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.…
DetailsThe 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…
DetailsThe 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…
DetailsMajor 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…
DetailsThe 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…
DetailsCity 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…
DetailsThe Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie together with the Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Materiel, Gary Humphries have gained a greater insight into the important role Bendigo plays in protecting Australian troops and emergency personnel. “It was wonderful to have Senator Humphries tour Bendigo’s key defence manufacturing sites, highlighting the capacity for innovation…
DetailsBendigo has hosted the Coalition Online Safety Working Group’s only regionally-focussed cyber safety forums and roundtable discussions. The Working Group has heard Bendigo Football Netball League is ahead of the game when it comes to player safety online. The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie said it was exciting to see the…
DetailsSenators from across Australia have heard the agriculture sector must better promote opportunities in the industry to students preparing to enter higher education. In Melbourne for a parliamentary inquiry, The Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie heard from Victorian education providers who said student numbers in agriculture are declining. “Experts pointed to the…
DetailsThe Nationals Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has branded the Federal Budget a failure, especially for central Victorians. “Life under Labor is about to get a lot harder and more uncertain as Bendigo prepares for the world’s biggest carbon tax on July 1,” she said. “Every sector of the town’s economy will be…
Details