The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) has substantially increased the number of senior executives in their ranks while cutting vital field staff over the last financial year. Senior DELWLP officials were unable to fully explain a loss of 133 full time equivalent field staff across the financial year when questioned recently…
DetailsA pledge for 350 extra staff in our severely under-resourced mental health workforce shows the Andrews Labor Government has abandoned Victorians struggling in the shadow pandemic. Labor’s lockdowns have seen more Victorians than ever reaching out to mental health services, but a shortage of workers means many people are being told they’ll have to…
DetailsThe Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath has labelled the Andrews Government’s latest Forestry Plan announcement a farcical con, saying it’s as useful to workers and industry as a two-legged chair. Last week the Andrews Government announced it would spend $100 million on “opt out packages” and “innovation vouchers” for businesses reliant…
DetailsWe had all hoped that 2021 would be a year of healing, growth and recovery. But under Labor, it’s been more of the same lies, corruption and contempt for Victorians. Victorian Ombudsman, Deborah Glass, blasted Labor’s pandemic management of state border closures as “some of the most questionable decisions I have seen in my over…
DetailsNationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy previously spoke in Parliament about the excessive costs imposed by the Victorian Government on regional residents through the new regional swimming pool compliance rules in Victoria. In Parliament Mr McCurdy said, “I was recently contacted by a concerned local community member, who felt that the new swimming…
DetailsAs dwindling timber supply puts a handbrake on home building and makes it harder to transport goods around the nation, the Andrews Labor Government has today announced it will spend more money shutting down Victoria’s sustainable, legitimate native timber industry. Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas will further worsen the timber shortage with today’s pledge of $100…
DetailsGrowers in north-west Victoria have endured another year with a crumbling, inefficient freight rail network, while the Andrews Labor Government refuses to provide $5 million to get the Murray Basin Rail Project back on track. Today marks 12 months of the Andrews Government refusing to co-contribute $5 million for planning, following a $200.2 million fund…
DetailsThe Victorian Liberals and Nationals vehemently oppose a plan from Labor and greens groups to introduce dingoes into state and national parks in Victoria. A parliamentary inquiry into Victorian ecosystems has recommended the Andrews Labor Government trial the reintroduction of dingoes as an apex predator in Victorian parks. The plan has generated significant concern among…
DetailsThe Andrews Labor Government is consigning Gippsland rail passengers to continued future delays at the same time as its spend-a-thon on city infrastructure reaches epic proportions of waste and mis-management. The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien recently called on the Government again to undertake a feasibility study into a dedicated Gippsland line…
DetailsDear Editor, This Christmas will be tough for the 49,000 Victorians who lost their job in October and for small business owners, like those in hospitality and accommodation, that are still desperately struggling to fill staffing rosters. News this week from the Federal Liberal and Nationals Government of a $103 billion rebound in our national…
DetailsThe Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is calling for the Victorian Government to do more to support businesses in managing the onerous task of enforcing COVID restrictions and to address COVID-related workforce shortages in regional areas. Speaking in Parliament, Ms Kealy said she had been contacted by a number of businesses with deep concerns…
DetailsAnalysis of the state’s public transport patronage figures has revealed the Andrews Government’s limited free public transport for the holiday period would have lasted less than four hours, pre-pandemic. The Government has today announced a mere 250,000 vouchers for free travel in December and January – more than a month since the Liberals and Nationals…
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