The State Government is being urged to commit funding to Surf Life Saving Victoria (SLSV) to ensure East Gippsland and Wellington Shire ratepayers are not left to cover the cost of government cuts.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said SLSV had written to coastal councils across Victoria warning that with state funding not yet guaranteed for this summer, councils would be forced to make up the shortfall to maintain lifesaving services.

“East Gippsland Shire Council has been told its contribution will more than double, from $56,000 to $105,000,” Mr Bull said. “Wellington Shire’s contribution will increase from $32,000 to $66,000, South Gippsland from $33,000 to $113,000, Warrnambool from $23,000 to $77,000 and Mornington will skyrocket from $90,000 to $351,000.”

Mr Bull said this comes at the same time the Allan Labor Government is imposing a massive new Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund levy - stripping nearly $5 million from East Gippsland Shire Council and around $10 million from Wellington.

“Ratepayers should not be forced to pick up the slack because Jacinta Allan has failed to guarantee SLSV’s funding for this summer,” he said. “This is not just the Opposition raising concerns, SLSV itself has made it clear that without certainty it will be forced to reduce services. Councils have always contributed, but it has been on a shared-responsibility basis with government.

“SLSV delivers thousands of volunteer hours every summer, but there are also paid lifesavers and operational costs that must be met. Without proper funding, patrol levels will suffer.” Mr Bull said the situation was yet another example of a government that cannot manage money and is now penny-pinching at the expense of country Victorians.

Friday, 29 August 2025

Legacy Week is a time for Australians to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by our veterans and their families.

Since 1923, Legacy has provided essential support to the families of fallen and injured service men and women, ensuring that no widow, widower, or child is ever left behind. Funds raised through Legacy Week help deliver practical assistance, education support, and a strong community of care to those who need it most.

Shadow Minister for Veterans and The Nationals’ Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said Legacy Week is one of the most important national appeals, reminding us that service does not end when a uniform is hung up.

“Legacy has stood beside the families of our veterans for more than a century. Their work is a lasting tribute to the mateship, compassion, and loyalty that reflect the Australian spirit,” Mr Bull said.

“It is important to thank every volunteer and supporter who gives their time during Legacy Week. Whether it’s by buying a badge, rattling a tin, or simply raising awareness, every effort makes a difference to a veteran’s family.”

“As Australians, we have a duty to care for those who have carried the heavy burden of service. Legacy’s work is a powerful reminder of what it means to look after one another, and I encourage everyone to get behind this year’s campaign.”

This Legacy Week, Australians are encouraged to wear a badge with pride, knowing that every contribution provides hope, security, and dignity to the families of those who served our nation.

Caption: Shadow Minister for Veterans and Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, pictured with Member for Rowville, Kim Wells, with Legacy Week mascots at Parliament.

Wednesday, 27 August 2025

At least 31 Agriculture Victoria staff working on biosecurity, weed and pest control will lose their jobs by year’s end, and the Plant Production Sciences Branch, home to researchers specialising in agronomy, genetics and allied fields, has been made redundant.

These roles underpin on-farm biosecurity advice, surveillance and rapid response capacity during outbreaks. Industry warns lost capability will be costly and slow to restore.

State Nationals MP for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said the cuts will hurt regional communities and are yet another symptom of a government stripping back services that benefit the bush to service debt racked up on costly city-based projects.

“This is the latest round of cutbacks on top of fisheries officers, Parks Victoria and Department of Energy Environment and Climate Action positions and all because we have a government with debt heading to $192 billion, with interest repayments alone of $28 million a day.

“I don’t oppose a leaner public service, but savings should come from the endless army of spin doctors the Labor Government employs, not from front-line services that directly support our communities.

“And don’t forget, this is the same government that said earlier this year it would not cut any front-line staff,” Mr Bull said.

According to a Weekly Times report last week, information sent to staff says the redundancies are part of “a strategic shift towards strengthening research and innovation,” but will involve “some reduction and realignment… reducing science capability in some areas”.

The memo states Agriculture Victoria’s Plant Production Sciences Branch will be “dissolved”, with a “scale back of science capabilities in crop agronomy, hydrogeology, plant functional genomics and spatial data sciences”.

Seventeen scientists’ roles are listed as “proposed no longer required”, while six new positions will be created as part of the overhaul.

Opposition agriculture spokeswoman, Emma Kealy, said the harsh reality is the Premier’s latest cuts are targeting Victoria’s outstanding team of agricultural research scientists.

The Agriculture Victoria staff reductions follow a steep slump in the number of properties inspected for invasive pests and weeds - from 4,989 in 2012–13 to just 1,440 in 2024–25.

Mr Bull said this latest round will mean even worse outcomes.

