The dire financial plight of local councils has been laid bare in a Parliamentary Inquiry. Councils are being hit by a lack of funding and cost-shifting under the Allan Labor Government and finding it increasingly difficult to balance their books. Taxes have soared, yet local councils are receiving a smaller slice of the…
DetailsThe Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, is signalling the need for an administrator to be appointed at Njernda Aboriginal Corporation. Mr Walsh says he has been sent a petition signed by more than 100 members of Njernda demanding an extraordinary general meeting of the corporation “so they can find out…
DetailsLeader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says local sporting clubs must get on board with the latest round of funding available through the Sporting Club Grants Program. Mr Walsh says grants of as much as $5000 are available to support community clubs at the grassroots level. And he…
DetailsDear Editor, The death of a man in suburban Melbourne who died after waiting four hours for an ambulance is a tragic reminder our health system is in disarray. Regional Victorians are not immune, and in even more danger, given the distances often involved to receive emergency treatment. Ambulance shortages and exhausted…
DetailsRegional Victorians are missing out and the Allan Labor Government has no answers as it blindly ploughs ahead with its controversial $200 billion Suburban Rail Loop. In Question Time, Labor has again refused to explain why regional Victorians receive just over 10 per cent of government infrastructure spend despite being home to 25 per…
DetailsThe Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, says Premier Jacinta Allan has descended to gaslighting the people of Victoria. Mr Walsh says the Premier’s insanely blind push to shut down gas supplies to every home in the state is now colliding with reality. A reality he says is proving what…
DetailsDear Editor, Another week, another Allan Labor Government sidestep and back pedal – this time on gas. Premier Allan’s latest U-turn is another example of the Labor Government’s chaos and mismanagement. The Premier implemented unrealistic renewables targets, shut off gas in favour of electricity, but has now realised gas is critical…
DetailsThe Allan Labor Government has come under fire for a blatant cash grab, with revelations it siphoned off nine per cent of a $2 million federal blackspot grant intended for a state and local council road intersection project. Despite refusing to contribute any state funding or take responsibility for managing the project in Mansfield…
DetailsDear Editor, Our $200 million Glasgow gift is deeply embarrassing. That huge sum, paid by Victorians to run our own cancelled Commonwealth Games in Scotland, is a massive slap in the face amid a cost-of-living crisis. Imagine how that $200 million could have been spent in regional Victoria. It could have…
DetailsPremier Jacinta Allan has delivered another hammer blow to producers and regional communities, refusing to reverse a March decision to strip them of their right to appeal. Producers impacted by renewable energy projects can no longer turn to VCAT, the equivalent of the third umpire, for justice amid fast-tracked solar, wind turbines, batteries and…
DetailsDear Editor, The split between the Allan Labor Government and regional Victoria is real. With hundreds taking their anger to the streets in Premier Allan’s backyard, Bendigo, the frustration grows as communities are sick and tired of being treated as second-class citizens. This anger was echoed at the Bendigo Bush Summit, where…
DetailsA parliamentary inquiry has uncovered allegations the Allan Labor Government held over millions in local council grants to prop up its own balance sheet. One large regional council told the Inquiry into Local Government Funding and Services it was left with a $14 million “hole” because the state government did not follow usual convention…
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