As we enter December with the timber industry to close in four weeks, Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has blasted the Labor State Government for its inexcusable treatment of timber families.

“As it sits, we have four weeks until the closure and the government has not provided even the most basic information, and the Premier and Minister for Agriculture are now backtracking on their commitment to meet with industry representatives, attempting to push it off to lower-level bureaucrats.

The major issues are:

• For those who want to stay on and work in fire control for DEECA, there is no information on where this work will be, what the pay is and what machinery will be required. How can they make a decision?
• Government correspondence indicates those who accept this work will not receive their full departure package payment. This should be treated separately as they are being forced to change jobs.
• Despite committing to meet with harvest and haulage contractors herself, the Premier (and Minister) are now trying to push this off to bureaucrats.
• The Allan Labor Government has not yet decided on a final base departure package with the current base offer being well below what is acceptable.
• The Allan Labor Government has not formally overturned in writing its decision that machinery over 10 years old will be included in compensation, when we have a number of harvest and haulage contractors with valuable machines over 10 years old that they cannot sell due to there now being no market.
• Machinery under 10 years old will only be compensated up to the limits of the package allocation – this needs to be uncapped to allow fair compensation.
• It is still a requirement for employers to fund the retraining of staff, when the government said it would do this.

“This was a decision made on the run that makes no environmental sense and is just Labor bowing to the Greens,” said Mr Bull.

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has clearly stated building with wood is the biggest climate change mitigation measure we can take, and goes on to say we should be using a balance of plantation and native forest. No old growth is harvested in Victoria, only regrowth.

“What is going to occur is consumers are going to keep buying hardwood because that is what they are told to do as the most effective climate change measure, but we will now have it coming from countries with less oversight, harvesting old growth that is not replanted.

“Last year, I took the time to sit down with one city Green MP to explain this and he just looked at me across the coffee table and said he could not provide an answer to that scenario, so they do not even really understand the background of what they are campaigning for,” said Mr Bull.

Monday, 27 November 2023

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, is pleased a number of local agencies have been successful in the latest round of the Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) grants.

“This was a very successful program under the Liberals and Nationals, and I am pleased it has been continued.

“In an area that is so dependent on its emergency services, it’s important that East Gippsland receives its fair share, a point I continue to make at every opportunity with the Government Ministers,” he said.

Among local recipients are:

CFA
Bairnsdale $65,334
Briagolong $51,667
Cann Valley $255,000
Kalimna West $2,256
Maffra $223,333
Mallacoota $100,000
Mount Taylor $65,334
Sarsfield $100,000
Tambo $2,971

Surf Life Saving
Mallacoota SLS $14,547
SLS Lakes Entrance Inc $45,481

Marine Search and Rescue
Gippsland Squadron (AVCGA) $3,632
Lakes Entrance Coast Guard $21,468
Marlo Coast Guard $17,428
Paynesville Coast Guard $20,629

SES
Maffra $64,900
Tambo Valley $6,700.70

Monday, November 27, 2023

The new native nursery and 30 jobs promised for Nowa Nowa in 2020, then to be moved to Bairnsdale, will now not proceed at all, it has been revealed under questioning by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.

“The nursery was originally committed to Nowa Nowa by current Labor Upper House MP, Harriet Shing, over three years ago, but that was withdrawn, and the government then stated it would relocate the project and its 30 jobs to Bairnsdale,” said Mr Bull.

“With nothing having been said since, I asked the Minister in March:

(1) What is the exact location of the nursery?
(2) Has construction commenced and what is the approximate date for its opening?
(3) Does the Government still stand by the claim it will provide full time employment for 30 people?

“Finally, eight months later, I received a response where it said, ‘changed market conditions since the project’s inception were found to have affected the commercial viability of proceeding. VicForests elected not to award a tender’.

“Then as if to rub salt into the wound, the response then goes on to say, ‘the Allan Labor Government is committed to the long-term sustainability of forestry in Gippsland, including through supporting the industry’s transition to wholly plantation-based supply via the flagship Gippsland Plantations Investment Program, and VicForests’ Farm Forestry Program.’

“Apart from closing down the native timber industry on January 1, parliamentary hearings this week revealed Labor’s “timber transition” into plantation is a sham.

“Back in 2017 it allocated $110 million to plant 30 million trees needed for plantation to meet demand, but last week it was revealed it has planted only 4,000 trees in the six years since that announcement.

