Media Releases

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, today threw his support behind the Liberal Nationals announcement that if it wins the November election it will provide additional MICA paramedics and a single responder unit to Swan Hill as well as nine new MICA Single Responder Units in other parts of regional Victoria.
The Single Responder Units (SRUs) will deliver MICA care through a 24-hour roster, and will provide life-saving specialist-trained paramedics, significantly boosting ambulatory care in regional Victoria.
“Victorians living in regional areas will now have highly-trained paramedics available in their communities to provide much needed care during an emergency,” Mr Walsh said.
This announcement will provide ten SRU MICA paramedics across regional centres at a total capital cost, including specialised fit-out and equipment, of approximately $1 million.
Mr Walsh said this commitment follows Monday’s announcement of the biggest increase of ambulance staff in Victoria’s history. The Liberal Nationals’ plan provides for 310 new ambulance paramedics, 210 of which will be based in country Victoria, and an additional 30 patient transport officers allocated to country Victoria.
“John Brumby and his government have not planned for growth, and have failed to make the provisions required for stronger ambulance services that Victorians can rely on,” Mr Walsh said.
“Regional Victoria has pleaded with John Brumby to take action and fix the crisis in our ambulance service, yet he has ignored this.
“The Liberal Nationals’ commitment providing these extra these life-saving SRU’s will see highly-trained MICA paramedics operating in major regional centres throughout the state.
“Labor has had 11 years to fix the crisis in our ambulance service and for all those years, Victorians have heard nothing but excuses from this incompetent government.
“It’s time to take action and the Liberal Nationals will take it, because we are committed to rebuilding Victoria’s ambulance service,” Mr Walsh said.

Annual water bills will hit $1000 in the coming year as Victorian households are forced to pay for the Brumby Government’s failed water policies.
Shadow Minister for Country Water Resources and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said Victorians would start to feel the cost of Labor’s incompetence when new water charges took effect tomorrow.
“Victorians will pay an average of $133 extra on their annual water bill this year to pay for the Wonthaggi desalination plant and the failed north-south pipeline,” Mr Walsh said.
“Despite the price hike there will be no increase in concession rates, making families, pensioners and low-income earners particularly vulnerable.
“The government has failed Victorians by ignoring the need to plan for the state’s long-term water supplies during the 10 years prior to the water crisis.
“Consumers are now being slugged for the panicked, ill-conceived water projects Labor announced as a result of its long-term failure to plan.
“The cost of water is going to continue to rise as more money is needed to repay the billions spent on the north-south pipeline and the Wonthaggi desalination plant.”
Mr Walsh said water customers would foot the bill for almost 90 per cent of the more than $5 billion the government promised to spend on water.
“Not surprisingly, John Brumby has made little mention of the fact that water customers are the ones paying for these projects,” Mr Walsh said.
“Worse still the Brumby Government doesn’t care that it has wasted $750 million on the north-south pipeline when it isn’t even needed.
“For months Melbourne has had enough water stored to last well beyond the completion of the Wonthaggi desalination plant.
“But Labor is using the pipeline to take water from drought-stricken food producing communities so it can reduce Melbourne’s water restrictions before the November election.
“Water customers are being forced to pay higher prices so John Brumby can promote his ‘action man’ image,” Mr Walsh said.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh has called for local government to be given greater support to implement the Brumby Government’s new dog laws.
Mr Walsh said the Domestic Animals Amendment (Dangerous Dogs) Bill being debated in Parliament required councils to take a greater role in ensuring streets and homes were safe from wandering and dangerous dogs.
“Councils already bear the burden of enforcing companion dog laws including registration and the employment of authorised officers and rangers,” Mr Walsh said.
“This is another responsibility the Brumby Government has foisted onto local councils and it brings to the fore a need for councils to be given greater support and for dog owners to take greater responsibility.
“More than 40 per cent of dogs are unregistered and an average of six dog attacks are reported every day in Victoria.”
Mr Walsh said he was concerned the legislation would further strain already-stretched councils by handballing more responsibility to local government.
“Existing laws require registration and micro chipping of pet dogs but many councils aren’t sufficiently resourced to enforce these new laws as well,” Mr Walsh said.
“The responsibility will fall on local government to employ the authorised officers and rangers needed to make sure dogs are registered.
“The legislation will also place greater onus on owners of some breeds to register them as dangerous, menacing or restricted breeds.
“Research by Monash University’s Victorian Injuries Surveillance Unit suggests that dog attacks occur more frequently by unregistered dogs.
“Pet owners need to make sure not just that their dogs are compliant with registration requirements but that they receive proper training and care,” Mr Walsh said.

