Media Releases

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh is encouraging Victorian Country Football League (VCFL) affiliated leagues, clubs, umpiring Groups and AFL Victorian Regional Structures to apply for funding now available through the WorkSafe Victorian Country Football League.
“The funding is designed to provide financial assistance to increase the promotion of football and to encourage and develop Aussie Rules footy within the VCFL jurisdiction,” Mr Walsh said.
Types of projects that are funded are:
• Computer purchases (maximum of $250 incl GST);
• Responsible serving of alcohol (rebate of 50% of course costs to a maximum of $50 per attendee);
• Junior Age Level 1 Coach Accreditation ($100 incl GST per attendee upon successful completion of course);
• Jumper purchase assistance (assists clubs that are changing leagues or forming new teams);
• Food handling course (rebate of 50% course costs to a maximum of $50 per attendee); and
• District Inter–League Games (maximum of $1375 per league).
“Country football leagues and clubs are an important link for rural communities,” he said.
“Many clubs throughout my electorate have had to deal with significant challenges in the lead up to and during the 2010 season and I congratulate these clubs for their determination and resilience.
“Country footy clubs work hard on fundraising activities throughout the season and these grants can go some way to assist in their day to day operations,” Mr Walsh said
Applications close on Thursday 30 September 2010.
Guidelines and application forms can be obtained via the VCFL website at www.vcfl.com.au and lodged with the North West VCFL Area Manager, Bruce Petering, 2/5Firebrace Street, Horsham 3400 Phone: 0439 474 114 Fax: 5382 7133 or email: bruce.petering@aflvic.com.au

The Brumby Government has buckled to pressure from Victorian farmers and the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition, agreeing today to amend regulations preventing helicopters from landing more than once in a farming zone without a permit.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said the changes, which will come into effect on Monday, represented an important win for farmers.
“I’m pleased the Brumby Government has finally seen sense on these ridiculous regulations,” Mr Walsh said.
“These onerous provisions have been an ongoing problem for local councils and those farmers who regularly use helicopters as part of their farming operations.
“It is unfortunate it took a storm of negative publicity and the threat of a locust plague to convince the government it needed to act.”
Mr Walsh said the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition had been forced to push the government every step of the way into undertaking adequate preparation for the impending locust plague.
“The government announced funding to deal with the locust threat only after the Coalition made repeated calls for it to enter into discussions with chemical manufacturers and provide full funding to farmers to ensure sufficient spray was available,” Mr Walsh said.
“Prior to that Agriculture Minister Joe Helper had barely acknowledged the problem, deriding the Coalition’s calls for action as ‘jumping the gun’ and ‘scaremongering’.
“It adopted the same approach when dealing with biodynamic and organic farmers who faced losing their hard-earned accreditations due to a shortage of bio-chemical sprays.
“The arrogant Brumby Government is prepared to ignore the problems facing the state’s farmers until there is a public outcry.
“Victorian farmers deserve a government that is concerned about their needs, rather than one which only reacts to stave off negative publicity,” Mr Walsh said.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh has acknowledged the magnificent work of Landcare volunteers throughout Victoria.
With groups around the state celebrating Landcare Week this week, Mr Walsh has urged the Brumby Government to show more support for the thousands of volunteers who protect and restore our natural environment.
“Landcare Week is a great opportunity to say thank you to the thousands of dedicated volunteers across Victoria who work to sustainably manage the state’s natural assets,” Mr Walsh said.
“The effects of drought, salinity, erosion and now the devastating effects of the floods across much of the state are regularly tackled by Landcare groups with outstanding results.”
Mr Walsh called on the Brumby Government to match the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition’s pledge to restore funding for Landcare co-ordinators.
“The work of Landcare volunteers has been severely hampered by Labor’s decision to axe funding for Landcare co-ordinators,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition has committed $12 million to fund up to 75 per cent of the salaries of 60 Landcare co-ordinators across Victoria.
“These co-ordinators will provide the expertise in project funding applications, project development and management, communication and administrative support the volunteers need to be able to carry out their vital work.
“The funding is in addition to the Coalition’s $1 billion Regional Growth Fund and will ensure the magnificent work carried out by Victorian Landcare volunteers will continue to benefit rural and regional Victoria for many years to come.”
Mr Walsh said the Brumby Government had given only half-hearted support to Landcare.
“The Brumby Government stood by and watched while Labor slashed Landcare support staff in Victoria from 140 in 2007-08 to 35 by the end of 2009,” Mr Walsh said.
“Labor must acknowledge the fantastic work of Landcare and its volunteers and give the organisation its full support,” Mr Walsh said.

