February 2018
Friday, 09 February 2018 17:38

Well done on rescue: Bull

Three men who performed a heroic rescue of two kayakers off Lakes Entrance on Sunday have been formally thanked and congratulated in State Parliament by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.
 
“In a strong run-out tide, the kayakers were taken out the entrance and had it not been for the quick response from Far Out Charters, the outcome could have been disastrous,” Mr Bull told Parliament on Tuesday.
 
“Their quick thinking and quick action is to be commended,” he said.
 
Mr Bull said he was made aware of the incident the following day after it was posted to social media and called the owner of Far Out Charters this week to extend his appreciation of their efforts on saving these men’s lives.
 
“It is a reminder to all to be vigilant while enjoying the Gippsland Lakes, particularly near the entrance,” he said.
 
“Often there is a very strong current running out the entrance and once you’re caught, sometimes there is no turning back, particularly without engine power.
 
“It is so easy to get caught in a current and these two men were extremely lucky to have the assistance of a good, local operator in the know.”
 
Friday, February 9, 2018
Published in Media
Friday, 09 February 2018 09:47

Bull welcomes fire station announcement

Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull has welcomed news that the land for the new Bairnsdale Fire Brigade station has been secured at the rear of the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning offices in Main Street.
 
“This is terrific news for Bairnsdale Fire Brigade members who have been squeezed for space for some time in the existing ninety year old Fire Station across the road from the water tower, Mr. Bull said.
 
“There’s a lot of good memories associated with the existing building, but it’s no longer able to provide the facilities demanded of a modern firefighting service as well as posing some serious safety issues on a road that sees considerably more traffic.
 
“The relocation has been discussed for some years now and I am pleased we have been able to reach this significant point in the process.
 
“Given the latest step, I have written to the Minister for Emergency Services seeking a commitment in next year’s State Government budget for a funding allocation to build the new station.
 
“Our Bairnsdale CFA members have been the custodians for more than ninety years of the great Australian tradition of volunteer firefighting and the move is an exciting time in the brigade’s history.
 
“A new station will help to keep that tradition alive with modern facilities that are safe and fit for purpose so given we now have the land secured, I’ll be pushing hard to get the funds so the project can be started.” Mr Bull said.
 
Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull looks forward to the next chapter in Bairnsdale Fire Brigade’s long history of volunteer service to the community.
 
Friday, February 9, 2018
Published in Media
Thursday, 08 February 2018 17:36

State Parliament could be heading east

Gippslanders will be able to better access State Parliament sittings in the next term of government, should the Liberal Nationals win the November election.

Nationals Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull, said the Gippsland region would play host to one sitting of Parliament within the next four years, as part of the Liberal-Nationals’ plan to get metropolitan MPs out of the city and into country Victoria.

“This will be a great opportunity for all Gippslanders to view the on goings of Victoria’s legislative processes, without the need to travel all the way to Melbourne,” Mr Bull said.

“Regional Parliament is a unique opportunity for our school students and their families, community groups and business owners to learn about Victoria’s democratic process.

“The last session was held in 2012 under the previous term of the Liberal Nationals, however it has not been supported by the Andrews Labor Government, which scrapped the successful program since coming to office, despite being on the record supporting the program while it was in place,” Mr Bull said.

Along with the Gippsland region, Mildura, Shepparton and Warrnambool will also host parliamentarians from one chamber – either the Legislative Assembly or Legislative Council – for one sitting week each.

Opposition Leader, Matthew Guy, said country Victoria’s problems could not fixed from behind a desk in Spring Street.

“Labor scrapped Regional Parliament, the Liberal Nationals will bring it back,” Mr Guy said.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Published in Media
Wednesday, 07 February 2018 16:01

Emergency workers aren’t 'dingbats'

Gippsland East Nationals MP Tim Bull has this week in Parliament taken issue with the Roads Minister’s comments in which he has described those who have questioned the road safety barrier installation project as “banjo playing conspiracy theorists” and “dingbats”.
 