“That’s 4,000 trees. At this rate per annum, they’ll hit their target in 7,500 years,” said Mr Bull.

“Typical Labor, making promises they do not deliver – airport rail, Geelong fast rail, electric vehicle manufacturing plant in the Latrobe Valley and the Commonwealth Games to name a few that have all been scrapped.”

Monday, 27 November 2023

Overgrown roadside vegetation must be addressed as summer and the impending bushfire season approaches.

Nationals State MP for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said he has received a number of complaints from residents across the region calling for roadside slashing to be undertaken prior to summer.

“What we need is the Labor Government to commit to an intensive slashing and vegetation removal program across regional Victoria before summer hits.

“The recent heavy rain has intensified roadside vegetation growth in the region and the overriding priority of the state government must be the protection of human life.

“Right throughout the region, roadsides are burgeoning with out-of-control and highly flammable long grass, dead wood and weed species.

“Given the forecast weather pattern for summer – fuel load reduction on our roadsides must be prioritised.”

Mr Bull said unkept roadsides act as a wick during bushfire events and deny residents a safe passage during bushfire events.

“Bushfire experts indicate that community safety is significantly improved when roadside fuel loads are reduced through slashing, burning, and weed management.

“Private property owners have a legal responsibility to keep their land cleared and fire safe, setting the precent for the act on its own directive and maintain roadsides to keep regional communities safe.

“Gippsland has already experienced an early start to bushfire season, and many regional Victorians are justifiably concerned about Labor’s woeful preparation.

“Fuel reduction saves lives, and we need to do everything possible to mitigate the risk of catastrophic fires impacting local communities, this summer,” Mr Bull said.

Monday, 13 November 2023

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has said the de-commissioning of the Bass Strait oil and gas fields needs to ensure the areas are fully returned to the fishing industry.

Speaking in State Parliament recently, Mr Bull sought State Government support to achieve this outcome.

“What has transpired to date is that the companies involved have spoken about cutting some of these platforms and underwater structures off 50 metres below the surface.

“That of course does not allow for our commercial fishing nets to go into those areas, so it leaves that area unfishable from a commercial perspective.

“What I am seeking from this government and the Minister who has responsibility for this sector, is for them to work with their federal government counterparts to return this area to a commercial fishing ground, as it was before the oil and gas industry commenced in Bass Strait.

“The industry is under additional pressure at the current time from potential wind farm development in Bass Strait – and what transpires there, we will find out probably over the next decade, but this is an issue we need to look at now.

“It is such an important industry not only for the East Gippsland economy but for the Victorian economy.

“It has the biggest throughput of seafood of any port in this state, and it is amongst the highest in Australia, so you can imagine the impact that has to our Victorian economy.

“We need to look after those commercial fishermen and I seek the full Parliament’s support to achieve that,” he said.

Caption: State MP for Gippsland East, Tim Bull (pictured at Lakes Entrance Fishermen Limited), is calling for the de-commissioned oil and gas fields to be fully returned to the fishing industry.

Monday, 13 November 2023

Disability Self-Help Grants of up to $7,000 are currently on offer for local support groups to strengthen and enhance the social and emotional connection for people living with a disability and their carers.

Shadow Minister for Disability and Carers and Nationals’ State MP for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said this grant is a great opportunity for local networks to deliver meaningful and enriching experiences for their members, with the aim to reduce the social isolation felt by those living with a disability and their carers, particularly for those in regional and remote Victoria.

“The broad criteria ensures applicants have access to funding that can cater to their support group’s unique needs, whether it be to purchase digital equipment to support virtual access to organised meetings, to assist with the costs of catering at gatherings or for the engagement of a guest speaker at an event.

“The grant can also be used to hire support workers and interpreters to deliver successful and inclusive peer support activities for the participants and their carers.

“It is so important having appropriate and inclusive access to support networks, especially for those that foster participation within their community. This reduces the feeling of isolation for people living with a disability and those who support them.

“Social connection improves health outcomes which is both good for the individual and is good for the community.

“I encourage local disability support groups to consider preparing an application,” Mr Bull said.

Further information can be found by visiting providers.dffh.vic.gov.au/disability-self-help-grants-program.

Applications close on 14 December.

Caption: Nationals’ Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, pictured at the Sale Greyhound Racing Club with members of the local disability community, is encouraging eligible support groups to consider applying for funding for the disability self-help group.

Monday, 13 November 2023