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, has called for a review of flood warning protocols following major issues along the Loddon River during the recent flood event.
“It has been many years since we have had to deal with flooding along the Loddon River and there have been many changes to the landscape and to farming practices since the last major flood event,” Mr Walsh said today.
“As a result, we have now seen some glaring deficiencies in the warning protocols that have had serious implications for farmers along the Loddon River over the past few days.
“It is an opportune time for a complete debrief to be held in Serpentine involving all the relevant parties to ensure that issues that have arisen with this flood event are not duplicated in the future,” he said.
“Local landholders must have adequate warning of flooding details so that appropriate action can to be taken to protect stock and other assets.
“Whilst the details and the evidence of the impact of this flood are still fresh in our minds, it is vitally important that Goulburn Murray Water, the North Central Catchment Management Authority, the Loddon Shire, SES and local landholders meet to ensure that an appropriate warning system is put in place for the future.
“It is in everyone’s best interests to ensure that this debrief involving all relevant parties is organised immediately,” Mr Walsh said.
“I have contacted the Loddon Shire to ensure this debriefing takes place within the next month and I urge all concerned parties to attend once the date and venue are arranged,” he said.

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, said today grants of up to $300,000 are available under the new $2 million Significant Sporting Events Program.
“Funding is available to event organisers, state sporting associations, sporting venues and Local Government Authorities for sporting events held between October 2010 and June 2012 which demonstrate a strong regional significance,” Mr Walsh said.
“The event could be international or national championships, youth or masters events, or events for the disadvantaged or culturally diverse.”
Funding is available in two categories: support grants up to $50,000 with applications for the first round closing on September 30th 2010 and subsequent rounds closing on January 31st and May 31st 2011 and January 31st 2012; and event initiative funding of up to $300,000 to support existing or new events with applications ongoing until March 29th 2012.
Assessment criteria includes the extent to which the event responds to community needs and issues and enhances Victoria’s sporting landscape at a community, regional or statewide level; encourages innovative processes; consults with a variety of stakeholders and increases or maintains participation in sport and recreation.
Consideration is also given to the potential to attract people from interstate and overseas; and improved opportunity and access for groups who are traditionally disadvantaged, including people with disabilities, women, young people, older adults, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, indigenous people and the rurally isolated.
“We have some wonderful sporting facilities in rural and regional Victoria and I encourage sports event organisers to consider applying for the Significant Sporting Events grants.
“Participation in major sporting events is not only a healthy thing to do but gives participants an opportunity to compete at higher levels and provides a great spectacle for spectators,” Mr Walsh said.
Guidelines and application forms are available by phoning the Grants Information Line, 1300 366 356 and from the website www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au. Application forms are also available at Mr Walsh’s office at 274 Campbell St, Swan Hill, phone 5032 3154.

Member for Swan Hill, Peter Walsh, advises community sporting groups and recreational organisations that funding applications for phase one of the 2011 Country Action Grant Scheme are now open.
Mr Walsh said this phase of funding is available for projects between 1 January 2011 to 30 June 2011 and provides grants of up to $5,000 to assist sporting clubs in country areas.
Types of projects to be funded are:
a) Initiatives to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of organisations, including:
• Preparation of business plan;
• Development and policy and procedure manuals;
• Development of a club organisation website; and
• Establishment of a new organisation.
b) Initiatives to improve the skills of club members by providing training for coaches and officials, administration staff and management committee members including:
• Participation in courses (coaching or umpire accreditation, first aid etc); and
• Workshops for administrators and committee members in financial management, governance and information technology.
c) Initiatives to increase community participation by providing accessible sport and active recreation opportunities including:
• Morning sessions of sport or active recreation activity for older adults or young mothers;
• Promotional materials such as Koori-specific club information fliers or information in other languages; and
• Partnerships between local sports clubs and health centres or Access for All Abilities providers to offer programs to people of all abilities.
Applications for Phase one of the scheme for 2011 close on 30 September with more information available by calling the DPCD grants information line on 1300 366 356 or from their website at www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au.
Application forms are also available from Peter Walsh’s office at 274 Campbell St, Swan Hill, phone 5032 3154.

