6 December 2011 A tomato farm in Rochester was one of the farms in the Murray-Darling Basin region to receive a visit from opposition water spokesperson Senator Barnaby Joyce last week, as part of a three-day trip to talk to farmers following the release of the Murray Darling Basin Plan. Senator Joyce said he…
Details28 November 2011 Warracknabeal families have received an early Christmas gift with news that Federal Government could soon reinstate slashed Take-a-Break funding. Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has expressed her delight with an “about-face” from the Gillard Government to restore funding for Victoria’s occasional childcare services. Labor joined with the Coalition, Greens and…
Details09 November 2011 POLITICIANS from both sides of the political divide agree on one thing about the carbon tax – its passing in the federal parliament was historic. The Senate yesterday voted to approve the carbon tax, which will come into effect from July next year. Bendigo MP Steve Gibbons, who voted on the…
Details08 November 2011 NSW WorkCover has investigated complaints of bullying at the National e-Health Transition Authority’s Sydney headquarters, and is working with the organisation “to ensure bullying does not take place”. The complaints came to light last month at a Senate estimates hearing, when new Victorian Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie asked if Nehta had…
Details07 November 2011 Victorian Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie has welcomed changes to the criteria for the second round of Regional Development Australia Funding. Senator McKenzie said the guidelines had been completely rewritten and the application process had also been reformed. ‘‘The criteria for the new application forms has been finalised and I welcome the improvements,’’…
Details27 October 2011 ALLEGATIONS of Australian Labor Party favouritism have surfaced, following the rejection of two key Gippsland projects by the Regional Development Australia Fund. Gippsland Senator Bridget McKenzie questioned the distribution of about $1 billion by the RDAF in Senate estimate hearings last week, following the rejection of a key Latrobe City Council…
Details21 October 2011 STAFF turnover at the National e-Health Transition Authority is “high” at 30 per cent per annum, its chief executive Peter Fleming has conceded, prompting “research” into the reasons. Mr Fleming said employees were talented and working long and hard towards establishing the nation’s e-health record infrastucture for the benefit of all…
Details21 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…
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