Opinions

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…

In response to the letter to the Editor ‘Please explain your approach Mr. Tehan’ – inconsistency in power generation messaging on 29 June, the Coalition’s nuclear policy is a hot topic, particularly as we are nearing an election year. Here’s a breakdown of the key points to help understand the Coalition’s policy better. What is…

I note Dan said in Wannon we need to ensure Western Victorian manufacturers have a secure supply of energy in the future. Where does Dan believe the nuclear plant should be located?The Coalition believes we have to move over time from a renewables, gas and coal mix for our future energy, to a renewables, gas…

On 4 June, I tabled a petition against the offshore wind farm which is being proposed off the coast of Warrnambool and Port Fairy, in Parliament. A big thank you to Chief Petitioner Richard Conlan for putting the petition together and to all 4,500 of you who signed it and shared it with your family…

I have two questions for readers which merit serious reflection. Do you feel better off after two years under Labor? Do you feel safer after two years under Labor? Let’s look at the facts. Cost of living As the Reserve Bank Governor said, Australia’s inflation is largely ‘homegrown,’ meaning the financial stress that Wannon residents…