GOVERNMENT ADMITS IT HAS STOCKPILED GREEN GUARD WHILE ORGANIC FARMERS GO WITHOUT
Agriculture Minister Joe Helper has today admitted the Brumby Government has stockpiled the locust bio-insecticide known as Green Guard while up to 40 organic farms face a wait of up to eight weeks according to the Australian Plague Locust Commission.
Mr Helper, who has refused to speak publicly about the government’s stockpile, issued a media statement today admitting the government purchased all available Green Guard ahead of Victoria’s organic farmers who have been forced to wait for a delayed second batch.
Last week when Joe Helper told farmers they “must be ready to spray locusts after they hatch but before they fly, which gives most farmers no longer than a two-week period in which they need to take action”, the Minister already knew the government had the Green Guard monopoly and that farmers would not be able to purchase the product immediately.
Only after the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition raised the issue did the Minister confess “the Government has in stock adequate supplies of the product that we had earlier ordered to spray on public land” and that the Government would “ensure there would be enough Green Guard when needed”.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said this disorganised and incompetent approach was typical of the Brumby Government’s handling of the locust threat.
“We warned as far back as May a severe locust plague was imminent but the Premier and his Minister ignored expert advice to ensure sufficient supply was available for locust control in spring,” Mr Walsh said.
“While the government hoards supply, organic farmers have been put in a terrible position of either damaging their farms’ accreditation by spraying hatchings with whatever product they can access, or be responsible for hatchings that will have devastating impacts not only on their own crops, but neighbouring farms as well.
“The supplies of Green Guard ‘set aside’ by the Brumby Government must be immediately released to assist Victorian farmers in need,” Mr Walsh said.

Victoria’s Auditor-General has highlighted the poor health of farming families in a new report tabled in State Parliament yesterday.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said the Sustainable Farm Families Program report showed urgent government action was needed to improve rural health services.
“Drought and water scarcity are affecting the physical and mental health and wellbeing of farming families,” Mr Walsh said.
“Rural Victorians have higher rates of mortality, disease and health risk factors than their city counterparts and much poorer access to primary healthcare services.
“The Auditor-General has pointed out that farming families experience higher rates of illness, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and respiratory illness.
“The report also states that in some areas the suicide rate among farm workers is more than double that of the rest of the population.”
Mr Walsh said John Brumby had turned his back on rural health, leaving healthcare facilities in regional Victoria to fall by the wayside.
“Healthcare infrastructure across rural Victoria is crumbling because of John Brumby and Labor’s mismanagement. As a result, regional hospitals are struggling to recruit and retain staff,” Mr Walsh said.
“In a number of regional areas the population to GP ratio is more than double that of Melbourne while over a third of country doctors say they will not be in country Victoria in five years’ time.
“The Rural Doctors Association of Victoria has also warned of a major crisis in rural Victoria with labour shortages affecting all rural hospitals.
“The culture of self-reliance which causes fewer farming families to seek medical assistance is often born out of necessity because services are often not available.
“Until John Brumby addresses rural Victoria’s ageing health infrastructure, service delivery and patient care will continue to be compromised,” Mr Walsh said.

BIO-INSECTICIDE RUNS LOW ON SPRING DEADLINE
Victoria’s organic fruit and vegetable supply is under threat from a feared locust plague in the state’s north because bio-insecticide Green Guard has all but sold out and no new stock will be available until mid to late October.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said John Brumby had ignored expert advice to ensure sufficient supply was available to control locusts in spring.
“On the first day of the season, organic producers are desperate to find a product suitable for their properties,” Mr Walsh said.
“The Premier is arrogantly threatening that farmers will be prosecuted if they don’t spray locust hatchings, but many organic producers are finding that they can only access spray that will, in effect, destroy their farms’ accreditation and their livelihoods.”
Mr Walsh said the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition had warned the government months ago of the pending crisis.
“As usual, the government’s response was last minute and reliable supplies of control products have run dangerously low,” Mr Walsh said.
“John Brumby has failed to guarantee sufficient supplies of biological product and should now be outlining his plan to increase the availability of bio-insecticide for organic producers.
“Instead of funding supply for those on the ground trying to protect the state’s organic food supplies from the locust plague, the Premier has spent $2 million on a shameless self-promoting advertising campaign to tell farmers about a threat they are already well aware of.
“The Brumby Government is more focused on self-promotion and media spin than on controlling the impending locust disaster facing organic farmers,” Mr Walsh said.