Over the weekend further announcements were made by both the state and federal governments regarding COVID-19. Some of these announcements caused confusion after the Victorian Government said all “non-essential” businesses would close. Yesterday that was amended to a narrow list of businesses under stage 1 restrictions. So what does that mean? STAGE 1 RESTRICTIONS The…
DetailsA damning report on the Andrews Labor Government’s botched handling of the Murray Basin Rail Project has found it has “not met scope, time, cost or quality expectations”. The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) released its report on freight rail projects in Victoria today, finding cost blowouts have left the Basin Rail barely half finished –…
DetailsDaniel Andrews won’t stand up for Victoria’s sustainable native timber industry, but the Liberal Nationals will. The Liberal Nationals have today introduced a motion to State Parliament to establish an inquiry into the Andrews Labor Government’s destructive plan to cut Victoria’s native timber industry and thousands of Victorian jobs. The inquiry would report back…
DetailsA transport subsidy scheme for volunteers who organised the delivery of desperately needed fodder to bushfire-affected farmers is over budget and out of money. It’s been revealed today the Andrews Labor Government allocated just $600,000 to the transport subsidy. After the scheme’s budget blew out to $1.8 million, volunteers were told on February 28 that…
DetailsDear Editor, Victorian households will bear the cost of the Andrews Labor Government’s move to go-it-alone on energy projects. Labor has made a mess of Victoria’s energy network, leaving us with an unreliable supply and sent prices skyrocketing. In a panicked attempt to paper over the cracks, Labor’s Energy Minister has introduced changes to State…
DetailsThe 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…
DetailsThe Andrews Labor Government will condemn Shepparton line passengers to the slow train for generations if it refuses to agree to a dedicated airport rail link. Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh and Deputy Leader of The Nationals Steph Ryan were in Shepparton today to call on Andrews to can Labor’s plan to do airport…
DetailsDaniel 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…
DetailsToday in State Parliament, Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan waxed lyrical about Labor’s rail projects in Melbourne while ignoring the elephant in the room – the once-in-a-generation Murray Basin Rail Project. The Andrews Labor Government has made an absolute mess of the Basin Rail project with it now out-of-money and stalled. Its future relies on…
DetailsDear 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…
DetailsCFA 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.…
DetailsThe Andrews Government has announced a drastically reduced 2020 duck hunting season today. Opening weekend will be on May 2, with a bag limit of three ducks per day and a modified length of five weeks. A full season runs for nearly 12 weeks from mid-March to mid-June with a bag limit of 10 ducks…
DetailsThe 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,…
DetailsAgriculture 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…
DetailsToday 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…
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