Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, is pleased the State Government has announced the 2025 duck season.

The season will run from March 19 until June 9 with a daily bag limit of nine. Start time is from 8am until 30 minutes after sunset.

“My electorate contains one of the highest percentages of duck hunters in the state and also attracts many to the area over the season.

“I encourage all hunters to do the right think and abide by the regulations in place,” Mr Bull said.

Full details on the season can be obtained from the Game Management Authority website.

A reduction of fisheries officer positions from nine to four in East Gippsland has been slammed by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.

“This is yet another step from a cash strapped Labor Government that has doubled the metropolitan based public service in the 10 years it has been in government, but now when it is time to tighten the belt, has cut front line positions from rural areas.
This comes on the back of a reduction in Parks Victoria staff by the same Minister just months ago.

Mr Bull said there had previously been four fisheries officer positions at both Mallacoota and Lakes Entrance as well as a regional manager, and while some of these positions had been vacant, the cuts mean that only two positions remain in each of Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota.

“We have basically gone from nine to four and that causes all sorts of issues.

“First and foremost is that two officers are required for the higher level enforcement and apprehension work, but with each having four weeks’ annual leave, possible sick days, parental and other leave, for several months of the year they will be unable to complete this important work.

“It’s not a five minute trip from Mallacoota to Lakes Entrance and often these jobs require a quick response. For this reason, at least three positions should remain in both locations.

“In addition, the Department’s own website states fisheries officers also enforce laws pertaining to littering, boating safety, wildlife protections, appropriate campfire use and other areas as well.

“With reductions in staff numbers across the board locally, Parks Victoria personnel won’t be able to pick up the slack and assist with enforcement in these areas,” said Mr Bull.

“The Department acknowledges most recreational anglers do the right thing and no doubt a significant reason for this is due to the presence of officers who not only enforce, but also educate. The reduction in officers will impact on this. There will be a major decrease in on-water hours educating the community and upholding the laws.

“I am aware we have a Minister who basically has no understanding of fishing, but even he should be able to realise this is not a positive move,” he said.

Caption: The reduction in fisheries officers across East Gippsland has not been well received by the recreational angling fraternity.

Monday, 24 February 2025

Just 2.6 kilometres of the Monaro Highway and 2.01 kilometres of the Princes Highway East will be fully rehabilitated in 2025.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said this paltry amount of roadwork would hardly scratch the surface of what needed to be done on these two major traffic routes.

“This response came from the Minister when I asked what action she was taking in relation to the parlous state of these roads after concerns were raised by local CFA groups.

“The Brigades met recently and passed three motions, that I was asked to put to the Minister. They were:

• The previous federal government committed funding to repair the Mallacoota Genoa Road … When will these funds be expended on this severely deteriorated, but vitally important road?
• Will the Minister accept a degree of responsibility for any fatal or serious injury collisions that occur on the Mallacoota Genoa Road, Princes Highway, Bonang Highway and the Monaro Highways due to neglect on the Minister’s watch?
• What financial, physical and emotional cost should those who are forced to travel on unsafe country roads, consider acceptable, to enable a replication of public transport and road network under the Melbourne metropolitan area.

“The Minister did not answer the questions directly but seemed proud to announce less than 4km (on both roads combined) will be fully rehabilitated in East Gippsland. She went on to say that across East Gippsland, Bass Coast, Baw Baw, South Gippsland and Wellington, a total of just 10km of road will undergo full rehabilitation,” said Mr Bull.

Leader of the Nationals and Shadow Minister for Roads, Danny O’Brien, said the fact the Minister believes this is a reasonable level of road work across Gippsland is laughable.

“This is reflective of the abject neglect of our roads under Labor, especially in rural and regional Victoria,” Mr O’Brien said.

The Minister advised the Mallacoota Genoa Road works, funded by the Federal Coalition in 2021 but not yet started, had only had environmental and cultural heritage investigations undertaken, with work now underway on preliminary designs.

“It’s a disgrace it has taken this long, and we are still working on preliminary designs after four years,” Mr Bull said.

