Construction of a state-of-the-art new Bairnsdale Hospital will commence under a Liberal and Nationals Government with a pledge today of $230 million if elected in November, along with significant upgrades to Maffra Hospital.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said the region was one of the rural areas in the state that was growing at a consistent rate and the major hospital needed to keep pace with that population increase.

“Stage one of the Bairnsdale Regional Health Service (BRHS) rebuild will feature a new and larger Emergency Department, all new wards, first class facilities for visiting specialists and a helipad on top of the building, it will be an entirely new hospital when completed.

“I have been working closely with the BRHS Board on this and they have done a terrific job with master planning and detailed costings. It really is an exciting commitment for the region, and I can’t think of a more pressing and important need,” he said.

BRHS Board Chair, Chris Barry, said the proposed redevelopment will be able to provide our community with health and medical services well into the future.

“The new facility will be able to be built on the existing site with minimal disruption to current and future services,” he said.

Shadow Minister for Health, Georgie Crozier, said the Liberals and Nationals were making significant investment in rural health across the length and breadth of the state.

“We see health as a higher priority than the Box Hill to Cheltenham rail line and that is why we are reallocating all of those funds to fixing our health crisis.

“I have been a regular visitor to this region for many years and every time I travel here, I can see the growth and understand that our health facilities need to keep pace with that,” she said.

Mr Bull also announced $6.1million for upgrades to the Maffra Hospital.

“I have been working with the Central Gippsland Health Service (CGHS) since very early this year on their needs for the Maffra Hospital and was recently provided with detailed costings which amounted to $6.1 million, which we are happy to provide as part of our suite to upgrade country hospitals.”

Caption: State Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, is thrilled to announce a new $230 million state-of-the-art Bairnsdale Hospital will be constructed under a Liberal and Nationals Government, if elected this November.

Wednesday, 12 October 2022

All V/Line fares will be halved for at least four years and V/Line replacement bus services will be free of charge under a Liberal and Nationals Government.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said under this plan, a daily commuter travelling from Bairnsdale to Southern Cross station in Melbourne would save half of the $78.80 return trip.
“That’s down and back for under $40,” Mr Bull said.
“This is in addition to the Liberals and Nationals’ $2 flat fares for local train, tram and bus travel that will help ease road congestion and encourage more sustainable transport choices.
“Town bus runs like we have in Bairnsdale will be a maximum $2 for the day and $1 for concession fares, and when East Gippslanders travel to Melbourne, they will have these same discounts on metro public transport as well.
“The replacement buses, with little or no notice when people have booked a train ticket, is also a point of great frustration to many. While it will continue to occur while we upgrade the services, we will make those free of charge.
“This is another way The Nationals are rewarding hardworking regional families and providing a real solution to ease pressure on household budgets,” Mr Bull said.
“Improving our roads and cheaper public transport costs are a key part of our policy platform and are made possible because we will rein in Daniel Andrews’ spiralling debt and wasteful spending,” he said.
Shadow Minister for Public Transport, Danny O’Brien, said halving V/Line fares was a real solution to reward and support regional Victorian families.
“By halving V/Line fares, our plan will keep more money in regional Victorians’ pockets, while at the same time stimulating tourism in regional Victoria,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Travel costs shouldn’t be a barrier to going about everyday life and under the Liberals and Nationals’ plan, regional Victorians will get the cheap, easy commute they deserve.
Caption: Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, at the Bairnsdale Station announcing half priced V/Line fares for at least four years, under a Liberal and Nationals Government.

Tuesday, 11 October 2022

Strong interest from the Omeo community is anticipated in development of a Victorian High Country Hall of Fame after a commitment from the Liberals and Nationals last weekend.

Nationals State MP, Tim Bull was pleased to attend this year’s Mountain Cattlemen’s event in Merrijig for the funding commitment announcement of $750,000 to determine the best location and design for a future High Country Hall of Fame.

“The first is an expression of interest phase, where interested communities can put forward a bid; and the second a shortlist phase, where the best three bids would receive financial assistance to prepare detailed business cases,” Mr Bull said.

“The High Country Hall of Fame will connect the history of the area and pay tribute to the people and industries that have shaped the region’s history.

“This announcement is the result of a sustained effort of a group of people who are passionate about preserving the history of the High Country, and this is a crucial first step to making their plans a reality.

“A Hall of Fame has been a passionate project for the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria, and it is fantastic to be able to announce this business case that will get the ball rolling.

“This will be a place our community can be proud of, and it will add to the outstanding tourism attractions that already draw more than one million people to the High Country every year.”

Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, with actor Tom Burlinson, who starred in The Man From Snowy River along with Gerald Egan who was Tom’s stunt rider for the movie. The announcement of a Mountain Cattlemen’s Hall of Fame is expected to attract a bid from the Omeo community.

