21 October 2011 The Federal Government is playing down claims the decision on a big defence contract a central Victorian manufacturer is in the running for will be delayed until after Christmas. Thales Australia’s Bendigo plant is competing with two overseas companies to win the contract to build vehicles for the Australian Army. The…
Details20 October 2011 Health department chief information officer Paul Madden says draft specifications will be “guaranteed not to change” – except in the case of system errors – during the first two years of operation of the $500 million personally controlled e-health record system. The technical specs are urgently needed as Health Minister Nicola…
Details20 October 2011 IT looks like no decision will be made on Thales’ bid for the lucrative LAND 121 Phase 4 defence contract before Christmas. Under questioning from Bendigo-based Nationals Senrator Bridget McKenzie, Defence Materiel Organisation acting chief executive officer confirmed the decision, delayed a number of times, would be delayed again. Senator McKenzie…
Details18 October 2011 THE Federal Government says it expects all eligible farmers who applied for exit grants will get their money, although it won’t guarantee it. The Government set aside $14 million for the 2011-12 financial year to pay people out of the farming industry, but announced just two months into the year…
Details12 October 2011 About 3500 people passed through the gates at the weekend’s Heathcote Wine and Food Festival, despite the forecast for wet weather. Wine lovers and festival revellers travelled from far and wide to be in Heathcote to indulge in the fine wine and food the region has become renowned for. City of…
Details6 October 2011 Dairy has become a battleground for the carbon tax debate, with Federal Nationals leader Warren Truss saying the industry will be unfairly disadvantaged. Mr Truss and Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie raised the issue following a tour of Murray Goulburn’s Global Distribution Centre at Port Melbourne this week. During the visit, the…
Details5 October 2011 No on quotas: Rural Finance chair Sonia Petering, Alexandra Gartmann from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and Senator Bridget McKenzie at the rural and regional women’s lunch. THERE are more women on boards and in parliaments, but the imbalance continues, writes GENEVIEVE BARLOW Want to start a fiery debate…
Details12 September 2011 THE development of a National Carer Strategy and the call for a National Disability Insurance Scheme saw carers across the region voicing their concerns at a workshop held recently. Newly-instated Senator Bridget McKenzie addressed concerns by carers at a workshop organised by disability services provider, BrainLink at the Traralgon Neighbourhood House last…
Details3 September 2011 A NATIONALS senator has a renewed enthusiasm for the nation’s manufacturing industry after touring Thales in Bendigo. Senator Bridget McKenzie this week met with Thales staff and management and inspected its production line. “I just think it is a great example of everything that is great about manufacturing in regional…
Details18 August 2011 Julia Gillard’s nod to potentially fire-blighted Kiwi apple imports is appalling, writes BRIDGET McKENZIE THE attitude of the Federal Government when it comes to dealing with the major issues confronting regional Victorians is baffling. The latest in a string of decisions that confound me is the possible green light to the…
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