User Profile

Peter Bannan

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

Politics

Support for no wards along Murray

THERE has been strong support in another north-west Victorian council for a decision to abolish wards, a system about to be implemented for Mildura Council. A review adopted by the Victorian Government decided to move to an...

27 Feb 2024

News

Drags blowup: club ‘devastated’ over council ‘abuse’

SWAN Hill Drag Racing Club is seeing red after Swan Hill Council tore up its spectator mound and dumped it at the start and end of the club’s quarter-mile racing strip. Club president Gary Rovere said he was “stunned and appalled” at the...

24 Feb 2024

News

Fire cause investigation

AUTHORITIES are still investigating the cause of a grass fire near Robinvale on Wednesday last week. More than 70 hectares of grasslands and scrub on Crown land was burnt in the blaze. Forest Fire Management Victoria said...

22 Feb 2024