Labor’s twisted 12 days of Christmas
As the festive season approaches, you could say the Labor Government has given our communities a twisted rendition of the “Twelve Days of Christmas”.
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On the first day, there was the abrupt scrapping of the timber industry which is set to leave hard-working individuals jobless and a once-thriving sector in ruins.
The second day delivered the unwelcome gift of 53 new or increased taxes, burdening Victorians as the most heavily taxed in the nation.
On the third day, despite increased taxes, Labor slashed regional road funding by 45 per cent, leaving our infrastructure neglected.
The fourth day uncovered a broken health system with long ambulance wait times and insufficient resources.
On the fifth day, scarce day care availability added to the struggles of families already facing financial hardship.
The sixth day was all about insufficient investment and bureaucratic hurdles from the Labor Government, which has led to a crippling housing shortage and soaring homelessness rates.
On the seventh day, we witnessed a glaring stat: a surge of more than 15 per cent in the social housing register since 2021.
The eighth day delivered another nasty surprise: our latest energy bills were up, an alarming increase from 25 to 100 per cent.
On the ninth day, hard-working Victorians unfairly copped the bill for local government funding inequities through soaring annual rate notices.
The 10th day was painful, with all Victorians receiving a hefty $600 million bill for the Commonwealth Games cancellation.
The 11th day brought a surge in crime rates and an annual exodus of 500 police officers from the force.
On the 12th day, Victorians are left to bear the weight of a staggering daily interest payment of $15 million, a consequence of Labor’s financial mismanagement.
Peter Walsh MP,
Leader of The Nationals
State Member for Murray Plains
Merry Christmas
Christmas is just around the corner and, I’m sure like many of you, I can’t wait!
I hope all of you can enjoy the festive season and I hope it is filled with laughter, good company and some sunny weather.
I was recently overjoyed at the responses from our local primary school students who participated in my inaugural “what Christmas means to me” drawing competition.
I received hundreds of creative entries that demonstrate the many ways to celebrate Christmas.
Whether it be sun, sand and barbecues, or the more traditional themes of reindeer, snow and Christmas trees, this competition was a fantastic celebration of our wonderfully diverse region.
As we exchange gifts and share meals with loved ones, let us also remember those less fortunate and extend a helping hand to those in need.
I understand that this time of the year is not easy for everyone, especially with times tough at the moment due to increased food prices, soaring rent costs, rising interest rates and out-of-control energy bills.
The spirit of Christmas is not just about the presents under the tree but also about spreading kindness and compassion to those around us.
Lastly, I want to encourage everyone travelling on our roads to be careful and ensure you are able to arrive safely at your destination this holiday period.
It’s been a truly incredible year as your local MP and I look forward to many more in the years to come.
Here’s to a fantastic holiday season and an even better new year.
Merry Christmas!
Annabelle Cleeland,
Member for Euroa
Apply for agricultural scholarship
The Rotary Club of Bendigo will again award a scholarship to support a student taking a tertiary course in agriculture.
The scholarship will provide the successful student with funding to the value of $4000 over two years to assist with their tertiary studies.
The scholarship is open to students who have completed Year 12 in Bendigo and surrounding municipalities (Loddon, Buloke, Campaspe, Gannawarra and Mt Alexander) in 2023 and will be undertaking a tertiary course in agriculture in 2024.
Students must have sound academic achievements, community involvement and a commitment to a career that will benefit agriculture and regional and rural communities.
Applications close on January 19, with interviews to be held in early February.
Work in modern agriculture uses various technologies and has a strong focus on sustainability.
The application form and further details may be found on the scholarships page of the Rotary Club of Bendigo’s website or by emailing info@rotarybendigo.org.au
The Rotary Club has previously awarded four agricultural scholarships to students from the Bendigo region.
Bob Edgar,
Rotary Club of Bendigo
A plea to road users
The number of lives lost on Victorian roads in 2023 is reaching scary heights.
The price for using the road shouldn’t be death or severe injury.
Imagine someone important to you was seriously injured in a crash.
Imagine the ripple effect within your immediate family, friends, first responders and health system workers.
What can we do?
Understanding the most common causes of motor vehicle and traffic accidents is essential to take proper precautions and avoid the situations and conditions that could lead to a car crash.
Injuries sustained in a car crash can take a long time to heal and have serious impacts on your life.
Some car accidents are unavoidable, but good driving habits and proper safety practices can help you avoid the most common car accident situations and help create safe roads for all drivers.
Speeding is the number one cause of fatal road collisions in Australia.
Please obey the speed limit, maintain a safe distance, always drive in the correct lane and adjust your speed for poor weather conditions by slowing down and obeying posted speed limits.
This significantly decreases the likelihood of a traffic collision.
Avoid driving a car or getting behind the wheel when you are overly tired or intoxicated.
Instead of getting behind the wheel, when you are going out plan how you and your friends will get there and home safely.
Many people understand texting while driving is dangerous, but the number of people who believe they can do it safely is frightening.
Distracted driving is a major danger to yourself and the many drivers who share the road with you.
Do not use mobile phones while driving a car or any other vehicle.
Also, using a hand-held phone while driving in Australia is illegal.
Seatbelt usage can prevent you from suffering a serious injury.
People who do not wear this safety device are more likely to be at risk of being injured during a car accident.
Seatbelt use can cut the risk of fatality.
As we approach the final weeks of 2023, please consider the above points.
Let’s imagine having a safe holiday break.
To the many dedicated police, first responders and allied health workers, we hope you have a quiet period at work and we thank you so much for your efforts.
Lives lost are not just numbers, they are people — someone’s child, mother, father, sister, brother, friend, or colleague.
Bill Winters,
Seymour
Bravo Cricket Australia
Bravo to Cricket Australia for banning Australian Muslim Test cricketer Usman Khawaja’s pro-Palestinian message on his shoes.
Make no mistake — this writer would applaud Cricket Australia banning any Australian Jewish cricketer attempting to have pro-Israeli messages on their shoes.
Just get on with the game, because once cricketers start taking sides, fans will start taking sides, creating a moral and political maelstrom of protest. And that’s just not cricket!
Howard Hutchins,
Chirnside Park
OPINION POLICY
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