The Brumby Government’s arrogance is jeopardising Commonwealth funding for the Food Bowl Modernisation Project (FBMP), Shadow Minister for Country Water Resources and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said today.
The Victorian Parliament’s Upper House voted again this afternoon to disallow a third water order to create a bulk entitlement to allow Melbourne’s water authorities to take water down the north-south pipeline.
Mr Walsh said the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition had blocked the government’s attempts to amend the bulk entitlement order because it broke key promises John Brumby made to food producers, the environment and communities in northern Victoria.
“The Brumby Government is placing Commonwealth funding for Stage 2 of the Food Bowl Modernisation Project at risk by refusing to honour its original promises,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Coalition is simply asking that the commitments John Brumby gave to food producers and the environment are reflected in the wording of a future bulk entitlement.
“The Brumby Government promised food producers water savings from the second stage of the project would be shared equally between irrigators and the environment.
“If John Brumby truly intends to share these savings equally, he wouldn’t be opposed to ensuring that his promise was explicitly reflected in the bulk entitlement.
“The disallowed order instead stated water from the second stage of the FBMP would be shared ‘having regard to any agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia that applies to these savings’.
“The Brumby Government’s refusal to close this loophole gives food producers every justification for thinking Labor has done a secret backroom deal with the Rudd Government.”
Mr Walsh said when Labor announced the north-south pipeline in 2007 it promised it would put in place ‘safeguards’ to protect northern Victoria’s interests, including a commitment it would only pump water to Melbourne during the irrigation season.
“In May Melbourne Water said the pipeline was ‘scheduled to shut down each year during the non-irrigation period that normally falls between 15 May and 15 August’,” Mr Walsh said.
“The order instead states that Melbourne’s water authorities ‘may use the available water resources at any time’.
“The Brumby Government keeps shifting the goal posts. We have said it before and we will say it again: we will not stand by while John Brumby continually breaks promises to northern Victorian communities,” Mr Walsh said.

The next round of applications for sporting uniform grants opened on June 21 and Member for Swan Hill Peter Walsh is encouraging all relevant groups to consider submitting applications.
Grants are available for the purchase of sporting uniforms and footwear that are essential for participation in sport including such things as jumpers, shirts, skirts, boots, socks and bathers.
The cost of participation in many sports is getting beyond the means of participants and these uniform grants provide an opportunity for clubs and organisations to reduce this cost.
Grants of up to $1000 are available with the latest round of applications being accepted between June 21 and July 30.
The preferred method of application is online at www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au however applications can be emailed, faxed or mailed to the Grants Unit.
More information can be found on the grants website or by phoning 1300 366 356.
Hard copies of the applications are also available from Peter Walsh’s office at 274 Campbell St Swan Hill or by phoning him on 5032 3154.

64 AND COUNTING – ANOTHER LAME IMITATION OF COALITION POLICY BY LABOR
The Brumby Government cannot be trusted to deliver on Landcare, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said today.
Mr Walsh said Environment Minister Gavin Jennings had a terribly poor memory after deriding the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition’s $12 million commitment to the volunteer conservation group as a ‘bogus environmental election pledge’.
“Labor’s latest adopted policy has left Gavin Jennings embarrassingly red faced,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Minister went on a shrill smear campaign last month in an attempt to discredit the Coalition’s $12 million commitment to Landcare.
“At the time Gavin Jennings accused the Coalition of ‘dodgy costings’ which he said had a ‘funding black hole of $12 million’ and would ‘pay only half-wages or less’.
“Embarrassingly, he today announced a $9.9 million package that falls more than $2 million short of our commitment.
“The Minister expects that funding, which by his calculations is $14 million short of what is needed, not just to guarantee those co-ordinator positions, but also to attract new volunteers and increase participation.”
Mr Walsh said the Coalition had announced it would provide $12 million to fund up to 75 per cent of the salaries of 60 Landcare co-ordinators across Victoria, after the Rudd Government slashed the organisation’s funding.
“The role of Landcare co-ordinators in providing expertise in project funding applications, advice on project development and support for groups in management, communication and administration is vital,” Mr Walsh said.
“Unlike Labor which has promised to fund Landcare out of regional development funds, our commitment is in addition to the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund we will establish if elected.”
Mr Walsh said the Brumby Government’s record on Landcare spoke for itself.
“John Brumby stood by and did nothing while Labor slashed the number of Landcare support staff in Victoria from more than 140 in 2007-2008 to just 35 at the end of last year,” Mr Walsh said.
“Today’s promise is nothing but a hollow grab for votes and one John Brumby cannot be trusted to deliver.
“The Coalition’s pledge is a fully costed, long-term commitment which recognises the value of these Landcare positions,” Mr Walsh said.

