MINISTER’S MEAGRE MILLIONS: A BAND-AID FOR A BLEEDING FARM SECTOR
Editor,
The government giveth and the government taketh away. Well, almost! In reality if you live in a rural community the Albanese Government giveth little and taketh lots.
It continues to remove water from farmers, which has significant adverse impacts on our rural and regional towns. Additionally, as we grow less food the price continues to increase, exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis.
This week the Water Minster Tanya Plibersek (has there ever been a Minister so out of touch with the realities of their portfolio?), acknowledging damage to these towns, announced a $300M adjustment package, spruiking its so-called generosity.
Methinks the esteemed Minister is missing something. She is happy to remove potentially billions of dollars in economic output from our farmers and replace it with a pitiful $300M. Sorry, but in my eyes that doesn’t constitute ‘generous’.
I think the approach to the Basin Plan by Minister Plibersek and her government could more accurately be described as ‘irresponsible’.
Those who live and breathe our river systems and have more desire to protect our local environment more than any city-based politician or environmentalist can see the current pathway under the Plan will end badly for both the environment and our rural communities, and force everyone in the city to pay more at the supermarket.
And let’s not even go near the issue we will have with future flooding to public and private infrastructure, which is another inevitable consequence of the Basin Plan as we increase the volumes that are stored in dams.
May the good Lord save us from this policy disaster.
Yours,
Ron and Val McWhae
Barham, NSW
VICTORIANS SAY NO TO HOSPITAL MEGA-MERGERS
Dear Editor,
The recent weekend should have been a huge wake-up call to an Allan Labor Government intent on dismantling local regional health services.
“Don’t mess with Mansfield!” was the passionate message to Labor from one resident who attended the 1,000 strong rally to fight looming cuts and mergers to health services.
And it’s a message that is being echoed across the state as more regional Victorians hear about Labor’s plans for mega-mergers of regional hospitals.
At least 20 health services across Victoria are set to have their funding slashed – reportedly by up to 30 per cent.
In my electorate, the Grampians Health mega-merger has already demonstrated the detrimental effects of Labor’s savage cuts and appalling merger strategy, with local services including dentists, rehabilitation exercise programs and even social worker services cut.
As Labor pours billions of dollars into cost overruns on the Suburban Rail Loop in a few suburbs in Melbourne, regional Victorians are now forced to fight tooth and nail for Labor to fund for basic public health services.
It’s yet another example that Labor can’t manage money, can’t manage our health system and regional Victorians are paying the price.
The Nationals will continue to fight for the health services regional Victorians need, close to home.
And given the numbers at the rally in the proud town of Mansfield, it’s a fight that’s clearly only just begun.
Join our fight here www.handsoffourhospitals.com.au
Emma Kealy
Deputy Leader of the Nationals
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