Dear editor, It’s already frustratingly difficult to get a doctor’s appointment for so many regional Victorians, and now they face a painful hit to the hip-pocket as well. Life is getting harder under Labor, and this cruel new Health Tax will only make it worse. Labor’s Health Tax would impose a backdated payroll tax on…
DetailsSenator the Hon Bridget McKenzie Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Leader of The Nationals in the Senate Senator for Victoria Senator the Hon Anne Ruston Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Shadow Minister for Sport Senator for South Australia Senator the Hon Matthew Canavan Chair of Rural and Regional Affairs and…
DetailsThe level of disarray the State Government is in over its decision to end the native timber industry is outlined in an email received by VicForests staff this week. “Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said four months after the announcement was made, the message to staff this week stated: The government has…
Details
There is no basin plan without Victoria, and by cutting Victorians out, Federal Labor has jeopardised the future of the Murray Darling Basin. Federal Labor today confirmed its contempt for the Murray-Darling communities in Victoria by introducing a damaging bill into Federal Parliament. The Federal Minister for Environment and Water, Tanya Plibersek, today delivered a…
DetailsRevelations today that more than 5700 reports of elder abuse were made to Victoria Police in the 12 months to March are disturbing and disappointing. Adding context to what is an alarming rise, the number of reports to police has jumped 40 per cent in the past five years. It comes after the…
Details
The Nationals are demanding immediate action from the Andrews Government to protect Victoria’s agriculture industry and honey producers to stop an extensive outbreak of varroa mite in the state. Varroa mite has the potential to have a catastrophic impact on Gippsland’s honeybee populations and our agricultural industries that rely on crop pollination to thrive. Australia…
DetailsThe Yoorook Report Into Victoria’s Child Protection and Criminal Justice Systems released today highlights the sad fact that Victoria is the worst performing state when it comes to closing the gap in Aboriginal affairs. It articulates some atrocities from long ago, but more concerningly it demonstrates that across the past 25 years, the system…
DetailsLETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear editor, Hard-working families continue to be hit hard by rising energy prices as life gets harder under Labor. A new Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) report confirms Victoria’s energy system is the worst in the nation, suffering serious deterioration in the past six months. Alarmingly, AEMO has warned Victorians can…
Details
Piles of debris pushed up against private property fence lines after roadside clearing has been labelled “habitat” by the State Labor Government, which refuses to remove the obvious fire risk. Having campaigned for the roadside debris to be cleared, Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said he was initially pleased to see work had…
DetailsNationals Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, called on the Minister for Higher Education to support RTO organisations, following a recent decision from GOTAFE to stop providing RTO support. Mr McCurdy said that several RTOs had already contacted him saying they will be forced to close down at the end of the year. “I have…
Details
Labor’s new health tax will leave regional Victorians without vital healthcare services if the Andrews Government refuses to withdraw its imposition on General Practitioners (GPs). Labor’s Health Tax would mean backdated payroll tax is levied on local GP clinics, resulting in tax bills of up to hundreds of thousands of dollars and placing the ongoing…
DetailsSpecialist teachers saved Disability advocates are celebrating the reversal of a government decision to cut a highly valued disability support program. In late July education minister Natalie Hutchins announced 85 of 117 teachers in Victoria’s decades-old visiting teacher service would be sacked. The visiting teacher service provides one-on-one specialist support to students with disabilities and includes…
Details