Fixing the roads is the answer
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
Action on scan delays needed
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
Premier and Minister at odds on bail review
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
Doggers must remain on core job
With wild dog attacks on livestock in parts of the electorate at high levels, assurances are being sought that government-employed doggers will not be taken off the job to fight fires.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said local farmers have raised concerns that while they are losing stock, wild dog controllers are on call for fire related duties.
“I understand the majority of Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) staff need to be flexible in relation to firefighting demands, there are not too many departmental jobs that are heavily relied on by businesses in relation to their ongoing viability.
“Those who work in the wild dog program fall into that category, so while it is reasonable to ask many in the Department to down tools when required for firefighting duties, this is one area where we cannot compromise the effort.”
Mr Bull said he is also seeking assurances from the Minister that the wild pig control program would remain as a separately funded stand-alone program and would not fall on to the doggers as a cost saving measure.
“Rumours are rife amongst the Department that funding for pig controls would be wound back and this additional feral animal control would fall to the doggers.
“They are busy enough keeping on top of dog numbers without spending time on a different species.
“The reality is, wild pig controls need boosting rather than winding back as the current level of effort is not seeing the problem being contained, in fact it is worsening.
“Unfortunately, we have a city-centric Government and Minister who does not truly understand the level of problems these pest species are causing,” he said.
Monday, 3 February 2025