Labor puts Murray Basin Rail on the back-burner

5 June 2015 As weeks turn into months without any sign of a business case it is becoming clear that the Andrews Labor Government is in no hurry to complete the vital Murray Basin Rail Project. Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said farmers and rural communities remained in the…

Details

Melbourne Labor Gov Neglect of CFA Volunteers

4 June 2015   State Member for Murray Plains and Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh has expressed his strong support to volunteer fire fighters to ensure they remain on the board of the Country Fire Authority (CFA). This follows the United Firefighter’s Union (UFU) submission to a parliamentary inquiry recommending the removal of volunteer…

Details

Nominations Open for Aboriginal Honour Roll

3 June 2015 Member for Murray Plains and Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh has called for nominations for the 2015 Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll. “The Honour Roll recognizes Aboriginal people who have made a real and lasting contribution to their communities and to Victoria “  Mr Walsh said The Echuca aboriginal community has strength…

Details

Big Increase in FSL

 3 June 2015 Home owners businesses and farmers will face large increases in their property based Fire Services Levy (FSL) as a direct result of the Labor State Budget. Member for Murray Plains and Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said the Andrews Melbourne Labor Government outlined a huge 7.2 per cent increase in FSL…

Details

No money no targets no vision for agriculture

19 May 2015 The Andrews Labor Government has again shown its lack of vision and lack of understanding when it comes to Victorian agriculture. Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford faced the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) yesterday afternoon. During the hearing it emerged that the government: Has cut the agriculture output budget by 11.9 per…

Details

Walsh urges Labor to put ice funding into Echuca

Member for Murray Plains and Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh has urged the Melbourne Labor Government to fund specific services into Echuca to combat the impact of ice amphetamine on our community. The Andrews Government announced its Ice Action Plan of $45.5m on 4th March 2015 and Mr Walsh is asking that funding be…

Details

Andrews must commit to full Murray Basin Rail Project

The Murray Basin Rail Project offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to repair and standardise freight rail lines across northern and western Victoria which Daniel Andrews must not waste. Following the sale of Rural Finance Corporation for approximately $400 million the Coalition set aside $220 million of those funds for the Murray Basin Rail Project in the…

Details

Nationals State Conference this weekend

14 May 2015 The Nationals State Conference is on in Echuca this weekend with key leaders including Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss Leader of the Victorian Nationals Peter Walsh Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and Assistant Health Minister Fiona Nash all attending. Mr Truss will deliver the keynote speech at a dinner on Friday night…

Details

Wild dog control off Andrews’ agenda

12 May 2015 The Melbourne Labor Government has quickly shown its lack of interest and understanding of rural and regional Victoria by cutting both the wild dog bounty and aerial baiting program in its first State Budget. Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said the government was solely focused on political outcomes in Melbourne at…

Details

Andrews abandons regional Victorians

11 May 2015 Rural and regional Victoria will share in just 2.9 per cent of the major projects promised in Daniel Andrews’ first State Budget. Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said when you compared the major projects being promised for Melbourne with the number for rural and regional Victoria the result was concerning. “If…

Details

State budget fails regional Victoria

5 May 2015 At a glance: Agriculture output budget – cut by 12 per cent (Budget Paper 3 p123) Regional development output budget – cut by 24 per cent (BP3 p123) Trade output budget – cut by 61.5 per cent (BP3 p123) Regional Expo – cut (BP3 p355) Road asset management budget – cut by…

Details

Andrews must commit to Murray Basin Rail Project

30 April 2015 The Murray Basin Rail Project offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to repair and standardise freight rail lines across northern and western Victoria which Daniel Andrews must not waste. Following the sale of Rural Finance Corporation for approximately $400 million the Coalition set aside $220 million of those funds for the Murray Basin Rail Project in the 2014/15 Budget.…

Details