continues to apply in Victoria. Mr O’Brien said he was frustrated current COVID restrictions were stopping him doing the job he was elected to in Parliament on behalf of Gippslanders. Parliament was scheduled to resume from the winter break…
The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath is calling on the Andrews Government to implement consistent daily metropolitan border protections on Gippsland bound VLine services. Ms Bath said sporadic public transport checking is not an effective border control measure. “The Premier must dedicate additional resources to conduct checks on all major arterial VLine…
The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has contacted the Premier’s office seeking clarification as to why Gippsland isn’t being given additional resources to tackle COVID-19 outbreaks. Mr O’Brien was alarmed yesterday at the announcement of the Premier that additional contact tracing and testing resources would be sent to Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo…