Victorian farmers’ hopes of a record-breaking harvest are at risk while COVID restrictions continue to wreak havoc with availability of farm labourers. Worker shortages across the industry, including horticulture, grains, wool production and meat processing, have left farmers and farm businesses fearing the loss of this season’s food and fibre. With the Federal Liberal and…
Farmers are furious at being shut out of the Andrews Labor Government’s bungled attempts to deliver a pre-election promise to open more sites for riverfront camping in Victoria. Community backlash forced Labor to backtrack from its original promise to open 17,000km of river front land to campers, to instead trial the changes at 27 sites,…
The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, has responded to calls to clarify the upgraded mobile phone coverage for Woorinen South. Mr Walsh said this week’s announcement the town – caught in one of regional Victoria’s most notorious blackspots – would be getting a small cell 4G station to solve its communication…
Daniel Andrews is refusing to sign off on an extension to a seasonal worker deal with Tasmania, as workforce shortages leave Victorian farmers facing ploughing millions of dollars of fresh produce into the ground. Farmers have been calling for immediate action to solve the shortage for more than 12 months, but Victoria has done little…
Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said people power has been heard – and will be heard much more clearly – with news Woorinen South is finally going to get its own mobile phone tower. It will finally mean a reliable mobile phone coverage for 2650 homes and businesses in the area. Mr Walsh said…
The Andrews Labor Government has muddied the waters with its mixed messages on whether 80 per cent vaccination rates will lead Victoria out of lockdown. Vaccination rates in the Shepparton region have reached 30.8 per cent of people aged over 15 fully vaccinated, while 55.1 per cent of people have at least received their first…
The Andrews Labor Government has run out of excuses to delay fixing Victoria’s farm worker shortage, after the Federal Government today confirmed details of Australia’s ag visa program. The Federal Liberal and Nationals Government announced plans for the ag visa in June as part of the UK Free Trade Agreement. It was confirmed today the…
The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says confirmation vaccination rates in Victoria have fallen significantly behind NSW must be immediately addressed by the Andrews Labor Government. Mr Walsh says at current uptakes rates, Victoria will not reach National Cabinet’s key 70 per cent vaccination target until September 29 – more than…
The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, said the Andrews Labor Government’ own infrastructure advisory panel has highlighted Labor has no plan for regional road maintenance to ensure taxpayers are getting the biggest bang for their bucks. Mr Walsh said infrastructure Victoria’s 30-year strategy says the current road maintenance funding model is…
Victoria’s agricultural shows and field days are desperate for a financial lifeline to ensure their survival into next year as COVID uncertainty continues to force more cancellations. Shows at Maffra, Colac, Cobram, Nhill, Warracknabeal, Sunbury and Berrigan are among those to cancel the 2021 events, with more expected to follow. Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter…
