A decision by Justice Richards in the Supreme Court yesterday has delivered a shocking Christmas blow to timber industry workers in East Gippsland. After years of inaction by the Andrews Labor Government to support the native timber industry, yesterday’s determination shuts down the majority of timber harvesting not only in East Gippsland, but the…
DetailsThere is still no sign of the long-awaited VLocity trains on the north east line, despite multiple assurances that they would be on the tracks and taking passengers before Christmas. With less than two weeks to go, local Nationals MP and Shadow Minister for Public Transport Steph Ryan said north east passengers were losing confidence…
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The Independent Victorian Ombudsman has condemned the Andrews Labor Government’s Coronavirus border crossing laws were “downright unjust, even inhumane”. Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull said he had been contacted by many residents distressed at not being allowed to return home with illness, to attend funerals and others just to be with their partners and…
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A review of electricity distribution network resilience is underway in the wake of storm-induced outages this year and following calls from The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O’Brien. The review, known as The Distribution Business Network Resilience Review commenced in September 2021 and is being undertaken by the Department of Environment, Land, Water…
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Timber workers in East Gippsland and the Central Highlands are devastated with the news the native timber industry is effectively being shut down on the eve of Christmas in Victoria. Today in the Supreme Court, Justice Richards granted an order to stop native timber harvesting in the Central Highlands and East Gippsland. The court order…
DetailsThe 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…
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