The time has come to guarantee a positive way forward for regional Victorian communities that have been crippled by 18 months of uncertainty and lockdown. Vaccination rates in regional Victoria already far exceed those in Melbourne, with 55.64 per cent of the community now fully vaccinated – compared to 47.2 per cent in metropolitan Melbourne.…
DetailsNew official data on the performance of Victoria’s major projects has slammed poorly managed upgrades to north-west Victoria’s freight rail network that are now five years overdue. According to the Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO), the Murray Basin Rail Project, which originally planned to deliver transformational upgrades to freight lines including Mildura, Sea Lake and Manangatang,…
DetailsThe Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, is calling for the immediate delivery of a $10 million fund to get community sport back on its feet. Mr Walsh said after “seemingly endless” yo-yo lockdowns, grassroots sporting clubs across regional Victoria have suffered 18 months of cancellations, ripping the soul out of much-loved…
DetailsMildura and Victoria’s border communities the length of the Murray River will be the losers of this year’s Grand Final, as low patron caps continue to squeeze the life out of the region’s hospitality sector. Venues in Mildura will be allowed a total of just 30 patrons for Saturday night’s Grand Final decider, while…
DetailsThe Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says the grand final loser has already been decided – border communities the length of the Murray. Mr Walsh said when the game starts; the three Moama clubs will be able to cater for a combined maximum of 1250 patrons. In Echuca, he said, the…
DetailsLamb, pork and other Christmas meats will be in short supply if the Andrews Labor Government doesn’t immediately work with industry to deliver a pathway back to full workforce capacity. The Premier slapped metro processors with a 20 per cent reduction in workforce capacity last month, which is expected to weigh heaviest through peak periods…
DetailsDear Editor, A move to use limited lockdowns, by LGA, gives some long overdue relief and certainty to regional Victorian families, businesses and communities. Although it doesn’t make it any easier for those of us who still find ourselves in lockdown today, there was some relief last week when the Andrews Labor Government finally moved…
DetailsThe Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says if 70 per cent or 80 per cent vaccination is the Andrews Labor Government’s get out of jail free benchmark then regional Victoria is good to go – now. Mr Walsh said as usual, regional Victoria is leading the way, showing the Andrews Labor…
DetailsThe Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says regional Victorian students – especially those at smaller schools – will be left at a significant disadvantage under the Andrews Labor Government’s staggered return to school plan. Mr Walsh said The Nationals raised the issue from the floor of the Parliament this week, explaining…
DetailsNews today the Victorian Ombudsman will launch an investigation into the Andrews Labor Government’s botched border permit scheme is a victory for everyday Victorians. Bungled interstate border closures have separated families for months and left thousands of older Victorians exiled at makeshift hubs along the NSW border. Since July 9 this year, the Victorian Ombudsman…
DetailsRegional communities’ desperate pleas to limit the catastrophic impact of lockdowns have been heard at long last, with the Andrews Labor Government finally taking a limited approach to lockdown. Today’s decision to put the City of Ballarat into a seven-day lockdown is not the news any Victorian wanted to hear, but there are families and…
DetailsThe Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, said the Victorian Liberal Nationals today announced a positive plan to get students back in classrooms across the state. Mr Walsh said under the Andrews Labor Government’s six yo-yo lockdowns, some Victorian students have lost more than 150 days of face-to-face learning. He said this…
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