New Echuca Bridge One Step Closer

A second Murray River crossing connecting Echuca and Moama is one step closer with a contractor appointed to build the new bridge. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack was in Echuca today to announce McConnell Dowell will carry out stage 3 of the project, including construction of the new bridge which will begin next year. Member…

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Drought-stricken farmers miss out on direct rates relief – again

Wednesday 2 October 2019   Daniel Andrews’ latest drought response is underwhelming and fails to deliver the genuine relief measures farmers have been calling for. Our drought-affected communities are desperate for action from the Premier and it’s disappointing that what he’s turned up with today still falls well short of expectations. Drought, combined with high…

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Kangaroo pet food program

Tuesday 1 October 2019   Changes to the kangaroo pet food program announced today by the Andrews Labor Government risk tangling farmers, professional shooters and pet food processors up in red tape. After five years of delayed extensions and uncertainty under Daniel Andrews, the permanent program, which starts today, will not allow kangaroos controlled with…

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Labor’s funding cuts threaten Landcare jobs

Victoria’s Landcare networks could be forced to lay off their facilitators next year after the Andrews Labor Government failed to fund the positions. The news comes as Landcare marks its 30th anniversary as a national organisation this week. Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh said The Nationals and Liberals first…

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Daniel Andrews not listening to farmers on rural crime

The Andrews Labor Government still is not listening to farmers across the Murray Plains electorate and is missing another opportunity to employ dedicated frontline police officers to tackle rural crime. The Andrews Government announced the Farm Crime Co-ordination Unit this week, but despite Labor’s claim it has created 70 new positions, in reality it has…

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Part-time squad not enough to tackle rural crime

Monday 23 September 2019   Victorian farmers have long called for a dedicated rural crime squad, but today’s announcement doesn’t deliver what farmers requested. Changing job titles is not the same as adding new frontline officers and it won’t help tackle worsening rural crime rates. The Andrews Labor Government is trying to dress today’s announcement…

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Bendigo residents calling for details of GovHub deal

Bendigo residents are calling for more transparency on plans to sell council-owned land for the Bendigo GovHub with hundreds of signatures tabled in Victorian Parliament. Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Regional Victoria and Decentralisation Peter Walsh tabled a petition last week with 328 signatures calling for more detail on the deal with…

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Law-breaking activists to cop new sanctions

Tough new laws to better protect farmers and farm businesses against people inciting farm trespass have passed the Federal Parliament. The new laws, passed last week, will mean anyone sharing farmers’ private details online to incite farm trespass will risk jail time and follows the publishing of thousands of farmers’ home addresses on the Aussie…

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New jobs at Hattah at risk unless Minister intervenes

Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has called on the Andrews Labor Government to intervene to progress a new $63 million almond processing plant at Hattah. Speaking in Parliament this week, Mr Walsh asked Minister for Planning Richard Wynne to call in Brownport Almonds’ application, which is expected to create an additional 30 full time…

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Farmers still waiting for Basin Rail benefits

The Andrews Labor Government again failed to explain how they will fix and finish the botched Murray Basin Rail Project. Despite finding billions to put into level crossing cost blowouts in Melbourne, Daniel Andrews is refusing to say how Labor will fix its mess. The Premier was asked in State Parliament today to explain why…

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Question without Notice – Murray Basin Rail Project

  Mr WALSH (Murray Plains) (11:19:03): My question is to the Premier. When referring to cost blowouts in Melbourne infrastructure projects, the Premier said: When given the choice between making this investment or compromising our promise. We’ve chosen to … make the investment, create the jobs, build the … network … we need … Why…

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