Community consultation will soon begin on The Nationals’ plan to rebuild our CFA and strengthen the volunteer organisation following Labor’s disastrous fire service reforms. The CFA is an icon of country Victoria, but the Andrews Labor Government’s reforms have deliberately sidelined volunteer brigades that are integral to the protection of country communities. Member…
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…
Daniel Andrews has been forced to back down on his extraordinary power grab which would have seen ordinary Victorians given the power to detain fellow citizens on the basis they might not follow a public health directive. Member for Euroa and The Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan said Labor’s decision to amend their legislation was…
Wineries with cellar doors have been excluded from the third round of business assistance announced by the Andrews Labor Government. The program, which promises support to hospitality and retailers, does not include wineries whose business relies heavily on cellar door sales. Member for Euroa and deputy leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan has…
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…
Local MP and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan is urging residents across the electorate to share their ideas for the future of the Country Fire Authority (CFA) to rebuild and restore it as an independent, volunteer-based, autonomous fire service. The CFA was split in two on July 1 after Daniel Andrews’ long, divisive…
Victoria’s racing industry participants risk being left behind New South Wales if the Andrews Government doesn’t urgently outline its plan to get racing back on its feet. Shadow Racing Minister Tim Bull visited Nagambie breeders with Nationals deputy leader and Euroa MP Steph Ryan this week to hear how coronavirus has affected farms and what…
Member for Euroa Steph Ryan says a new target to plant one million new trees over the next 12 months must be accompanied by funding for Victoria’s Landcare facilitators. The Nationals released a roadmap last week outlining constructive, positive suggestions for how the Andrews Government could help communities in the wake of COVID-19. …
A new $1 billion Bringing Manufacturing Home fund would put Shepparton in the box seat to seize on new opportunities to bring manufacturing investment and jobs to the region. As COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, now is the time for the Andrews Labor Government to urgently act to get Victorians back to work and back…
No end to VLine’s poor performance The crisis in VLine has hit rock bottom. February performance data for the VLine network reveals a worsening trend of unreliable and late trains. Every short distance service – Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour and Gippsland lines – failed to meet reliability and punctuality targets. Four of the six long…
Commuters on the northeast, Seymour and Shepparton trainlines faced another day of pain as a result of Daniel Andrews’ ugly, unresolved pay dispute with the Victoria’s Rail, Tram and Bus Union. Local MP and Shadow Minister for Regional Public Transport Steph Ryan said this week’s industrial strike could not have come at a worse time…
The design of the north-east’s promised new VLocity trains is being hidden by the Andrews Government. Shadow Minister for Regional Public Transport Steph Ryan requested design details of the much-anticipated trains in Parliament in November last year. But Ms Ryan, who is also the Member for Euroa, says the Minister still has not responded to…