East Gippsland V/Line passengers are demanding better after replacement buses offloaded travellers at East Pakenham Station, leaving them to make their way to the Metro line to complete their journey to Southern Cross.

Nationals Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, said he had received numerous complaints from parents with children, senior citizens, people with large luggage travelling overseas and passengers with disabilities who were all forced to make the long and inconvenient walk.

“The disappointing element is I am reliably advised the buses did not run all the way to Southern Cross as it was a cost cutting measure, and for those forced on to the train service they had to endure another 28 stops.

“In the past, when V/Line trains couldn’t run, coaches delivered passengers from Bairnsdale all the way to Southern Cross, and there was no reason this could not have continued during the most recent rail outage.”

Mr Bull said Metro trains were never designed for long-haul passengers as there was not sufficient room for large luggage items.

“I have now asked Minister for Public and Active Transport, Gabrielle Williams, to guarantee that coaches will continue to operate the full route during rail service disruptions.

“Labor had previously assured rail users that Gippsland services would continue through to Southern Cross and they would not need to disembark at East Pakenham, and we expect them to stick to this,” he said.

Caption: State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, says any replacement coach service for the V/Line train must carry Gippsland passengers all the way to Southern Cross Station and not dump people at East Pakenham to find their own way on the Metro rail.

Monday, 28 April 2025

Victorian students have a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Anzac spirit through the Spirit of the Anzac Prize.

Shadow Minister for Veterans and State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, is encouraging students in Years nine to 12 to consider applying for this opportunity, which will see twelve students selected statewide to undergo a fully funded study tour to sites of wartime significance in Gallipoli, Türkiye.

“It is a program that has had support of both sides of politics for over 20 years,” Mr Bull said.

“This tour is more than just a history lesson. It’s an opportunity for young Victorians to walk in the footsteps of those who served, to gain a deeper appreciation of their courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy.”

Over 11 days, students will visit key battlegrounds and memorials, commemorating those who made the ultimate sacrifice while exploring Australia’s military and peacekeeping history.

As part of the selection process, students will share their reflections on military history, personal connections, and the significance of the Anzac legacy in today’s world.

“I am always inspired by the passion young people have for learning about our military history. It is vital that future generations understand that the freedoms we enjoy today were hard-won by those courageous men and women who served before us,” Mr Bull said.

Applications open on 28 April 2025 and for more information, please see this website www.vic.gov.au/premiers-spirit-anzac-prize.

Victorian Shadow Minister for Veterans and local MP, Tim Bull, pictured at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, where 16,000 Australian and New Zealand troops landed in 1915. Selected students will have the opportunity to visit this historic site and other sacred ANZAC memorials as part of the Spirit of the Anzac Prize study tour.

Monday, 28 April 2025

Friday 25 April 2025 marks the 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings. It was here that the ANZAC spirit was forged through extraordinary courage and resilience in the face of adversity.

On this day, we commemorate all Australians who have served in times of peace and war.

The Nationals’ State Member for Gippsland East and Shadow Minister for Veterans, Tim Bull, has called on all Victorians to pause and reflect this ANZAC Day, honouring the sacrifice of those who have served and continue to serve our nation.

Whether attending a dawn service or cheering on those who march, ANZAC Day is an occasion when our community comes together to honour those who have made sacrifices so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

"ANZAC Day is a time to remember the courage, mateship, and resilience of those who fought for our freedoms, from the shores of Gallipoli to modern battlefields across the world," Mr Bull said.

"While we honour the legacy of our diggers, we also recognise the dedication of contemporary servicemen and women who stand ready to protect and defend our country today. Their service is a testament to the enduring ANZAC spirit."

Mr Bull thanks the 263 Victorian RSL Sub-Branches and volunteer committees that host ANZAC Day dawn, commemorations ceremonies and marches across the state.

Caption: Victorian Shadow Minister for Veterans and Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, is encouraging locals to come together in remembrance this ANZAC Day by attending one of the many heartfelt services being held across the region. He is pictured laying a wreath at Gallipoli on a previous Parliamentary delegation.

Tuesday, 22 April 2025

Labor’s latest new tax, the emergency services levy, is currently sitting between chambers in State Parliament with the Liberals and Nationals hoping to garner enough support to have it defeated on resumption.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said the tax was also heavily opposed by both East Gippsland and Wellington Shire Councils as it will see an additional $2.1 billion ripped out of Victorians’ pockets over the next three years, with councils forced to act as the State’s tax collector via rate notices.

