Media Releases

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh is encouraging parents and guardians to ditch the car and walk their children to school next Friday.
The Nationals MP said participating in National Walk Safely to School Day on May 7 would send a healthy message to children about adopting a more active lifestyle.
“Active kids are healthy kids. Studies tell us that children need a minimum of one hour of physical activity a day and walking to school may be a simple way of seamlessly incorporating exercise into a child’s routine,” Mr Walsh said.
“More than a quarter of Australian children are overweight or obese and this initiative is a small step in addressing that frightening statistic.”
Mr Walsh said Walk Safely to School Day aimed to promote the health benefits of walking, create good walking habits, improve children’s road-crossing skills and reduce car dependency habits.
Experts also promoted the mantra that a healthy kid starts with a health breakfast, he said.
“A piece of fruit, some cereal or bread and some cheese, yoghurt or milk at breakfast time is all that is needed to kick-start children into a day of active learning and physical activity,” Mr Walsh said.
“Studies show that children who eat breakfast tend to avoid mid-morning concentration slumps and are less likely to eat junk food later in the day and this helps combat childhood obesity.
“I encourage parents and guardians to make National Walk Safely to School Day the first step to better health for their children.”

Bronwyn Pike, the Brumby Government’s Education Minister, needs to leave her gilded office in Spring St and visit some of the schools in the Swan Hill electorate hardest hit by the Building the Education Revolution (BER) debacle according to Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh.
“I have been contacted by many School Councils with complaints about the supposed building program that is being inflicted on their schools,” Mr Walsh said.
“What started out as an exciting time of development and expansion for these school communities has now become filled with frustration, anger and disappointment.
“By refusing to allow School Councils input into the developments that were planned for these schools and denigrating their Principals by saying they were incapable of managing these projects, the Minister has demonstrated the contempt and arrogance of the Brumby government for Victorian school communities,” he said.
“Because of this arrogance we now have schools receiving buildings they don’t really want, projects that are way behind their completion timeline, very questionable costings for the projects being undertaken and many projects so far behind they haven’t even begun the construction stage.
“This is a disgrace and I invite the Minister to come with me and visit some of these schools in Woorinen, Koondrook, Donald and Swan Hill, to name a few, to see the results of her government’s mishandling of the whole BER program,” Mr Walsh said.
“It is simply not good enough for her to sit in her office and tell these school communities how well off they are when we all know that is not the case.
“Unless Minister Pike makes the effort to visit some of these schools so badly affected by her mishandling of the BER program then we won’t see any improvement to the current situation and school communities will continue to suffer as a result,” Mr Walsh said.

Local MP Peter Walsh is urging constituents to ensure they are correctly enrolled in the lead up to Enrol to Vote Week.
Mr Walsh said the initiative coincided with a double election year and highlighted the importance of being correctly enrolled for people to have a voice.
“Both the Victorian and Federal governments will be holding elections later this year and people can only have their say on who and how things should be run if they are enrolled to vote,” he said.
“Many young Australians, such as those aged 17 and 18, will be eligible to vote for the first time and should ensure they are eligible by adding their name to the electoral roll.
“Enrolling to vote is a very simple process of logging on to www.aec.gov.au or completing a form available at any AEC office, Australia Post outlet, or at any Medicare, Centrelink, or Australian Tax Office.”
Mr Walsh said enrol to Vote week was also a timely reminder for who those had voted in previous elections to check and update their address details.
“When we move we all remember to change our details with the bank and billing companies – but what about the Electoral Commission?
“It is so easy to forget to do this and as a result many people ‘drop off’ the roll, perhaps without even knowing it,” he said.
“People can check their enrolment on the AEC website and, if necessary, update their details while online too.”
Mr Walsh said people were affected by government decisions everyday and could only do something about it if enrolled.
“Many, many people go to their local MPs for advice and complaints about government issues such as roads, access to health services and education, and we do what we can. But power to change things ultimately rests with those who have the vote.
“After all, having a vote equals having a say.”

Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh has condemned the Brumby Government on its removal of access to river frontage for landholders along the Murray River and other waterways adjacent to the recently expanded River Red Gum parks and reserves.
In the past week affected landholders have been receiving letters from the DSE detailing the timetable for the phasing out of their traditional grazing licences and the fencing requirements that are going to be enforced.
“The Minister for Environment and Climate Change Gavin Jennings publicly stated that ‘the Government will work with landowners on a voluntary and cooperative basis to improve river bank management’, however, there is nothing voluntary about the current process at all,” Mr Walsh said.
“The full impact of this River Red Gum legislation is only now being realised by landowners and it is going to be quite devastating for many people.
“When this legislation was first introduced the Liberal-Nationals Coalition argued vehemently against the sorts of implications now being experienced and the Brumby Government has shown its contempt for country Victoria by not heeding our advice,” he said.
“I am already hearing stories of proposed fences being erected through the middle of house yards and large areas of leasehold farm land being annexed as river frontage conservation areas.
“Voluntary involvement in river bank management has obviously been superseded by Minister Jennings in favour of compulsory fencing and access removal.
“I urge all affected landowners who feel aggrieved by these letters from the DSE to contact my office so that we can coordinate opposition to the proposal,” Mr Walsh said.

