NFF’s strong stance welcomed

Member for Mallee Anne Webster has congratulated the Wimmera’s David Jochinke on his election as President of the National Farmers Federation, and lauded his strong stance calling out the Albanese Labor Government’s appalling treatment of farming communities. “Labor appear to have taken a scorched earth mantra to their policy decisions without any concern for the…

Dark day for Basin communities as Murray Darling Basin Bill passes lower house

The Albanese Labor Government has taken one more step towards ending all bipartisanship on the Murray Darling Basin Plan, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s Water Amendment (Restoring Our Rivers) Bill 2023 passed the House of Representatives today, bringing buy backs one step closer. “Minister Plibersek knows the trauma and damage…

Delayed VNI West route release a cynical move

Transmission Company Victoria (TCV) has finally released its draft corridor for the VNI West project, burying it within the news cycle and leaving affected landholders just days to prepare for planned consultation sessions. Member for Mallee Anne Webster criticised TCV for releasing the report late on a Friday afternoon, just four days before planned community…

Basin Plan meeting for Mildura

Federal Members representing communities along the Murray Darling Basin as well as members of the Coalition’s Agriculture Backbench Committee will hold a town hall meeting in Mildura on Tuesday, October 3 to discuss the Albanese Labor Government’s proposed amendments to the Murray Darling Basin Plan. The meeting, from 4pm at the Alfred Deakin Centre Benetook…

Nationals Federal Conference backs regional health

The Nationals Federal Conference has backed two key health policy recommendations to alleviate workforce issues in Regional Australia, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health Anne Webster says. The Conference unanimously supported reintroducing a stronger “on the job” hospital-based nurse education requirement for regional nursing students, which would allow students to study and start work earlier…

Labor pulling the plug on bipartisanship to rip water out of communities

The Albanese Labor Government’s revised Murray Darling Basin Plan has pulled the plug on years of bipartisanship and will leave basin communities in ruin, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s amendments to the plan will extend the deadline for its delivery until December 2027 and reintroduce dreaded water buybacks. “River communities…

Labor’s IR reforms risk Mallee jobs

Labor’s latest industrial relations reforms risk employers being forced to let staff go, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. “The government needs to focus on keeping Australians employed, not appeasing the unions”, Dr Webster said. The Albanese Labor Government’s proposed industrial relations changes will make life tougher for Australian businesses by increasing costs, complexity and…