User Profile

Peter Bannan

It’s time to get vaccinated against influenza

PEOPLE are being reminded to book in their annual flu vaccination ahead of the winter peak season, with free flu vaccines now available for children under five years old and other at-risk groups. Chief health officer Dr Tarun Weeramanthri encouraged...

18 Apr 2025

News

Drink-drive warning

VICTORIA Police has warned there will be zero tolerance towards drink-driving during the festive month. Analysis of recent data revealed December to be the worst month for drink-driving. Over the past three years, 2591 drink driving detections were...

10 Dec 2024

News

Top marks for debt cut

A CHANGE to student debt repayments has been welcomed by three Mallee solicitors. The Federal Government announced that from July 1 next year, it would reduce the amount Australians with a student debt had to repay per year, and raise the threshold...

10 Dec 2024

News

Housing bill gets backing

HOUSING is a basic human right and a prerequisite for participation in all other areas of society, according to Mallee Family Care chief executive Teresa Jayet. MFC this week welcomed the National Housing and Homelessness Bill 2024 (No. 2), which...

07 Sep 2024

News

Robinvale population key to funding says mayor

RURAL City of Swan Hill councillors have called for a review of the local government funding model in a submission to a Victorian Parliamentary inquiry on municipal financial sustainability. Mayor Cr Stuart King said part of the SHRCC’s problem was...

13 Jul 2024

News

Balranald adopts draft budget

BALRANALD Shire Council adopted its draft budget, draft revenue policy and operational plan at its meeting last week. Major projects in the plan include developing the river front. In the 2024-25 year, the council will develop village plans for Euston...

09 May 2024

Farming and Environment

Buybacks ‘a risk for grape growers’

MURRAY Valley wine grape growers face “serious economic risks” from water buybacks, Member for Mallee Anne Webster told Federal Parliament this week. “The looming threats of forced exits, water buybacks and widespread vineyard abandonment pose not...

22 Mar 2024

News

Dalton’s script for water pain

MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton has told NSW Premier Chris Minns to “stop giving people rural people the shits”. In a cheeky notice of motion on Thursday, the independent MP moved that NSW Parliament recognise “the devastating...

19 Mar 2024

News

Murray-Darling river ad lies - MP

MEMBER for Murray Helen Dalton has called on the Federal Government to pull the plug on a new Murray-Darling Basin television commercial. The independent MP labelled the multi-million-dollar, taxpayer-funded campaign as “dishonest and...

15 Mar 2024

News

Truck tax a ‘cash grab’ - VFF

THE Victorian Farmers Federation says a Victorian Government tax reportedly proposed for truck movements at the Port of Melbourne would be a “blatant cash-grab”.President Emma Germano said the “misguided” approach risked...

07 Mar 2024

Politics

Bulk-bill freefall claims rejected

BULK billing is “collapsing” under Labor, according to Member for Mallee Anne Webster. Dr Webster said the federal Labor government had promised to “strengthen” Medicare, but claimed it had been “weakened”. However, federal...

05 Mar 2024

News

Longest rail strike yet

SWAN Hill rail passengers face more travel chaos this month with V/Line workers preparing a 13-hour strike leading into the Labour Day long weekend. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union has upped its war on V/Line by lodging industrial action...

03 Mar 2024