The Brumby Government’s environmental credentials are in tatters following its decision to loot environmental water from northern Victoria’s stressed river systems for the Yarra River.
Shadow Minister for Country Water Resources and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said the government’s decision to rob northern Victoria of environmental water was an act of lunacy.
“The government is taking 12 billion litres of water made through savings from the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline project and is using the north-south pipeline to send it to Melbourne,” Mr Walsh said.
“This water was promised to the Murray, Loddon and Campaspe rivers but the government has broken its word and taken it to Melbourne.
“Monday’s news reports let the cat out of the bag and the truth is the north-south pipeline is being used to deliver environmental flows to the Yarra.
“The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition supports environmental flows for the Yarra River, but we don’t believe they should be allocated at the expense of northern Victoria’s stressed river systems.”
Mr Walsh said John Brumby was treating northern Victorians with contempt.
“Labor is trying to cynically manipulate Victorians by spinning one story in Melbourne and another in regional Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.
“The government told food producers the pipeline was needed to secure Melbourne’s drinking supplies, yet in the city it has been telling voters that the pipeline has reduced water restrictions and boosted environmental flows.
“Boosting flows to the Yarra is no more than a political stunt to justify John Brumby’s decision to spend $750 million on building a giant white elephant.
“If there was any true environmental intent behind the government’s decision to return flows to the Yarra River, Labor would have ensured the water did not come at the expense of other, more stressed river systems.
“There is no environmental gain to be made from robbing heritage-listed rivers north of the divide simply to win votes in Melbourne,” Mr Walsh said.

Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh has welcomed the gazetting of the revised rules for taking days in lieu of Melbourne Cup Day with Councils now allocating their preferred days to fit in with community needs.
Councils such as Yarriambiack, Buloke and Gannawarra have all opted for public holidays on days which align with their local shows.
“It is significant that the enormous ground swell of public opinion that this issue created, was able to overturn the extremely short sighted and ill-informed decision made by the Brumby Government twelve months ago,” Mr Walsh said.
“The arrogance of this Government where there is a belief that decisions made to suit metropolitan areas are also suited to regional areas has taken another significant battering,” he said.
“It took considerable lobbying and action by Councils and members of the community for this logical point to be reached.
“The Government was told long before the initial misguided legislation was passed that a ‘one cap fits all’ ruling was inappropriate but that was ignored.
“It is very pleasing to see Councils now being able to select those days that best suit their communities for this public holiday.
“I look forward to seeing the success of our local shows in Murtoa on October 1, Kerang and Minyip on October 5, Rupanyup on October 6, Warracknabeal on October 7 and Wycheproof on October 20.
“It is appropriate that these days are now Public Holidays and with the rest of the community talking November 2, Melbourne Cup Day, the needs of everyone will now be met by these more considered arrangements,” Mr Walsh said.

The Nationals Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, is encouraging local individuals, groups and organisations to apply for funding through the 2009/10 Recreational Fishing Grants Program.
“Fishing is one of the most popular recreational activities in Victoria and this grants program is one way fishers in the Swan Hill electorate can get something back for the fees they pay every year,” Mr Walsh said.
Mr Walsh, also Shadow Minister for Agriculture, said the RFGP was designed to improve recreational fishing opportunities across the state with funding allocated via three programs.
“Applications to the Small Grants program can be submitted year-round for projects worth up to $5000,” he said. “Those with larger scale projects of up to $100,000 can submit an application to a second grants program which closes on May 31.”
Mr Walsh said applications for Large Grants were encouraged in, but not limited to, four categories:
• Sustainability and habitat improvement;
• Fishing access and facilities;
• Recreational fisheries research; and
• Recreational fisheries-related education, information and training.
Large priority projects, usually of more than $100,000, can be funded through the RFGP Commissioning Program.
“Funding through the RFGP is available to incorporated, statutory and co-operative bodies,” Mr Walsh said.
“However, an individual with a great idea can get their angling club, school, or any other incorporated body to support and submit their application.”
Mr Walsh said eligible projects would be funded from recreational Fishing Licence Trust Account revenue received this financial year.
“In past years, successful projects in northern Victoria have included fish restocking programs like returning Murray Cod and Golden Perch to Lake Boga and the Kerang Lakes, erecting signage and electronically tracking fish populations.”
For more information about the RFGP phone 9658 4779 or email rec.fishinggrants@dpi.vic.gov.au Copies of the program guidelines and application forms are available from www.dpi.vic.gov.au/fishing or by contacting Mr Walsh’s office at 274 Campbell Street, Swan Hill on 5032 3154.

