Labor’s turbo-charged renewables plan will cripple the regions and drive up the cost-of-living

Labor’s plan to back a five-fold increase in new renewable energy across Australia will have profoundly damaging consequences on regional Australia and accelerate the rising cost of living, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. Energy Minister Chris Bowen’s panicked market intervention risks the stability of the grid and hurt Australian families. Minister Bowen is driving…

Details

Regional Australians continue to suffer a healthcare crisis – Butler must act now

The Albanese Labor Government continues to politicise the health of regional Australians rather than take real action, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health Anne Webster says. On Wednesday, Health Minister Mark Butler will announce a review into the Monash Modified Model, the District of Workforce Shortage and Distribution Priority Areas (DPAs), which effect the distribution…

Details

Parliament savours Taste Of The Basin

Politicians from every side of the Chamber and corner of Australia were treated to the best the Murray Darling Basin has to offer on Wednesday night at the Taste Of The Basin event in Parliament House. Hundreds of politicians, staffers and journalists came through the showcase, hosted by Members representing communities from up and down…

Details

Labor must not abandon regional communities

Travellers on Wimmera roads have a right to be concerned that their safety and that of those they love will increasingly be put at risk, thanks to the comments made by the Minister for Infrastructure Catherine King and her intent to slash Commonwealth funding for roads, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. The Albanese Labor…

Details

Westpac overreach needs Government intervention

The Albanese Labor Government must step in and protect farmers from Westpac imposing deforestation targets on agricultural commercial lending, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. Dr Webster said the banking sector should not add to the burden of Australia’s strict native vegetation protection laws set through State Governments. “What place does a bank have to…

Details

Labor’s Closing Loopholes Bill going round in circles

The out-of-touch Albanese Labor Government risks credibility damage if they go against their own Industrial Reforms measures in the House of Representatives this week, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. Labor’s so-called Closing Loopholes Bill will return to the Lower House this week after Crossbench Senators voted with the Coalition to split Labor’s Closing Loopholes…

Details

Optus outage proves need for mandated mobile roaming

This week’s Optus outage highlights the need for mandated domestic mobile roaming in regional, rural and remote Australia, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. The outage, which impacted 10 million Australians, provides evidence that a mandated mobile roaming pilot program in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia should be facilitated, while broader capacity in…

Details

More pain for Australian families under Labor

Labor’s cost of living crisis is continuing to pile pressure on Mallee family budgets, Member for Mallee Anne Webster says. In the wake of Tuesday’s interest rate rise by the Reserve Bank of Australia, which takes the cash rate to its highest level since 2011, the average mortgage holder in Australia will be paying almost…

Details

Labor’s bulk billing failure

The Albanese Labor Government’s tripling of the Bulk Billing Incentive Payments is a signature Labor policy with a good headline but no positive impact for the majority of Australians, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health Anne Webster says. General Practitioners receive triple the current Medicare incentive to bulk bill concession card holders and children under…

Details