“This of course has included emergency service workers, including the CFA Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Trevor Owen, who has raised concerns over elements of the installation,” Mr Bull said.
 
“The issue is not about the road safety benefits of the barriers as it is clear that in appropriate locations they provide a higher level of safety; it is about the rushed manner in which installation works are proceeding without discussions with locals and emergency services.
 
“It is a shame the Minister has no respect for local paramedics and CFA volunteers who have raised these concerns, they do not deserve this and he should apologise.
 
“This morning a semi-trailer crashed through the recently installed Armco barrier on the Princes Highway between Stratford and Sale, which has generated a lot of feedback through my office questioning its effectiveness as a road safety measure in that location.
 
“Of course we need to await the accident investigation outcome, but what I would like to see, as I have requested many times, is for this project to be put on hold until proper consultation is conducted with emergency service workers, transport companies and local communities as it has not occurred to date.
 
“People’s concerns need to be respected – especially those of our emergency services workers – rather than be dismissed as ‘banjo playing conspiracy theorists’ and ‘dingbats’ as the Minister has done,” Mr Bull said.
 
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Published in Media
Wednesday, 07 February 2018 09:46

Has trial only just begun?

Following questions in State Parliament to the Public Transport Minister, it appears the V/Line carriage air conditioning trial that was to be completed in 2016 is still uncompleted, and possibly not even started, as we enter February 2018.
 
“The initial timeframe we were given was the trial would be finished 12 months ago and the actual upgrade itself would commence last year, but information we received this week is the trial is very different,” said Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.
 
“I am at the stage where I am wondering if any trial has even commenced as the Government cannot provide me with even the most basic information. I specifically asked the Minister:
 
(1) On which line was the air conditioning trial completed;
 
(2) What type of air conditioning unit was used in the trial;
 
(3) Between which dates did the trial take place;
 
(4) What were the findings of the trial;
“However, the only response I have received in relation to this matter is: “The air-conditioning upgrades program which includes the design and development and testing of a prototype unit for the N-Class carriages is currently underway and will continue in 2018.
 
“Blind Freddy would be able to read this as the trial, that was meant to be have started around 18 months ago, is not happening, as if it has, answers the above queries would be able to be answered,” he said.
 
Mr Bull said his office had received a number of complaints about the service over summer, as recently as last Monday when the mercury closed in on 40 degrees Celsius.
 
“The air conditioning was again not working, with a number of elderly passengers on board.”
 
Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, says his most recent response from Victoria’s Public Transport Minister seems to confirm an air conditioning trial – promised to have taken place in 2016 – has only just started, if at all.
 
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Published in Media
Monday, 05 February 2018 10:22

Grants to lift CFA volunteerism

East Gippsland’s CFA brigades are being encouraged to apply for grants to assist in attracting and retaining volunteers.
 
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said the Enhancing Volunteerism Grants Program was seeking applications from individual brigades with no minimum or maximum dollar value limit, as well as collaborative applications from groups of at least 10 brigades of up to $250,000.
 
“Priority will be given to applications that address immediate needs and enhance operational capabilities, improve culture; diversity; inclusion and fairness in CFA, strengthen volunteer leadership skills and enhance volunteerism; including the recruitment, retention and recognition of volunteers,” Mr Bull said.
 
“Our CFA volunteers do a wonderful job in protecting the community and it concerns me that in my many meetings with volunteer fire fighters in East Gippsland I have been told that it is becoming more difficult to recruit and retain volunteers.
 
“They are the very backbone of the community. We know that we have their backing when we experience natural and man-made emergencies so it is vital that they can carry out their work in an environment that is safe, supportive and rewarding.
 
“This is an opportunity for local brigades to use the program to give something back to loyal volunteers,” Mr Bull said.
 
Applications for the current round of grants close on Wednesday, February 28.
 
CFA brigades can find further information on the grant scheme by visiting https://cfa.smartygrants.com.au/EVGP1
 
Monday, February 5, 2018
Published in Media
Page 2 of 3