Victoria must seize the opportunity to build Big Buffalo and boost water security for irrigators in the north-east after the Federal Budget delivered an unprecedented $2 billion for water infrastructure. Labor Water Minister Lisa Neville has stubbornly refused to make the most of the Federal Liberal Nationals Government’s willingness to fund priority water projects.…
The Federal Government has announced it will split the Murray Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) after a long campaign by irrigators and the Victorian Liberal Nationals. A new statutory compliance role will split the MDBA’s conflicting responsibilities by creating an Inspector-General of Water Compliance. Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh said the split would help resolve…
The Andrews Labor Government can – and must – do more to support our drought-affected farmers. South Australia has announced it will provide immediate financial relief with a 50 per cent rebate on council rates or pastoral lease payments in 2019-20 and 2020-21 for farmers eligible for the Farm Household Allowance. In contrast, the Andrews…
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…
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…
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…
Mr Walsh (Murray Plains) (11:22:01): Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) president David Jochinke has said of the Murray Basin rail project: We do expect them to deliver on the project, as promised. There has been an infrastructure spend in the city of far more significant value, and we want ours done, as well. When will the…
Tuesday 10 September 2019 The Premier for Melbourne has been to China more times than he’s been to Victoria’s drought affected communities. Since becoming Premier, Daniel Andrews has made at least nine overseas trips but has only been to see drought-affected farmers once, at Birchip in 2015. Asked by Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh today…
Monday 2 September 2019 Drought-affected farmers in the Millewa must get genuine action from the Andrews Labor Government after the Minister’s visit today. The Agriculture Minister’s visit was long overdue given famers in the Millewa are staring down the barrel of a second failed season. Like farmers in other drought-affected parts of Victoria, the…
Mr Walsh(Murray Plains) (11:08:44): My question is to the Premier. Farmers in the Millewa region have received less than 10 per cent of their annual rainfall this year, the worst season since the 1944–45 drought. Will the Premier go to the Millewa and meet with farmers there within the next two weeks?