Monday, 10 October 2022

Roads in East Gippsland will be safer for all motorists with the Liberals and Nationals announcing a record $10 billion in funding over 10 years to fix Victoria’s crumbling road system.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, says the funding increase will be delivered through the annual road asset management budget, increasing spending from around $600 million to $1 billion annually. There will also be an audit of all state-managed roads.
“This $10 billion investment will deliver longer-term contracts to promote innovation, give contractors certainty to invest in better equipment and allow for strategic maintenance planning,” said Mr Bull.
“There will also be a review of construction standards, increasing accountability of VicRoads and contractors and a reduction in red and green tape that often escalates construction costs.
“The Nationals are committed to delivering better, safer roads by long-term, strategic planning across the road network.
“We all know the Great Alpine Road was ranked Victoria’s worst road, and the Princes Highway and the Monaro Highway road surfaces are no better, and there are many others.
“Driving around the electorate I’ve seen firsthand how dilapidated parts of our roads are, and it’s only getting worse with Labor MPs saying our concerns are ‘imagined fantasy’ and there is nothing wrong with them.
“These roads are key to local industry and tourism, while our transport sector is reliant on these networks for their livelihoods and need a safe workplace.
“We deserve better, and this commitment means our local roads will be better maintained.
Shadow Minister for Roads Danny O’Brien said after almost a decade of Andrews Labor Government neglect our roads have gone from bad to worse.
“The Andrews Labor Government has left Victoria’s road network crumbling, ignoring the genuine concern of road users across the state, in both the city and the country,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Labor cut the road maintenance budget by 10 per cent when it came to government and, on top of recent wet years, our roads have never recovered.
“It means Victorians won’t have to put up with band-aid solutions that only last weeks or months until the next heavy rain.”
“Better country roads save lives.”

Wednesday, 5 October 2022

Under a Liberal and Nationals Government, Victorians in areas with poor mobile coverage would be eligible for a rebate to install mobile boosters in vehicles, homes and businesses.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull said the subsidy is part of a $150 million Connecting Country Communities program which will see better mobile coverage and broadband services for regional and rural areas.
“The answer is not simply more mobile towers. While they assist and are a key part of the network, we also need options for those who are in isolated areas, and there are plenty of those in East Gippsland,” said Mr Bull.
“We saw Victorian communities left without mobile coverage in the Black Summer bushfires and recently, the storms in June and October last year. This program will work to make the state’s mobile coverage more resilient.
“On top of the rebates for mobile boosters, there will be an effort to strengthen mobile towers, allowing people to stay in touch during emergencies.
“Regional Victorians have been short-changed through Labor’s Connecting Victoria program, which has a strong focus on improving coverage in the metropolitan area, when there are regional areas without any reception at all.
“Daniel Andrews is spending millions gold-plating the city mobile coverage to shore up votes – all at the expense of people who live in smaller towns who have no coverage at all.”
The $150m program will address several issues plaguing country communities including mobile blackspots, slow and unreliable broadband services as well as disaster-proofing mobile towers.
“Regional Victorians are tired of services that drop out and mobile blackspots in their daily commute, which are at best an inconvenience and at worst, a matter of life or death,” Mr Bull said.

Monday, 3 October 2022

Two years and nine months after the 2019/20 fires destroyed the Thurra River Bridge, the Andrews Labor Government has not even put out tenders for its replacement.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said this was disgraceful, after Premier Andrews said he would do everything possible to expedite recovery works.

“What this city-centric government doesn’t seem to understand is the importance of having this region open for the local economies of towns like Orbost and Cann River.

“There are just on 50 campsites at Thurra River and every holiday period they do their shopping and buy gear in these two towns. Point Hicks is also a popular tourist destination, yet here we are almost three years on with no plans finalised and no tenders out.

“I was advised this week that fuel, essential supplies and maintenance items are being delivered to the light house by helicopter and the helicopter comes from Mansfield – what is that costing the Victorian taxpayer while the Government fiddles around,” said Mr Bull.

“However, this issue also causes other problems. As a result of machinery not being able to get to the Point Hicks Road, we have it eroding with the sea undercutting the road in some areas.

“If the bridge was fixed, it could be dealt with in a cost-effective manner, but it is now likely to continue to worsen and result in a multi-million repair bill.”

Mr Bull said it was little wonder seven weeks out from polling opening in the State election Labor had not announced a candidate, as was the case in many other rural areas.

“On one hand it is just another case of Daniel Andrews ignoring the regions, but on the other hand, who would want to stick their hand up to represent a party that has dragged its feet on fire recovery works and wants to close down our timber industry,” he said.

Caption: The bushfire damaged remains of the Thura River bridge, with works still not put out to tender for its replacement. Photo credit: Rylee Pardew

Monday, 3 October 2022