Victoria’s Landcare networks could be forced to lay off their facilitators next year after the Andrews Labor Government failed to fund the positions. The news comes as Landcare marks its 30th anniversary as a national organisation this week. The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy said The Nationals and Liberals first funded Landcare…
DetailsAfter Labor’s Minister for Solar proclaimed the Solar Homes Program was fixed, the program administration and technology continues to spectacularly frustrate and fail customers. Ms Bath said the Minister for Solar, Lily D’Ambrosio took months to act and make any changes to her poorly planned Solar Homes Program, however September’s allocation again shows she has…
DetailsVictorian farmers have long called for a dedicated rural crime squad, but today’s announcement doesn’t deliver what farmers requested. Changing job titles is not the same as adding new frontline officers and it won’t help tackle worsening rural crime rates. The Andrews Labor Government is trying to dress today’s announcement up as 70 new positions,…
DetailsThe Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy has hosted a visit to the electorate by the Shadow Minister for Education, Cindy McLeish MP, taking the opportunity to tour Longerenong College and show Ms McLeish first-hand the Agribusiness Centre buildings which are significantly dated and require works. The Liberal Nationals made a commitment before the 2018…
DetailsCommunities surrounding the Gippsland Lakes are bracing themselves for the hit to the local economy that will inevitably accompany the removal of the ten fishing licences and the subsequent loss of income that these fishing families currently bring into the area. Nationals Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, spoke in Parliament last week on the…
DetailsWater 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…
DetailsThe Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien has called on the Andrews Labor Government to review plans for centre-line barriers on the proposed new section of the South Gippsland Highway between Koonwarra and Meeniyan. Mr O’Brien has written to the Minister for Roads after a series of complaints and problems were identified with…
DetailsThe interim report of the Parliamentary Inquiry into Victoria’s waste crisis has delivered a damning verdict on Labor’s failure to manage the waste and recycling industry. It is now a month since the last recycling company was shutdown by the Environment Protection Agency, with more than 4,000 tonnes of recyclables currently going to landfill each…
DetailsAnimal 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…
DetailsThe Minister for Child Protection has been questioned if any of the recommendations from an Ombudsman’s 2017 Report into Kinship Carers have been implemented. The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath echoed the concerns of Gippsland kinship carers in State Parliament last week that none of the seven recommendations from the ‘Financial Support…
DetailsCommunity groups and councils are being encouraged to apply for Community Safety Fund grants of up to $25,000 for local community crime prevention projects. The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy said the grants, established by the former National-Liberal Government, help not-for-profit community groups and councils deliver projects that prevent crime, improve safety…
DetailsA group of rail experts has recognised what the Andrews Labor Government fails to see – the need for a dedicated line for Gippsland trains through Melbourne. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien welcomed the report of the Rail Futures Institute which proposes a South East FastLine between Southern Cross and…
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