South-eastern Australia is likely to face vegetable shortages later this year as plague locusts attack Victoria’s winter vegetable crops, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh has warned.
Mr Walsh said the Brumby Government had underestimated the locust plagues, axing funding for locust control in last year’s budget and arrogantly ignoring the Coalition’s calls for it to act early.
“If growers can’t stop the locusts from attacking their crops, there will be shortages of some vegetables later in the year,” Mr Walsh said.
“Carrot and potato growers in particular are reporting huge losses, while cereal growers are hesitant to sow crops when there’s a risk they will be decimated by locusts once they germinate.
“Warmer temperatures and northerly winds are also moving the locusts further south, threatening food production in central Victoria.
“Consumers will face higher prices because of the government’s failure to act on the plagues.”
Mr Walsh accused the Brumby Government of allowing the problem to get out of hand.
“Food producers are undertaking spraying at huge cost to try to control the locust plagues, while the government is handing out fliers,” Mr Walsh said.
“Growers are frustrated they received little warning of the impending plague, and to date have received little or no assistance from the Brumby Government.”
Mr Walsh said the Brumby Government had cut funding for locust control from last year’s budget, promising instead to address locust control in a biosecurity strategy.
“The implementation plan for that strategy is not due until July. Meanwhile locust plagues are wreaking havoc on crops in north-western Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.
“I asked Agriculture Minister Joe Helper to take action to control locusts in October when it became evident they were going to be a problem this season.
“The government’s response was to accuse the Coalition of ‘jumping the gun’ and ‘peddling mistruths’ in a media release.
“Instead of looking out the window at number one Spring Street, the Coalition actually took the time to understand what was happening on the ground in regional Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.

Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh said he was pleased to hear the lawyers for the Bushfires Royal Commission have joined with the Liberal Nationals Coalition in acknowledging the current Fire Services Levy (FSL) model is inequitable and should be changed.
“For a long time I have been calling for changes to the Fire Service Levy (FSL) and I welcome the Counsel Assisting’s submission to the Royal Commission today which states that the current FSL model should be abandoned,” Mr Walsh said.
Mr Walsh said the current FSL, which funded fire services including the Country Fire Authority, was grossly unfair in its current form because it encouraged people to under-insure or not insure at all.
“Only those who take out insurance actually contribute to fire services by way of an additional tax on insurance premiums,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Brumby Government has refused to act despite growing anger and frustration over the FSL expressed by businesses and home owners.
“The Brumby Government has known for years how unfair and inequitable the FSL is but it has done nothing – everyone except John Brumby acknowledges that his government’s Fire Services Levy is a tax.
“The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition in government is committed to implementing a fairer system than the one that currently stands,” Mr Walsh said.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh has hit out at John Brumby for continuing to ignore overwhelming evidence that prescribed burning needs to be increased in Victoria.
Mr Walsh said recommendations made to the Bushfires Royal Commission that prescribed burning be dramatically increased confirmed the Brumby Government was acting recklessly.
“Counsel Assisting the Bushfires Royal Commission has proposed the government set an annual prescribed burning target of between five per cent and 10 per cent of the available public land estate,” Mr Walsh said.
“This equates to a minimum of 385,000 hectares of public land, a figure which is supported by the Volunteer Fire Brigades Association and the Victorian Association of Forest Industries.”
Mr Walsh said given the outcome of last summer’s bushfires, he found it staggering the Brumby Government refused to consider the target. In a submission to the Bushfires Royal Commission the government stated:
‘… the State does not support a recommendation that nominates a minimum annual rate of 385,000 hectares of planned burning’ (Source: Submission on planned burning on behalf of the State of Victoria, p.2).
Mr Walsh said the recommendation before the Commission to increase prescribed burning bore a striking resemblance to those made to John Brumby months before Black Saturday.
“In June 2008, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee recommended the government triple prescribed burning to the levels now being proposed by Counsel Assisting,” Mr Walsh said.
“These recommendations, along with repeated warnings from other bodies, fell on deaf ears.
Labor refused to adopt the committee’s recommendation and in the following year set a target of just 130,000 hectares.”
Mr Walsh said Counsel Assisting had also backed the committee in its findings that staffing in the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) was inadequate
“Evidence before the Commission shows the number of full-time staff employed within the DSE to perform duties including planned burning has fallen from about 1,400 in the late 1980s to just 237,” Mr Walsh said.
“Of the 237 full-time staff employed, only about 180 are field staff who perform tasks on the ground.
“Despite repeated warnings, John Brumby has failed to address inadequate burning levels and staffing problems. This time he must adopt any recommendations put forward by the Bushfires Royal Commission,” Mr Walsh said.