I wish to take the opportunity to wish all residents of East Gippsland a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
The festive season is a time to relax, connect with family and friends, reflect on the year gone by, and look ahead with optimism. Yet too often, community leaders share festive safety messages, only to be ignored, leading to dangerous behaviour on our roads and waterways. We need to live it - not just say it.
We think of our hard-working service people, defence personnel abroad and volunteers who carry on working through the festive season to ensure we are all safe, well cared for and well-fed. We thank you for what you do for our community.
Christmas can be a difficult time of year for those who are missing loved ones, or can’t be with them, and we must recognise and be kind to those whose spirits may not be as bright.
We live in a great part of the world with great people and I’m looking forward to working with you as our region prospers and I look forward to continuing to work with the many organisations, groups and individuals in East Gippsland in 2026.
Finally, if you are travelling this Christmas and New Year period, PLEASE take care on the roads. Drive to the conditions and remember to take your time and don’t take risks, as it is better to arrive late than not at all.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy New Year.

Monday, 22 December 2025

Regional Victorians are being unfairly slugged by Labor’s Emergency Services and Volunteer tax, a levy that punishes country families and those who already give their time and resources to protect communities.

Now, the Allan Labor Government is trying to look like it’s listening by pausing the tax until after the 2026 election and Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull cautions that this reprieve won’t last and Jacinta Allan still intends to implement this cruel tax.

“Don’t be fooled. This isn’t a backflip. It’s a political stunt from a Premier desperate to cling to power in an election year. Only the Liberals and Nationals have committed to scrapping it,” Mr Bull said.

“This is nothing more than political porkies from a government that knows it’s on the nose.

“Labor introduced this unfair tax to cover its own financial incompetence and reckless overspending on city projects. Facing a growing backlash from cash-strapped households, Labor has now decided to wait until after the election to slug Victorians with this additional tax.

“The Premier suggests the tax forms a part of the state’s ‘fiscal recovery plan’, but Victorians know spin when they hear it. This tax is about paying down the Allan Labor Government’s soaring debt.

“Let me be crystal clear. Labor still intends to implement this tax on families, farmers and small business owners. They’re just waiting until after the election to do it, hoping everyone will forget.

“Country Victorians aren’t buying Labor’s spin. This pause is about polls, not people,” he said.

Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, speaks in the Victorian Parliament, urging the Allan Labor Government to scrap its unfair Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund tax.

Monday, 22 December 2025

Shadow Minister for Veterans and Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, is encouraging local organisations to apply for two important grant programs now open to support veterans and honour their service.
The Veterans Capital Works Grant Program offers grants of up to $50,000 to upgrade buildings and facilities used by organisations that support veterans and their families. These upgrades help ensure veterans have safe, modern spaces to access services and connect with their communities.
The Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour Program continues to assist not-for-profit organisations in conserving, protecting and updating local memorials, honour rolls and avenues of honour. These projects ensure our tributes remain fitting reflections of service and sacrifice.
“Honouring the service and sacrifice of those who defended our freedoms is a responsibility we all share,” Mr Bull said.
“These grants help communities preserve that legacy for future generations.”
There are two stages of funding available:
• Stage One: Up to $10,000 for planning and design work.
• Stage Two: Up to $30,000 for delivering restoration projects developed through earlier planning.
“These grants provide a great opportunity for local communities to improve facilities for veterans and preserve memorials that honour those who served,” Mr Bull said.
Applications for both programs are open until 3 February 2026.

Monday, 15 December 2025

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, has expressed his deep disappointment that the Allan Labor Government has again voted against important reforms designed to strengthen police powers and help prevent knife-related harm across Victoria.

“The refusal to introduce Jack’s Law is a significant setback for community safety at a time when families across the state continue to be impacted by knife violence.

“Jack’s Law, which has already been adopted in other Australian states, would allow police to use their powers to scan for and remove dangerous weapons in high-risk public areas such as transport hubs, shopping centres, sporting venues and entertainment precincts.

“I had the pleasure at Parliament last week to sit and chat with Jack’s father, Brett Beasley, who travelled to Melbourne to push the case.

He was the only person in the public gallery and on recognising him, I left the chamber and went into the gallery and we chatted for quite some time.

What he is asking for is common sense. “It’s a practical and proven measure aimed at saving lives. It has strong support from both police and the community, and it is disappointing to see Victoria remain the only state not moving forward with this reform.

The reform honours 17-year-old Queenslander Jack Beasley, who tragically lost his life in a knife attack in 2019.

Since then, his parents and the Jack Beasley Foundation have led a heartfelt national campaign to ensure similar tragedies can be prevented.

“Despite more than 18 months of calls for action, the Allan Government has not prioritised progress on this important issue, the Premier only meeting Jack’s father, Brett Beasley after sustained advocacy from The Nationals and Liberals in State Parliament.

“Our communities want to feel safe, and they expect action when it is needed,” Mr Bull said.

“Victoria Police are calling for this safety reform, and we must listen to those who are responding to the threats and knife crime attacks.

“The Nationals and Liberals have committed to Jack’s Law and I can’t see why the Allan Labor Government would deny these important safety reforms,” Mr Bull said.

Caption: The Nationals’ Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, says passing Jack’s Law would be a far more effective measure to counter knife crime than the collection of machetes.

Monday, 8 December 2025

With summer approaching, Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull has blasted the Allan Labor Government for leaving regional communities dangerously exposed to bushfire risk.

“CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan has warned of record fuel loads across public land, creating the potential for catastrophic fires.

Yet Labor’s response is to punish volunteers, gut resources and not complete the levels of fuel reduction burning required,” he said.

“Since 2023, we are down 5,000 operational volunteers, many who have walked away and one of the reasons is the new Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund tax, which hits country people hardest,” Mr Bull said.

“The failures don’t stop there. Forest Fire Management Victoria has pulled 349 specialist firefighting vehicles from service due to safety defects, leaving Victoria to borrow trucks from interstate just to fill the gaps.

The Minister won’t tell us when the vehicles will be back online. “How can Labor claim we’re fire-ready when hundreds of critical vehicles are sidelined and there’s no publicised plan to replace them?”

Meanwhile, Victoria’s CFA fleet is the oldest in the nation, with ageing trucks increasing breakdown risks. Modern equipment is essential for safety, yet Labor has ignored this for years. The latest round of grants is too little to address this issue,” Mr Bull said.

Adding fuel to the fire, Labor has failed to meet the Bushfire Royal Commission’s recommendation to treat 5% of public land annually.

The target hasn’t been met for over a decade, leaving record fuel loads and dry conditions - a perfect storm for disaster.

“We know what happens when Labor neglects land management. Communities pay the price.”

With thousands of tourists set to visit Gippsland this summer, Mr Bull urged locals to update their fire plans but warned, preparedness starts with leadership.

“Labor can’t manage money and can’t manage its own budget, so it’s coming after yours through increased taxes to pay for its reckless and irresponsible spending,” he said.

Caption: The Nationals’ Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull says Labor has failed to meet the Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission’s recommendation for fuel reduction, which drew upon the expertise of Australia’s most pre eminent bushfire and environmental scientists.

Monday, 8 December 2025