Conversations in Decentralisation

Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie today met with the Mayor of Indigo Shire, Jenny O’Connor in the first of a series of meetings with Councils on the government’s decentralisation agenda. Regional cities are often seen as the only beneficiaries of a decentralisation agenda. However this is not that case and today highlighted that all can…

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Illicit Drug Data Report: Record number of seizures and arrests

 Our law enforcement and intelligence agencies are arresting more criminals and seizing more illicit drugs than ever before, according to a new report by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). National’s Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie welcomed today’s release of the Illicit Drug Data Report 2015-16, which provides government, law enforcement and stakeholders with a…

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Better deal for Regional Students from Gonski 2.0

National’s Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie today welcomed the passing of the Australian Education Amendment Bill for schools funding reform which will benefit all regional students. “The new Bill ensures a fairer, needs-based funding arrangement and removes the special deals and complexities from the previously inherited model from Labor. “I am delighted that the new…

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School Funding Report Tabled – Fair and Transparent

The Senate Education and Employment Committee today tabled its report into the Australian Education Amendment Bill 2017 which clearly demonstrated strong support from the public and independent school system. National’s Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie and Committee Chair said the overwhelming number of submissions to the Inquiry has been favourable and on balance far superior…

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Government supports while Labor Fails

National’s Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie today strongly supported the Federal Government move to establish its own inquiry into decentralisation following Labor’s discredited Senate hearing. “That Inquiry held only one hearing, in Townsville and rejected my calls for further regional hearings to give local councils and community groups the chance to make a submission. “Eighty-five…

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Labor hypocrites on school funding

Federal Labor tried and failed to block the Government’s Gonski needs-based funding plan which passed in the House of Representatives tonight. National's Senator for Victoria, Senator McKenzie said the Government’s needs-based funding reforms had been endorsed by David Gonski himself and promoted initially by Labor when in Government with their largely un-funded Gonski model. “We’re…

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