Liberal Nationals Shadow Ministry changes

Friday 9 December 2016 The Liberal Nationals Coalition has today made changes to the Shadow Ministry following Russell Northe’s decision to stand aside from the Opposition frontbench. The Member for Lowan Emma Kealy joins the Shadow Cabinet with responsibility for Mental Health Senior Victorians and Consumer Affairs. The Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh assumes…

Second Reading – Climate Change Bill

Thursday 8 December 2016 Mr WALSH (Murray Plains) – I rise to make a contribution on the Climate Change Bill 2016. In starting off can I say that I think the member for Ivanhoe the Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment missed an opportunity to actually talk about his own government’s legislation. He seems fixated with the opposition. He…

Labor’s $277m secret water report

Wednesday 7 December 2016 Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford has refused to rule out reversing the north-south pipeline a project that would come at significant cost to farmers. A secret government report last week found reversing the north-south pipeline would cost $277 million require upgraded pumps and 14km of new pipes either under or over the…

Labor Targets Harvest For Vehicle Road Blitz

Wednesday 7th December 2016 Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh says the Andrews Labor Government is unfairly targeting farmers and harvest contractors in a blatant revenue raising exercise for the government. “Since the beginning of harvest local farmers and contractors have been targeted by “Operation Big Wheels” – a police…

Great Forest National Park

Wednesday 7 December 2016 Background A motion for a five-year moratorium on establishing national parks in Victoria’s Central Highlands was defeated in the Legislative Council today. The motion called for no new national parks to be established in the region including the Great Forest National Park until further work was done on the availability of…

First nectarines flown into China

Tuesday 6 December 2016 Swan Hill growers are among the first Victorian nectarines exported to Shanghai markets under new trade protocols Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh has said. The import protocols were finalised with the Chinese Government in May this year and were the first new industry opening for summerfruit in about two decades.…

Inquiry into Domestic Animals Amendment

Tuesday 6 December 2016 Background The Legislative Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee handed down the final report for the Inquiry into the Domestic Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms and Pet Shops) Bill 2016 today. Among 18 recommendations and one finding were: that consultation with relevant stakeholders in regard to this Bill was inadequate and that it…

Energy Assistance Grants Available for Businesses

Tuesday 6th December 2016 Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is encouraging eligible businesses across the Murray Plains electorate to apply for an Energy Assessment Grant. “Industry has made it absolutely clear that the responsibility of power price rises rests with the Andrews Labor Government and their damaging energy policies…

Labor Ignores Rail Passengers Beyond Bendigo

Thursday 1st December 2016 Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan  has shown complete disrespect to rail commuters on the Echuca Bendigo line with her announcement this week on additional services according to Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh. Mr Walsh said that the line is a vital link for specialist…