Buybacks will hit the pockets of consumers
Concerns have been expressed in recent weeks about the increasing price of milk at our supermarkets.
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It is important for Australians to understand that ‘you ain’t seen nothin’ yet’.
The price of milk and other staples will continue to increase due to anti-agricultural policies of the Albanese Government.
In the case of dairy, we had a heavy reliance on dairy farmers across southern NSW and northern Victoria for our supplies.
But there are now fewer dairy farmers in this region and the number is continuing to decline.
When Water Minister Tanya Plibersek’s water buybacks are introduced it will become increasingly unviable for dairy farmers, as well as those who grow other food essentials.
And remember, these buybacks represent a broken promise by Labor that they would not be introduced unless farmers and communities were protected.
That promise has been abandoned by Ms Plibersek.
So as we grow less food, the price increases, as does our reliance on imports, which may not be grown in the clean, green environment by Aussie farmers who are recognised as among the most efficient in the world.
It all makes a mockery of the government’s claims that it will keep your cost of living down.
Finally, for those unfamiliar with water policy and management, Ms Plibersek has been given a vast suite of options that would allow farmers to continue growing food while also providing sufficient water flows for a sustainable environment.
She has chosen to ignore them.
Jodie Hay,
Cohuna
Only the name to change
I want to acknowledge Daniel Andrews for serving in the tough job as the Victorian Premier for nearly nine years, and I wish him and his family well for the future.
I would also like to congratulate Jacinta Allan on becoming the 49th Premier of Victoria.
But this marks the end of a leader who abandoned regional Victoria and has left the rest of us to pick up the pieces of a state he has devastated.
Victoria has a record debt approaching $200 billion, even with Labor introducing more than 50 new or increased taxes since 2014.
Despite all this debt and spending, regional Victoria has nothing to show for it.
The roads are crumbling, the road toll is rising, hospital waiting lists are through the roof, V/Line trains are completely under-serviced and housing is in complete crisis.
Mr Andrews spent his nine years taking out loans in the names of our children and has now left them to pay it — that is his legacy.
There is no doubt that we need a change in governing style, but I am concerned it will be business as usual from Ms Allan — someone who has been wholly mentored by Daniel Andrews.
The truth is that while Mr Andrews was signing the state’s cheques, it was Ms Allan who was cashing them in.
The new premier is responsible for the $30 billion in cost blowouts across major projects and was the minister responsible for the cancellation of the Commonwealth Games.
Waste and mismanagement are in her, and Labor’s, DNA.
Annabelle Cleeland,
State Member for Euroa
Researchers have say on referendum
The Voice to Parliament has become an emotive debate in Australia, with many passionate advocates on both sides. Before voting, we encourage the Australian public to be as fully informed as possible. For us, as clinicians, researchers and individuals dedicated to enhancing the understanding of health-related issues and policies, we have two main points we wish to communicate:
1. The first is that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continue to be under-represented in medical research design and policy.
Historically Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have not had a say in the development and design of treatment protocols directly affecting their people. This is an issue we are actively trying to fix, with some great examples now of research co-designed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Indigenous Voice will help us with this endeavour. It will provide an opportunity to ensure decisions are centred on Indigenous knowledge, experiences, beliefs and perspectives.
2. Second, generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have been calling for a Voice to Parliament. Compounded by decades of lack of recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’ rights, providing a Voice to Parliament will be a step towards repairing the fabric of Australian culture. We can work together, and be stronger for it.
We know in science that when we have more diverse representation, we create better, more innovative solutions. By voting Yes, we will address the lack of representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in health and medical research and begin to undo the damage inflicted upon already vulnerable communities.
As medical researchers, we strive to improve health outcomes for all Australians. We can do our jobs better if there is a structure in place for government to listen to and make decisions based on advice from Indigenous Australians.
We urge Australians to vote Yes and support reconciliation, repair, better health outcomes and a more united Australia.
The board of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes
Dementia villa a vision for the future
I would like to congratulate the Heathcote Dementia Alliance on the recent opening of its dementia-friendly villa, Costerfield House.
The opening highlighted the importance of dementia care in regional Victoria during Dementia Action Week.
This year in Victoria it’s estimated there are more than 104,000 people living with dementia.
Australia-wide there are more than 400,000 Australians living with dementia and 1.5 million carers. Dementia is the second leading cause of death of all Australians. There are more than 28,600 people with younger onset dementia — in their 30s, 40s and 50s.
These figures make the Costerfield House project even more crucial.
The villa is an inspiring look at the future and how we can care for people living with dementia.
This transportable, purpose-built facility provides a safe environment for people to live independently with dignity and to maintain their quality of life.
The layout, colours, furniture and textures used in the villa have all been carefully considered.
Perhaps most amazing, though, is the creative use of artificial intelligence.
When you enter the house, a swipe of a card opens the door, turns on the lights and TV and the blinds go up. Lighting is automatically controlled to match the natural light of day and night.
There are no cameras in the building, but sensors throughout the villa will pick up on a person’s normal routine. Then, for example, if they do not open their fridge within a set time, an alert will be sent to their carer so they can check if they have fallen or are sick.
There is also a room for carers to work or sleep in.
HDA founder and president Sandra Slatter and her team have been working hard for four years to create this extraordinary home.
They have received strong support from the community, including builders and tradies, businesses, and their major sponsor — Mandalay Resources.
Costerfield House will be used as a showcase for 12 months and then will be gifted to the Heathcote Hospital for respite tourism. The Heathcote group is also working with a team in Mildura to create a cluster of several villas with a central hub.
It’s hoped the design could be used as a template for specialised housing for people dealing with disabilities or homelessness.
I congratulate Sandra and her hard-working team for giving us all a glimpse of a dementia-friendly future.
Gaelle Broad,
State Member for Northern Victoria
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