Today in State Parliament, Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan waxed lyrical about Labor’s rail projects in Melbourne while ignoring the elephant in the room – the once-in-a-generation Murray Basin Rail Project. The Andrews Labor Government has made an absolute mess of the Basin Rail project with it now out-of-money and stalled. Its future relies on…
DetailsDear Editor, A plan to lock up more of our state forests threatens the future of timber harvesting, hunting, prospecting, horse riding, camping and 4WDing in Victoria’s central west. The Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s (VEAC) Central West investigation recommended locking up vast areas of Mount Cole, Wombat and Wellsford state forests and in the Pyrenees…
DetailsCFA brigades across Murray Plains are concerned about their future firefighting capabilities if the Andrews Government doesn’t act to provide funding to upgrade their stations and equipment. Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has been supporting calls from CFA brigades in Leitchville and Rochester for funds to upgrade local sheds that are no longer fit-for-purpose.…
DetailsThe Andrews Government has announced a drastically reduced 2020 duck hunting season today. Opening weekend will be on May 2, with a bag limit of three ducks per day and a modified length of five weeks. A full season runs for nearly 12 weeks from mid-March to mid-June with a bag limit of 10 ducks…
DetailsThe bushfires that ripped through north-east Victoria and East Gippsland have had a catastrophic impact on local communities. The mammoth task of cleaning up homes and sheds that were destroyed and replacing fencing and farm infrastructure will take years. A dedicated fund is required to ensure the rebuilding needs of local communities are met. Today,…
DetailsAgriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes has failed to guarantee the job security of soil scientists at AgriBio and groundwater and salinity research staff in Bendigo. Today in Question Time, Minister Symes dodged questions about the rumoured jobs cuts from Agriculture Victoria. The Minister’s refusal of ongoing support to these important functions is risking Victoria’s ability to…
DetailsToday the “Fuel Reduction Saves Lives” campaign calling for increased fuel reduction on public land was launched at State Parliament. The Leader of the Nationals, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Peter Walsh and Shadow Assistant Minister for Public Land Use, Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath and the Bush Users Group United (BUGU) launched the…
DetailsDear Editor, Timber contractors have worked tirelessly to help our bushfire-affected communities to recover, but Daniel Andrews has still continued his war with them. Nearly 100 workers were put out of a job this week when the Andrews Government cancelled contracts for timber coupes in East Gippsland. It’s a slap in the face to people…
DetailsBackground The final report in the Inquiry into the Impact of Animal Rights Activism on Victorian Agriculture has been released. The Liberal Nationals moved to establish the inquiry after calls from farmers and farm communities for better protections against a worsening militant campaign of trespass and livestock theft. But instead of backing our farmers, Labor…
DetailsDespite devastating bushfires this summer, Daniel Andrews is refusing to release critical information about where dangerous bushfire fuel loads exist across Victoria. With months of potentially dangerous bushfire season still ahead, communities have the right to know about the fuel loads surrounding them and the bushfire risks they face. Past practice has been to release fuel…
DetailsThe recent devastating bushfires have highlighted the vital importance of properly managing public land to mitigate bushfire risk. Sadly, the bushfires have also demonstrated the error of the Andrews Labor Government’s decision to abandon the planned burning recommendation of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission (VBRC). Having considered expert evidence following the horrific 2009 Black…
DetailsEven Daniel Andrews doesn’t believe his own lies. Reports today the Andrews Government will sell off its share of the Heyfield mill confirms Labor knows its so-called ‘plan’ to transition the native timber industry to plantation timber by 2030 won’t work. Not a single hardwood plantation tree planted today will be available to industry by…
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