"Every buyback shrinks the consumptive pool, puts greater pressure on the remaining water and undermines irrigation communities’ productive capacity."

TOPICS: Private Health Insurance rebate cut, impact on public hospitals, projected impact on private health insurance cover, States’ opposition to insurance rebate change, federal contribution to running hospitals, Senate inquiry

“Regional hospitals are already struggling with workforce shortages, long waiting lists and limited specialist access. The last thing they need is Canberra pushing more patients into the public system. This is bad policy for older Australians.

TOPICS: NSW firearm buyback, multiculturalism, banning migration from certain countries, Do Not Travel list, refugees, food security, babies born alive

The Nationals stood firm against Labor’s mean-spirited $5,000 cap on allied health services for veterans. Veterans and all Australians rightly expect those who have put their lives on the line for our nation to access the care they need.

The Nationals for Regional Victoria - with the Victorian Liberals - have backed in the federal Nationals’ opposition to VNI West, and are taking similar steps to protect prime ag land.

Labor is complicating this policy gaffe by increasing provider fees while fixing the veterans' annual allied health envelope at $5,000.

TOPICS: Sydney Swans player suspensions, VNI-West transmission line, protecting prime agricultural land

The coalition believes the government had settled on a 2.5 per cent charge rate on a digital platform's advertising revenue, which was too low. We have argued the levy should increase to 2.75 per cent.