Overdue grants, no workers: Labor’s plan to fix seasonal worker shortage

Farmers are still falling victim to the Andrews Labor Government’s fundamental misunderstanding of Victoria’s $15.9 billion agriculture sector. Labor’s Agriculture Minister claimed that government grants announced today will build accommodation to “support this season’s harvest workers”. But Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said this year’s harvest was over for many farmers and well underway…

Details

Get on-board the school bus inquiry

The Nationals Leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, is encouraging everyone in rural and regional Victoria to participate in a new public inquiry into the use of school buses by the wider community. Mr Walsh said the Legislative Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee inquiry is focused on whether the use of school buses…

Details

LETTER TO THE EDITOR – Re Small Business Support

Dear Editor, Hundreds and thousands of small businesses that were caught up in the Labor Government’s snap five-day lockdown, are completely ineligible for any support. But while Daniel Andrews won’t support small business, he’s spent more than $700,000 of taxpayers’ money buying himself likes on Facebook. There are 300 small business owners scrambling to repay…

Details

Labor’s promised COVID-19 support fails to materialise

The Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, wants to hear from local businesses who have been denied, or are still waiting for, Victorian Government COVID-19 support grants. Mr Walsh said despite Daniel Andrews and the Labor Government spruiking businesses recovery support, desperately needed as a result of lockdowns and restrictions, the majority…

Details

Energy unfairness pain

A high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Victoria are facing imminent disconnection from their electricity. The Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria (EWOV) found that more than 1 in 10 of their Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander customers were facing looming disconnection. That figure is closely followed by those who have actually been…

Details

Picker grants barking up the wrong tree, growers say

Victorian farmers are questioning the value of relocation grants announced by the Andrews Labor Government, as many still struggle to attract seasonal workers. With table grape harvest underway, the peak body representing growers has today said the grant schemes on offer don’t appear to be working. Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh said the Andrews…

Details

Regional Victorians still in a State of Uncertainty

Regional Victorians won’t be spared the emotional, social and financial pain of future lockdowns, even if cases are confined to Melbourne. Crossbench MP Fiona Patten, who recently formed a ‘Coalition’ with Mildura MP Ali Cupper, has claimed the Government agreed to make concessions in exchange for support on its nine-month State of Emergency extension, including…

Details

Join the fight against Daniel Andrews’ nine-month power grab

A new campaign is seeking feedback on the Andrews Labor Government’s move to extend its power over the lives and livelihoods of every Victorian for the rest of 2021. The State of Emergency powers give Daniel Andrews authority to make far-reaching decisions, including enforcing snap lockdowns, spending taxpayer dollars without oversight of the Parliament and…

Details

Manure regulations are just a load of crap says Liberal Nationals

Any move to reclassify sheep, cow and chicken manure as industrial waste will bog Victorian farmers down in more unnecessary green tape. Proposed Environment Protection Authority (EPA) determinations, which would come into effect on July 1, state “manures arising from commercial, industrial or trade activities are industrial waste”. Classifying animal manure as industrial waste would…

Details