Opinions
On or before May 17, the country will decide who will govern Australia for the next three years. Here are some facts to bear in mind when thinking about how to make your vote count. According to the Parliamentary Library, Wannon has received $694 million in federal funding since 2016, far more than our neighbours…
From my desk – with Federal MP Dan Tehan Welcome back to my monthly column. If you have any questions for me, send them to editorial@hamiltonspectator.com.au and I’ll do my best to answer them next month. It’s wonderful news that the Hamilton Spectator lives on and will continue its important work. The survival of this…
I held my final listening post for the year in Ararat recently. It was the 101st one I did in Wannon this year. Thanks to everyone who came along during the year to share their issues and concerns. Your key concerns are shared throughout the electorate, with the cost of living and the lack of…
The Albanese Labor government needs to stop funding the Suburban Rail Loop (SLR) in Melbourne and redirect the funding to Victorian country roads. Recent statistics provided by the Traffic Accident Commission reveal the potential danger that the decline in our rural roads poses to road users. From 1 January through to 10 November this year,…
Globally, one in seven 10-19 year olds experiences a mental health disorder, accounting for 15% of the global burden of disease in this age group. Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15–29 years old….
In the last two years, the Federal Labor Government have allowed the national road network to fall into disrepair with billions of dollars in funding cuts and delays. The maintenance budget for all country roads in Victoria has also been cut by two thirds by the State Labor Government. From 1 January through to 2…
When I speak to small and family businesses owners in and around Warrnambool, the message I hear over and over is that they need a break. Whether it’s a family farm, a coffee shop, the local hairdresser or a sheet metal workshop, everywhere I go, I hear the now all-too-familiar stories of unpaid bills piling…
When I speak to small and family businesses owners across Wannon, the message I hear loud and clear is that they need a break. Whether it’s a family farm, a sheet metal workshop, or the local hairdresser, everywhere I go, I hear the now all-too-familiar stories of unpaid bills piling up on the fridge door…
Keep the Sheep brought their campaign to Sheepvention recently and I was pleased to seensuch a high level of interest from farmers and local people at their stand. Ben Sutherland, the spokesperson for Keep the Sheep, was formerly from the Hamilton area and understands well the importance of the sheep and wool industry to the…
The latest data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) shows Australia is lagging behind peer nations when it comes to real wages. A real wage—a wage adjusted for inflation—shows how much purchasing power a pay packet has in comparison to previous years. The OECD found that real wages in Australia are now…
