Media release: Youth allowance changes to give regional students, families better support

Pic source: uow.edu.au “For decades farming families have experienced unfairness in having their farm counted as an asset in their assessment for Youth Allowance. The Family Assets Test and the Family Actual Means Test, from January 1 2016, will be removed from the Youth Allowance Personal Test. This will give rural and regional families better…

Media release: Consultations start on new Murray-Darling Basin on-farm water savings program

Pic source: www.mdba.gov.au The Liberal-National Coalition Government is calling on irrigators, industry and potential delivery agencies to have their say on the design of a new on-farm irrigation efficiency program. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, and Nationals Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie, said the Commonwealth On-Farm Further Irrigation Efficiency (COFFIE) program was…

$500,000 now available for Victorian pest and weed projects under Ag White Paper

The Australian Government will provide $500,000 to drought affected Victorian councils for projects to control rabbit and weed infestations on country roadsides, in line with its commitment under the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Barnaby Joyce, and Nationals Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie, said the Australian Government would top-up the…

Media release: Trade, export benefits for regional Victoria

Pic source: namag.com.au Farmers and agribusiness learned how they can directly benefit from major trade agreements in North Asia and the Asia-Pacific at seminars hosted by Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie during the Elmore Field Days. The seminars included an address by the Assistant Minister for Trade and Investment, Senator Richard Colbeck, followed by an interactive…

Media release: Labor hysteria over guns unhelpful and insulting

Pic source: Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Nationals Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie, called on Labor to allow the National Firearms Agreement review to take place without stirring up unnecessary hysteria. Senator McKenzie dismissed calls by Labor's justice spokeperson, Graham Perrett, to ban the importation of a new Adler lever-action firearm that meets current requirements.…

Media release: Regional Victoria to benefit from Defence Contract

Assistant Minister for Defence Darren Chester has welcomed today’s announcement the Australian Government will buy 1100 Bendigo-built Hawkei protected vehicles and over 1000 trailers. Mr Chester said the $1.3 billion Project LAND 121 Phase 4 contract would provide a much-welcomed boost to regional employment. He said it would also promote confidence throughout regional Australia by…

Media release: Now time to ensure regional students get fair access to higher education

Pic source: aaet.com.au Nationals Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie, said she looks forward to working with the new ministers for Education and Training, Simon Birmingham, and Social Services, Christian Porter, to overcome challenges regional students face in accessing a higher education. Senator McKenzie, who is chair of the senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee, was…

Letter to Editor – North-east Victorian producers make important contribution to senate red meat sector inquiry

Dear Editor, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the beef producers and peak farm bodies who attended the recent senate inquiry hearing in Albury, regarding the effect of market consolidation on the red meat processing sector. The senate inquiry by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee is responding to…