The Andrews Government has slashed $149 million from V/Line’s annual budget as country passengers continue to be plagued by frustrating delays, cancellations and service breakdowns. The release of the V/Line annual report, tabled in Parliament today, also reveals the organisation suffered a $30 million deficit in 2018/19. The news comes as customer satisfaction with the…
Local households are struggling to cope with soaring energy costs, driving a massive spike in complaints. Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria’s (EWOV) 2019 annual report released this week shows a 57 per cent increase in the number of cases about energy prices from the Strathbogie Shire over the past 12 months. There was also a…
Regional train passengers will be condemned to a future of lengthy delays and longer travel times if the Andrews Government steamrolls plans for a dedicated airport rail link. Labor’s embattled Public Transport Minister Melissa Horne was asked today in State Parliament about whether regional passengers would have longer travel times if the airport rail link…
Daniel Andrews is ignoring the enormous stress fixed water charges are placing on irrigators within the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District (GMID). Farmers have been calling for assistance on fixed water charges or direct relief on council rates for more than 12 months, but the State Government’s drought assistance package doesn’t deliver either. Farmers are paying thousands…
The Andrews Government has cruelled farmers trying to manage kangaroo numbers by making the state’s kangaroo pet food program unworkable, Member for Euroa Steph Ryan says. Kangaroos controlled under an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW) permit can no longer be processed for pet food under the Andrews Labor Government’s changes. “Removing kangaroos culled under a…
Daniel Andrews has today repeated his Water Minister’s folly saying there’s no point in building dams when it’s not raining. On Melbourne radio this morning the Premier dismissed calls for the state government to look at building dams as “spurious debates” stating “dams don’t make it rain”. Labor has sat on its hands for five…
Forests that would otherwise be dry during times of drought are being flushed with liquid gold as irrigators struggle to keep livestock watered and to keep crops alive. Media reports today highlight yet again the pressure irrigators are under while the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder (CEWH) flushes about 400GL of environmental water down the river…
Water Minister Lisa Neville has announced plans to make Melbourne’s expensive desalination plant even bigger today, while doubling down on Labor’s no dams policy. Minister Neville’s comments again prove how short-sighted the Andrews Labor Government is when it comes to planning for Victoria’s future water needs. Comment attributable to Shadow Minister for Water Steph Ryan…
Animal activists invading people’s properties can expect to face tough new sanctions after new farm trespass laws passed the Federal Parliament last Friday. The news comes as a Victorian Parliamentary committee investigating the issue prepares to hold a hearing in Wangaratta next month. Member for Euroa and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan…
The Victorian Nationals have taken a strong stand on behalf of local irrigators at The Nationals’ Federal Council in Canberra today, fighting to protect them from further water loss. The Nationals’ Federal Council also passed a motion put forward by Victorian Shadow Water Minister Steph Ryan calling for 300GL of environment water to be traded…
The Andrews Labor Government has taken the scalpel to the Lower Hume Primary Care Partnership (PCP) as Labor’s health funding cuts continue to be exposed. The organisation, which operates across Mitchell and Murrindindi shires, focuses on preventative healthcare, Aboriginal health, family violence and care of people with chronic diseases. Concern is mounting about the future…
Urgent action is needed from state and federal governments to create a single, transparent trading platform in the southern Basin. Media reports today again highlight the serious concerns of irrigators who are going broke because they can’t compete with speculators and investors who are sending water prices skyrocketing. A transparent trading platform would prevent anti-competitive conduct and…