Dan Tehan - Member for Wannon
The recent Australia Day event in our magnificent Botanical Gardens was a proud celebration of what makes the Southern Grampians such a special place to call home. We warmly welcomed our newest Australian citizens and I congratulate each of them on taking this important step. They are now part of our community and we are richer for it.
Our Australia Day Award recipients were also recognised for years of volunteering, leadership, care for neighbours and tireless advocacy. I commend them for their community spirit. They are role models for us all.
I followed through the commitment I made to many of my constituents to vote against the gun reform laws recently passed in Parliament, as did my colleagues in the Liberal Party. Unfortunately, the Australian Parliament passed the legislation with the support of the Greens.
Whilst the legislation is now federal law, certain aspects of its enforcement will depend on the cooperation of the states and territories. I will be talking to my state parliamentarian colleagues about how to minimise the impact of these laws on our farmers, recreational sporting shooters and hunters.
The recent fires in Skipton, Carranballac and Streatham caused major devastation, leaving many families without homes. The response from local communities has been extraordinary, with neighbours opening their doors to support those affected and councils working closely with residents to provide immediate help.
Emergency services, the CFA, and countless volunteers have worked tirelessly to protect lives and property, while generous donations of goods and funds have helped people start to rebuild.
I am advocating strongly to ensure those impacted receive the federal assistance they need.
The Koroit Fire Relief Fundraiser on Saturday 28 February will be an excellent opportunity for us to continue helping families affected by these fires so I encourage anyone who’s able to go along and support this event.
Victorians are beyond frustrated with the state of our roads. Earlier this month I joined a large group of motorcyclists from across Wannon who rode to Treasury Place to send a clear message to the Premier: fix the existing road infrastructure. Across Western Victoria and right around the state, deteriorating roads are putting lives at risk. This is simply unacceptable.
To truly understand how bad the roads have become, we invited the Premier to get on the back of a bike and experience them firsthand. So far, no response from Premier Allan but the fight to fix Victoria’s roads isn’t going to go away.
Roads are not the only reason Victorians deserve a better State Government. After more than a decade in office, the current Labor Government has left our state with record net debt that we—and our children and grandchildren—will be paying off for decades, soaring cost of living, major cost blowouts on projects, surging youth crime, pressure on hospitals and ambulances, missed housing targets, classrooms that are under pressure and a reduction in CFA funding of $55 million in real terms since 2020, despite claiming it has only ever increased.
Regional Victorians feel ignored. The upcoming state election is an opportunity to vote for real action on the issues that matter. It will be a critical opportunity to make your voice heard, bring about change and restore confidence in Victoria’s future.
ENDS
Contact: Sandie Gustus M | 0408 564 232 E | sandie.gustus@aph.gov.au
Published in the Hamilton Spectator
