The Nationals Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie has hosted Senator Mitch Fifield, Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector in central Victoria. The Senators visited the not-for-profit volunteer organisation Our Place in Eaglehawk. Senator McKenzie said regional Victorians were passionate volunteers, and the people of Greater Bendigo were no exception. “From local sporting…
The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has hosted Senator Mitch Fifield, Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector in Castlemaine, giving him an insight into the challenges faced by regional Victorian carers. Senator McKenzie said people in regional areas who care for the members of their family with a disability do it…
The Senate Community Affairs Committee has heard this week that the Labor Government’s healthcare ranking system was failing regional Victorians. In Albury for a parliamentary inquiry into rural health services, industry leaders told the committee including The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie, the Australian Standard Geographical Classification – Remoteness Areas (ASGC-RA) system was flawed.…
Senator Bridget McKenzie discusses the issues yesterday with CSU’s Professor Andrew Vann and Professor John Dwyer. Picture: KYLIE ESLER RURAL Australia could not continue relying on foreign doctors to fill a void, the vice-chancellor of Charles Sturt University, Andrew Vann, told a Senate committee in Albury yesterday. Professor Vann said rural and remote…
The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie said the Productivity Commission needs to undertake an urgent review of child care following a year of double digit fee increases hitting families. New research has revealed Victorian parents are now paying on average $74.95 per day per child for child care, up 13.8 per cent in…
The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has confirmed the Government has no plan to increase the tax rate on traditional cider. The Economics Senate Committee last night revealed calls to tax cider at the same rate as pre-mixed drinks and spirits had been ignored. “This is brilliant news for central Victoria’s Harcourt district, which is…
Major agricultural industries across northern Victoria could be pushed over the edge, under the Gillard Government’s revised, yet virtually unchanged Murray Darling Basin Plan. The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie said small dairying communities and Sunraysia’s horticultural sector would be extremely vulnerable to the final Basin Plan. “These industries are the lifeblood…
The Murray Darling Basin Authority has failed to answer fundamental questions surrounding Victoria’s future food and social economic security. The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie directly asked a Senate estimates hearing if the MDBA had taken enough water out of Victoria, and was given an indeterminate no. “This answer is in stark…
City of Greater Bendigo, Mount Alexander Shire Council, Macedon Ranges Shire Council, and Central Goldfields Shire Council ratepayers stand to suffer yet another hit from the carbon tax, The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie said. Clean Energy Regulator or ‘Carbon Cop’ officials have told Senator McKenzie’s Environment and Communications Committee, on top of a…
CYBER safety was in the spotlight this week. The Coalition Online Safety Working Group visited Bendigo on Thursday to hear from primary and secondary students, education and sports officials, and representatives from the justice system. Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie said technology was evolving rapidly and it was essential that effective policy was…