“In an attempt to scuttle this next sitting week, we have launched the “Scrap The Tax” campaign, which notes:

• Farmers face a massive 189 per cent rise in payments.
• Household contributions almost double.
• It creates an additional cost that will be passed on to renters.
• Commercial rates will increase by 100 per cent on average.
• Industrial rates will soar by 64 per cent.

“Labor claims this is to fund services like the SES and Triple Zero, and while they’re critically important services we support, they have always been funded out of consolidated revenue.

“This is just another grab to prop up the bottom line that will soon see us with a debt of $187 billion and interest repayments of $1 billion every six weeks.

“In addition to simply hitting us again financially with a new tax rather than continue to fund these important agencies out of general revenue, there are no guarantees the money will go to frontline services ahead of more backroom staff in the city.”

Mr Bull urged all who wished to stop the implementation of this tax to visit scrapthetax.com.au.

Thursday, April 17 2025

It’s taken nearly six years to get moving on the rebuild of the Thurra River Bridge — and now Labor’s Environment Minister, Steve Dimopoulos, is trying to spin it as a success story.

A recent announcement from Minister Dimopoulos, after years of silence, says works are on track to be finished by the end of 2025.

“That’s six years after the Black Summer Bushfires wiped the bridge out — six years of delays, excuses and silence from local Labor MPs Harriet Shing and Tom McIntosh,” Mr Bull said.

“This is the bridge that enables access to the Thurra River campgrounds and the iconic Point Hicks Lighthouse, both are key tourism draw cards to the far east.

“If Labor MPs were truly backing the rebuild as a priority, they would’ve spoken up in Parliament.

“Instead, a Hansard search shows not one mention of the Thurra River Bridge from a Labor MP since the bushfires.

“In contrast, The Nationals and Liberals have advocated with strength, together speaking about its importance on 15 occasions, as well as numerous questions to the Minister.

“Seven of the contributions were my own, and I am pleased my colleagues also took up the baton for our region.

“Parks Victoria only announced the project was going out to tender in 2023, citing ‘geological complexities’ for the delays, but we all know Labor had other city projects it was prioritising.

“St Kilda Pier was designed and almost completed before the Thurra River Bridge works even started.

“We deserve our important tourism infrastructure to be reinstated as soon as possible. And we deserve support from all sitting members, no matter their persuasion, to advocate for our fair share.”

Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, welcomes the long-overdue start to the Thura River Bridge works, but says six years of inaction is nothing for Labor to boast about.

Monday, 14 April 2025

The Allan Labor Government is cutting fisheries officers at the same time it has acknowledged there are around 100,000 Victorian anglers not abiding by the State’s fishing laws.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said it was contradictory the Government acknowledged the level of fishers doing the wrong thing, at the same time it reduces enforcement effort in cutting $9.6 million from the Fisheries Budget.

“We regularly hear the Government and Victoria Fisheries Authority stating there are one million recreational anglers in the state. Then, in response to a question I asked the Minister, he acknowledged “there is a 90% compliance rate with our fishing rules and regulations”.

“This is an admission 10 per cent, or 100,000 anglers, are not currently abiding by the rules and regulations. This will only increase with less enforcement as the presence of these officers is no doubt what provides a deterrent to many,” he said.

Mr Bull also asked a number of questions the Minister simply refused to answer and this included:

• The Department's website states fisheries officers also enforce laws pertaining to littering, boating safety, wildlife protections, appropriate campfire use and other areas as well. Which agency will have the additional staff to ensure no reduction in monitoring of these important areas?

• Given the commitment the overarching investigatory agency will grow, what was the staffing level of the Special Investigations Group prior to the restructure, and what will be the staffing level of the re-branded Major Fisheries Crime Unit?

• What will be the additional expertise brought into the Major Fisheries Crime Unit the media comments referred to, that did not exist in the Special Investigations Group.

• When Victoria’s Marine Parks system was established in 2002, the Government provided a commitment for increased compliance and oversight. Fisheries officers are at the forefront of this oversight. How many fisheries officers were employed in 2003, 12 months after Marine Parks were introduced?

“No responses were given, all we received was a generic answer to these specific questions that quoted government propaganda and data not related to Fisheries.

“I have asked the Speaker to review the responses relating to the above questions and requested they be returned to the Minister for an answer that at least relates to the questions asked.

“I will continue my push to have these positions reinstated at both Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota,” he said.

Monday, 14 April 2025