The inhumanity of state border restrictions continues to be displayed by countless stories of individuals and families who are traumatised by bureaucratic decisions. Children who have missed their parent’s funeral, families who have been separated for months, and patients that have had urgent medical treatment cancelled and their health compromised. This week, I was contacted…
As the dust settles on last week’s leadership spill, a new cabinet has been sworn in. It was a crazy week, and I dare say very few would have expected the outcome. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I backed Michael McCormack to retain his position as leader. Michael continues to be a…
As the dust settles on last week’s leadership spill, a new cabinet has been sworn in. It was a crazy week, and I dare say very few would have expected the outcome. I’ve made no secret of the fact that I backed Michael McCormack to retain his position as leader. Michael continues to be a…
This week in Federal politics, the National Party secured a new seasonal agriculture worker visa. This is something I have been fighting for since being elected, and it’s one of the highlights of my term in government so far. Producers have been calling for it, the Nationals have been calling for it, and now we…
This week the Victorian Government eased restrictions in regional areas. Gyms are finally allowed to open, limited numbers are allowed at funerals, weddings, and religious ceremonies, hospitality and retail have seen an increase to their caps, and we can now have two visitors to our homes. These are still imposts on our freedoms in regions…
WE’RE all in this together. We can all appreciate the sentiment behind this statement, but there are many situations where this platitude ought not to apply. The Covid-19 pandemic has repeatedly shown the differences in risk levels associated with factors such as age, health and postcode. But state governments are ignoring these nuances. Regional Victorians…
This week the Victorian Government eased restrictions in regional areas. Gyms are finally allowed to open, limited numbers are allowed at funerals, weddings, and religious ceremonies, hospitality and retail have seen an increase to their caps, and we can now have two visitors to our homes. These are still imposts on our freedoms in regions…
The speed of the vaccine rollout is crucially important for the health and economic prosperity of our region going forward, as well as our prospects of reopening our borders and businesses. The announcement of the state-run vaccination hub in Mildura for the Pfizer vaccine is welcome news. I know that vaccine availability has been a…
This week, the frustration and pain of state-wide lockdowns is being felt once more in regional Victoria. The recent outbreak of the virus in Melbourne has led the State Government to implement a full state-wide lockdown. Businesses are shut, bars and restaurants are wasting stock, and kids are missing school, with many unable to learn…
The Commonwealth Government continues to display our commitment to thriving industries and small businesses in our region. I argued in my campaign in 2019 that red tape should not prevent innovation, expansion, and trade opportunities for locals and their businesses. I still advocate for change. And I’m pleased to say the 2021 Commonwealth Budget contains…