More uncertainty for local Primary Care Partnerships

Health partnerships working to create healthier communities across Murray Plains face more uncertainty after the Andrews Government again refused to provide long-term funding. Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs) actively contribute to the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and their communities in regional Victoria, but have only been funded to June 2020 while a review is…

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Labor votes against stronger penalties for farm trespass

Wednesday 16 October 2019   The Andrews Labor Government has teamed up with the Greens and Animal Justice Party to vote against stronger penalties for people trespassing on Victorian farms. Parliament’s Legislative Council today voted on the Crimes Amendment (Trespass) Bill 2019, which set out a new offence of ‘aggravated’ trespass with increased penalties and…

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Statement on Rural Assistance Commissioner

Wednesday 16 October 2019   Regional communities will expect the new Commissioner to be frank and fearless with his advice to the Andrews Government. Labor may have put him on the payroll but at the end of the day it’s taxpayers’ dollars and Mr Tuohey’s job is to stand up for our regional communities. Labor’s…

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Walsh calls for action on sale of Random House

Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh has pushed the Andrews Labor Government to follow through on a commitment to put Rochester’s iconic Random House on the market. Speaking in Victorian Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Walsh asked Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan for confirmation on when the property, currently owned by the Department…

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Funding on offer to tackle tough times together

Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains is encouraging grassroots organisations based in the Swan Hill and Gannawarra Shires to apply for grants of up to $150,000 to access the resources they need to support one another through the ongoing effects of the drought. Mr Walsh said the Tackling Tough Times Together grant…

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Community safety in Campaspe must come first

The Andrews Labor Government is failing to protect communities, as Victoria records the highest number of criminals in 15 years. Figures from the Crime Statistics Agency show a 39.96 per cent increase in the number of offences in Campaspe shire since Daniel Andrews was elected in 2014, from 2,948 to 4,126. Across the State, recorded…

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Regional development stalled by Andrews Government

Wednesday 9 October 2019   Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees, which are tasked with helping grow regional communities, have been abandoned for more than 12 months by the Andrews Labor Government. Media reports today confirm Regional Development Minister Jaclyn Symes has left Victoria’s RDA committees with just one member, the Chair, since October last year. RDAs push forward local priority projects aimed at driving economic growth and community…

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Walsh spreads BreastScreen message across Murray Plains

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month runs from 1 October to 31 October. Leader of The Nationals and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh is using the opportunity to encourage women in the age group of 50 – 74 to have a screening mammogram. “BreastScreen Victoria statistics show that over 1,500 women in Victoria might have…

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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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