Monday, 17 February 2025

The amount of speed reduction signs due to poor road surface has been raised in State Parliament by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.
Mr Bull said the increasing number of both temporary hazard signs and permanent speed reduction signs going up is frustrating motorists.
“In relation to the first matter, it is a case of signs going up rather than fixing the roads, and on the second count, the frustrating element is the complete lack of community consultation.
“Ironically, the day after I raised this issue, 80km signs were erected on the Stratford – Maffra Road.
“This is a straight road with farm land either side, good visual capability, and in better condition than many other roads in the area.
“What has angered community members is the complete lack of consultation in either Stratford or Maffra. That is just a common courtesy after VicRoads gave me an undertaking it would consult on speed limit reductions,” he said.
“The traffic hazard ahead signs are on roads (but not limited to) such as the Princes Highway, Monaro Highway, Great Alpine Road, Bonang Highway (all multiple locations), Paynesville Road and Bullumwaal Road, and they’ve all been up for extended periods.
“In the case of Bullumwaal Road, the same stretch has had a sign up for over four years. Surely it is time to fix the road.
“Never before have we seen so many ‘traffic hazard ahead’ signs on our roads and it is state-wide, not just in this area.
“It is a symptom of reduced road funding, which is at a lower level than it was five years ago, and that can really only end one way. The government blames floods, but the only issue is - we haven’t had floods in these areas!
“Roads are not being repaired properly and there have been many cases where pot holes are repeatedly refilled when more major work is needed to fix the underlying problem,” said Mr Bull.
“I have asked the Minister:
• How many locations in East Gippsland currently have speed limit restrictions due to poor road condition (excluding road works)?
• How does this compare to 2015 and 2020?

“I doubt whether I will get a straight answer as it will be embarrassing.”
Mr Bull said in a recent response he was told by the Roads Minister that across East Gippsland, Bass Coast, Baw Baw, South Gippsland and Wellington, a total of just 10km of road will undergo full rehabilitation in the upcoming period.
Leader of the Nationals and Shadow Minister for Roads, Danny O’Brien, said the fact the Minister believes this is a reasonable level of road work across Gippsland is laughable.
“This is reflective of the abject neglect of our roads under Labor, especially in rural and regional Victoria.”

Monday, 10 February 2025

The amount of time it is taking to secure medical imaging appointments and the turnaround time in obtaining results has been taken up with the State’s Health Minister, again.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said it was a matter he raised a long time ago and despite being told solutions were being worked on, things had seemingly only got worse.

“We have had one case where a constituent waited 85 days between the time their doctor ordered a scan to when an appointment was finally offered.

“There have also been cases where a scan has been done, a doctor’s appointment booked for two weeks after for a follow up, and when the patient arrives, the doctor is yet to receive the image,” he said.

Mr Bull said a recent report from the Gippsland Primary Health Network highlighted Gippslanders face a higher prevalence of avoidable deaths specific to cancer diagnosis, lung disease and heart disease.

“Part of this is due to imaging delay,” Mr Bull said.

“Given I raised this matter with the Minister, Mary-Anne Thomas, over 12 months ago, I have sought an update on what is being done to cut these timeframes down, so we can start to reverse this concerning trend.

“Country people should not have such a discrepancy in wait times compared to our city-based cousins. Of course there will be some disadvantages, but in this area the gap is increasing, and it needs to be addressed.

“I am looking forward to receiving the Minister’s reply to see what is being put in place,” he said.

Monday, 10 February 2025

Despite defending her government’s bail laws as recently as last week, Premier Jacinta Allan has since backflipped, saying they were not adequate, and a review would be undertaken – only to have the Police Minister say there would be no review.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said it made a mockery of the Premier’s announcement and showed the Labor Government was in crisis.

“Premier Allan has repeatedly defended her government’s bail laws and then this week - after polling for the by-elections came out (I suspect), they are all of a sudden inadequate and a review will take place,” Me Bull said.

“However, at a media conference the Police Minster, Anthony Carbines, who is meant to be undertaking this review, said there was no major ‘piece of work’ in the pipeline.

“He then went on to reveal, ‘I wouldn’t even say that there’s particularly a review’ and added ‘I’ve got plenty of stuff in the bottom drawer that I can pull out’.”

Mr Bull said it left Victorians wondering if there was to be a review at all and, if the Police Minister has the solutions he can just ‘pull out’ – why hasn’t it been done?

“The fact we have youths being bailed over 50 times is a disgrace. There is just no accountability for actions under the government.

“The Premier claims we opposed strengthening bail laws. That is not correct. The government did not allow the Liberals and Nationals to introduce a Bill last year to toughen bail laws,” he said.

Wednesday, 5 February 2025