Liberal Nationals call on Andrews to intervene at SPC

The Victorian Liberal Nationals are calling on Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews to immediately intervene to stop the proposed industrial action at SPC Ardmona’s Shepparton factory in the interest of Australia’s national food security during the coronavirus pandemic. SPC Ardmona is Australia’s leading fruit, tomato, baked beans and spaghetti processing, packaging and canning company, with operations…

Andrews turns his back on bushfire-affected farmers

Daniel Andrews has turned his back on bushfire-affected farmers and the Victorians who generously transported hay to feed hungry livestock in East Gippsland and north east Victoria. Under questioning in State Parliament today, Andrews failed to explain why his Labor Government has failed to allocate enough money to its promised fodder transport subsidy. But Andrews…

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor, A plan to lock up more of our state forests threatens the future of timber harvesting, hunting, prospecting, horse riding, camping and 4WDing in Victoria’s central west. The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s (VEAC) Central West investigation recommended locking up vast areas of Mount Cole, Wombat and Wellsford state forests and in the Pyrenees…

Country CFA stations desperate for funding

CFA brigades across Murray Plains are concerned about their future firefighting capabilities if the Andrews Government doesn’t act to provide funding to upgrade their stations and equipment. Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has been supporting calls from CFA brigades in Leitchville and Rochester for funds to upgrade local sheds that are no longer fit-for-purpose.…

Dedicated fund needed to support bushfire recovery

The bushfires that ripped through north-east Victoria and East Gippsland have had a catastrophic impact on local communities. The mammoth task of cleaning up homes and sheds that were destroyed and replacing fencing and farm infrastructure will take years. A dedicated fund is required to ensure the rebuilding needs of local communities are met. Today,…

Ag scientist jobs on the chopping block

Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes has failed to guarantee the job security of soil scientists at AgriBio and groundwater and salinity research staff in Bendigo. Today in Question Time, Minister Symes dodged questions about the rumoured jobs cuts from Agriculture Victoria. The Minister’s refusal of ongoing support to these important functions is risking Victoria’s ability to…

Fuel reduction saves lives

Today the “Fuel Reduction Saves Lives” campaign calling for increased fuel reduction on public land was launched at State Parliament. The Leader of the Nationals, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Peter Walsh and Shadow Assistant Minister for Public Land Use, Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath and the Bush Users Group United (BUGU) launched the…