Dear Editor, The Federal Water Minister, Tanya Plibersek’s decision to issue tenders to buy out irrigation water entitlements from southern basin communities is nothing short of a disgrace. Despite a promise not to prioritise irrigation areas, the Albanese Labor Government has launched the ‘Voluntary Water Purchase Program’ this month, ie. water buybacks, and with ZERO…
Common sense has prevailed in a win for thousands of duck harvesters throughout Victoria. A biased and stacked Inquiry which recommended the end of duck harvesting was a sham and the Liberals and Nationals strongly support the practice continuing. Labor, the Greens and the Animal Justice Party members involved in the Inquiry into Victoria’s Recreational…
The Nationals Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, has issued a warning to the community about a concerning trend where businesses and food producers are receiving questionable invoices from the State Revenue Office (SRO). While not a scam, these invoices are seen as a cash grab by the Labor Government, highlighting their mismanagement of the State’s…
Member for Mildura, Jade Benham joined the tour, led by Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, and Shadow Minister for Water, Tim McCurdy, to speak with food producers and stakeholders to discuss the already tangible impacts felt across Victorian communities. Farming communities in Northern Victoria are on the brink…
Nationals Member for Mildura, Jade Benham this week asked that the Minister commit to formally reinstate the allocation of recreational water to the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline. Supplied waterbodies (Wimmera Mallee Lakes Alliance) must have access to the high security level which was committed and agreed during the commissioning of the pipeline. The Wimmera Mallee Pipeline…
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, is calling on the Minister for Water for clarity on the responsibility of urban & rural levee banks along the Murray and Avoca River. “I have met with councils across the region, and between state departments and local government it’s not always clear who pays for what, and…
Victorian communities are set to suffer even more pain and hardship with the divisive and destructive Water Amendment Bill passing the House of Representatives in Canberra. In a Federal vote, Labor, Greens and a regional independent voted to support the Albanese Government’s destructive buyback bill. The bill passed the House with the support of 22 Labor…
The Nationals have secured a commitment that the Victorian Labor Government will continue to oppose water buybacks by the Federal Government. Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, along with her Victorian Nationals colleagues across regional Victoria have successfully advocated for the Victorian Government to continue to oppose water buybacks. The Minister confirmed that the Victorian…