“They are basically surrendering the fight against invasive weeds. If they were going to cut anything, it should be the very expensive brumby-culling program, which many in our community oppose.

“I have not yet had confirmation on whether that is continuing,” he said.

Caption: The Nationals’ State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, says front-line staff cuts to Agriculture Victoria will be devastating for the region.

Monday, 25 August 2025

Recently, and without warning, it was revealed Bairnsdale and Sale courts will now be closed to the public on non-sitting days, which will be a great inconvenience to many in the community.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull and Shadow Attorney, Michael O’Brien, slammed the move which is a direct result of budget cuts.
Mr Bull explained how this would impact the community.
“Up until now the court staff handled a variety of enquiries from the general public on these days. It could be anything from filing documents, enquiries from people who are self-defending because they cannot afford a lawyer wanting information on how the court operates, discussing privacy matters with clerks and a myriad of other reasons.
“As a result of this funding cut, the courts will now only be open on sitting days and that is when the clerks are already very busy dealing with the daily court list and associated issues,” he said.
Mr O’Brien added, “the Labor government is ripping over $100 million out of the courts because it can’t manage money. These cuts mean 10 closed courts in the regions and less access to justice for people in country areas.
“People in Mallacoota who want information on a set day, shouldn’t have to drive to Morwell because courts in Bairnsdale and Sale are closed due to budget cuts.
“Premier Allan is making regional Victorians pay for her bad financial decisions. We call on Labor to properly fund our courts so that every Victorian can get local access to justice,” he said.
Court Services Victoria has been ordered to find over $106 million in savings over the next four years, starting with $26.1 million in 2025-26.
Mr Bull said local solicitors had also flagged concerns of the impacts of these cutbacks, which are reminiscent of what DEECA has done, in closing its offices on specific days.
“It is all a case of having a government in so much debt it has to cut services to people to pay its bill, which is heading to $192 billion with interest repayments alone of $28 million per day,” he said.
Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, with Shadow Attorney General, Michael O’Brien, discussing the cuts to Bairnsdale and Sale court services.

Monday, 25 August 2025

The State Environment Minister, Steve Dimopoulos, has been asked to explain why the promised Marlo to Cape Conran shared path has been cancelled and where the $13.5 million allocated to deliver the project has gone.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, raised the matter in Parliament recently, reminding the Government that following the 2019/20 fires, it announced funding for both the shared path and a potable water pipeline.

“It was big news at the time - front page of the local paper - and was welcomed by a community rebuilding after disaster. Everyone believed the funding was secure,” Mr Bull said.

“Now, the community has been blindsided by a casual announcement that the path is scrapped and potable water will be supplied via tanks rather than a pipeline. The water supply remains, but why axe a bike path that would have been valuable tourism infrastructure?”

Parks Victoria has cited “insufficient budget” for the cancellation. Mr Bull says that’s not good enough.

“You either find the money to deliver what you promised, or at the very least reinvest it in a new local project,” he said.

Mr Bull has asked the Minister to explain:

• Why the shared path project was cancelled, and
• What has happened to the $13.5 million committed to it.

“Has it been reallocated elsewhere, or simply disappeared back into consolidated revenue? You can’t promise this to a community, pull the plug and not explain why or where the money has gone.”

Caption: The Nationals’ State MP for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, is demanding answers on where the money has gone for the promised Marlo to Cape Conran shared path and water project.

Monday, 25 August 2025

Advocacy to have an additional morning bus/train service from Bairnsdale to Melbourne has been rejected by the Allan Labor Government.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, made representations on behalf of the community, seeking an additional service to Melbourne between the one that departs at 6.45am and the early afternoon 12.54pm service.

“I have had a number of representations from locals stating they want a service that leaves sometime between 8am and 10am and arrives in Melbourne late morning or early afternoon.

“It would be as simple as putting on another bus that connects to one of the trains departing Traralgon,” he said.

“However, the response from Minister Williams states ‘there are currently no plans to introduce an additional rail service and there are no immediate plans to address this gap by introducing a coach service’.

“This is a very disappointing result when you consider this city-centric government is about to commit to tens of billions of dollars on a new Cheltenham to Box Hill rail line (Suburban Rail Loop), yet they cannot afford to put on an additional bus from Bairnsdale to connect to a train departing Traralgon.

“In a further show of lack of understanding, Minister Williams’ response boasts this Government has added a further 900 weekly services to the network since 2014. This is not what we want to hear when not one of those 900 comes to Bairnsdale and they are refusing our one request.

“This government needs to realise much of regional Victoria sits outside Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong. It is another case of a Labor Minister not reading the tea leaves when it comes to services to regional Victoria,” he said.

Monday, 18 August 2025