Senators urge action on ag skills shortage

THREE coalition senators have moved that the Labor government be more proactive in addressing the worsening shortage of agriculture graduates and skilled workers. Senators Fiona Nash, Chris Back and Bridget McKenzie introduced the motion that was supported by the Greens and Independent senators. “But Labor senators bizarrely opposed the motion that seeks to reverse a…

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Coalition tours Thales

  6 March 2012 FEDERAL Liberal leader Tony Abbott fell short of guaranteeing defence contracts for Thales during a visit to Bendigo yesterday. Mr Abbott toured the defence manufacturer’s facilities and announced a veterans’ affairs policy during his Bendigo trip. He ridiculed the government for failing to give Thales a contract earlier this year, a…

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Senator challenges cattle grazing inconsistencies

  Nationals Victorian Senator, Bridget McKenzie, is accusing the Federal Government of inconsistency on alpine cattle grazing. Last year the Victorian Government reintroduced grazing in the Alpine National Park in a trial to see if it reduced fire fuel loads. But earlier this year Federal Environment Minister, Tony Burke, stepped in and stopped the trial.…

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Lower numbers at MDBA Mildura

TODAY’S Murray Darling Basin Authority public forum in Mildura has run over time. MDBA chairman Craig Knowles and Federal Water Minister Tony Burke agreed to stay back after the scheduled finishing time of 5pm to continue discussions with local irrigators and community representatives. With seating available for 800, the venue was about half full at…

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Bendigo MP against same-sex marriage

   10 December 2011 NATIONALS MP Bridget McKenzie describes marriage “as between a man and a woman”. The Bendigo-based senator made the comments about marriage in the wake of the Labor party endorsing same-sex marriages. She said she was an advocate of removing discrimination against people because of sexual preference but fell short of endorsing…

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Certainty lacking in Murray Darling Basin Plan

  7 December 2011 To say Federal Member for Murray Sharman Stone is disappointed following the release of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s draft environmental plan last week would be an understatement. Dr Stone said the plan showed, ‘‘they still do not understand what is needed for a sustainable environment without killing local water dependent economies’’.…

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