JobKeeper payments must be exempt from payroll tax

Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is calling for the Federal Government’s $1500-a-fortnight JobKeeper payments to be exempt from Victoria’s payroll tax. The unprecedented package from the Federal Government is a boost for the small businesses and workers most hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. But Mr Walsh said without changes to existing Victorian law,…

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Victoria exposed to disease risk unless ag scientist job cuts are reversed

The Andrews Government must reverse its unexpected decision to close the Victorian Pig Services Centre (VPSC) – the industry’s frontline defence against devastating disease outbreaks. The Victorian Government blindsided our pork producers with the sudden closure of the Bendigo Centre on March 27 – without consultation with producers, the Victorian Farmers Federation or the national…

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Liberal Nationals call for transparency on COVID-19 response

A Joint House Committee of the Victorian Parliament should be established to ensure oversight on Victoria’s response to COVID-19 while parliamentary sittings are on indefinite hold. To save lives we will need to continue to take unprecedented action to combat the spread of COVID-19. But, like all government initiatives, these decisions should not be taken…

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Priority testing for food supply chain businesses

Food supply chain businesses will be relieved the State Government has finally come out to confirm our agriculture sector is an essential service. Farmers, food processors and businesses critical to making sure our supermarket shelves remain fully stocked have been desperate for clarification since Stage 1 restrictions to combat COVID-19 were announced more than a…

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Locals urged to look out for each other

Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is encouraging community members to look after their mental health and take the time to check in with loved ones and neighbours as work continues to combat the spread of COVID-19. Mr Walsh said there were measures we could all take to ensure our own wellbeing as our community…

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Use local workers to expand emergency care packs

Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has called on the Andrews Government to prioritise local people in the making of emergency care packs to assist those isolating as a result of COVID-19. Mr Walsh is also calling for an expansion of the care packs which are presently only being distributed…

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Bushfire-affected farmers billed for fence subsidies

The Liberal Nationals are calling on the Andrews Government to explain why it’s billing bushfire-affected farmers for the GST paid on government subsidies that funded the replacement of fencing destroyed in fires in East Gippsland and north-east Victoria. Bushfire-affected farmers could access a subsidy of up to $75,000 from the Department of Environment, Land, Water…

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Labor’s botched Basin Rail a “missed opportunity”: VAGO

A 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 –…

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Liberal Nationals move to establish inquiry into timber ban

  Daniel 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…

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Andrews backtracks on subsidy for bushfire hay run volunteers

A 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…

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