Coliban Water customers are footing the bill for the Brumby Government’s incompetence, Shadow Minister for Country Water Resources and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said today.
Mr Walsh said the Essential Services Commission had approved a further 14 per cent increase in the price of water for central customers and 8.3 per cent for northern customers of Coliban Water.
“Residents have reduced their water consumption only to be stung with an increase of more than $300 from 2007-08 to 2010-11 in the central region and $190 in the northern region during the same period because of the Brumby Government’s water mismanagement,” Mr Walsh said.
“Labor has collected about $340 billion in revenue over the past 11 years, yet for most of that time it has failed to address the state’s water needs.
“Now Coliban customers will fork out another $7.3 million over the next three years, on top of the huge price increases they were slugged with in 2008, to pay for Labor’s failure and incompetence.
“Labor’s long-term failure to increase the capacity of the state’s water supplies forced the implementation of arbitrary water restrictions and left Coliban in a weak financial position.”
Mr Walsh said the soaring price of water would add to the financial pressure already faced by families, low income earners and seniors.
“Bendigo, Castlemaine and Kyneton customers using 170 kilolitres of water each year can expect a water bill next year of almost $900, with further increases in the next few years.
“Customers in the northern zone, including Echuca and Leitchville, using the same amount face a yearly bill of about $740.
“One of the reasons cited for the cost increase in the northern zone was the outbreak of blue-green algae in the Murray River system.
“Coliban has been forced to cart water to many smaller towns, either because they have run out of water or because their town supply is not safe to drink because of blue-green algal blooms.
“Its customers are effectively paying to fund Labor’s appalling decision to loot the environmental water reserve held in Lake Eildon – water which is traditionally set aside to flush the river in the event of a blue-green algae outbreak but was sent to Melbourne this year with the north-south pipeline online,” Mr Walsh said.

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, has accused the Labor Government of either being extremely loose with the truth or totally ignorant of what is said in Parliament.
“The Liberal Nationals recently announced Regional Growth Fund of $1 billion is in addition to existing funding and this was clearly stated this in Parliament,” Mr Walsh said.
“Hansard, the parliamentary record of all that is said in Parliament, quotes Nationals Leader Peter Ryan saying three times that the Fund is additional money.
“However, to suit her own needs, Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan has sent letters out to rural newspapers that are blatantly incorrect claiming the funding was not extra money.
“This typical Labor spin of only hearing what they want to hear shows just how out of touch the Brumby Government is with the Victorian electorate.
“We now have Labor’s so-called Blueprint for Regional Victoria which, aside from clearly not listening to the advice of regional and rural communities, includes funding that forms a normal part of core government expenditure,” Mr Walsh said.
“As an attempt to rebadge core government spending as new initiatives this Blueprint and Labor’s extremely loose use of what has been said in Parliament depicts a desperate and out of touch Government who will say and do anything to get re-elected.
“The Liberal Nationals have produced a very clear and detailed plan to support regional and rural Victoria.
“Labor’s mishmash of funding priorities contains no long-term plan for regional Victoria and, as such, overlooks major areas of disadvantage including healthcare services, early learning facilities and higher education opportunities for regional students.
“This cynical and manipulative attempt to mislead voters by Premier Brumby indicates his contempt for Victorians and is just another embarrassment for this Labor Government,” Mr Walsh said.

Grants of up to $50,000 are available from the Department of Planning and Community Development to assist in the establishment of Men’s Sheds which support men’s participation and volunteering in their community.
Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, is encouraging groups considering establishing or upgrading a men’s shed in their community to take advantage of this grant.
“These sheds provide spaces for men to become involved in their communities in a meaningful and positive manner and help to reduce isolation encouraging social interaction for men,” Mr Walsh said.
“Since first being established these Men’s Sheds have been instrumental in assisting older men to realise their value to their communities and assisted them in maintaining their health and well-being.
“I encourage interested groups to liaise with their local Government Authority or other relevant organisation to take advantage of this grant offer and submit an application,” he said.
Further information and application forms are available from the website www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au or by contacting Mr Walsh’s office at 274 Campbell St Swan Hill or phone 5032 3154.

Women’s Leadership Grants provide funding for projects and activities that develop capacity and increase opportunities for women to participate in leadership roles.
As a result, Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, sees these Grants as being vitally important pathways for regional and rural women to gain and develop skills to increase their participation in decision making both within and beyond their communities.
“Far too often women from regional and rural areas are deprived of the opportunity to access these sorts of initiatives due to isolation and remoteness issues,” Mr Walsh said.
“These grants of up to $20,000 are invaluable in opening up opportunities for leadership development and I encourage organisations to look closely at the guidelines for the grants and submit applications.
“Eligible projects will provide ongoing benefits both to individuals and the broader community and I fully support the Grants Program,” he said.
Application and guidelines can be accessed from the website www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au
or by contacting Mr Walsh’s office at 274 Campbell St Swan Hill phone 5032 3154.