Rapid testing for those who are unvaccinated should be considered to avoid workforce shortages in the region, says Nationals MP for Gippsland East, Tim Bull.
“I have been contacted by a number of business owners from across the electorate who have raised concerns over losing staff they cannot replace, due to vaccination status. In many cases it has put the future of the business in doubt.
“While we have hit over 95% first dose and over 75% fully vaccinated and this level of uptake is pleasing, there is still clearly a number who are choosing not get the jab.
“That is individual choice, but the impact is staff shortages in industries that were already facing struggles to obtain workers; hospitality and construction being at the forefront.
“To avoid these businesses going to the wall, I would like to think rapid testing on a regular basis could be permitted. It would keep people in employment and businesses open, at least in the short term,” he said.
Mr Bull said he supported vaccination and mandatory vaccination for those sectors that deal with the vulnerable in the community, but mandatory vaccination across all sectors was causing pain for businesses and individuals.
“We have rapid testing as an option that can be used to assist and New South Wales has already announced that from December 1, government regulations will not differentiate between vaccinated and unvaccinated residents.
“Rather than this hard and fast rule of be vaccinated or you’re out of work and business owners suffer as well, alternatives must be considered,” he said.

Tuesday, 19 October 2021

Coast Guard Paynesville is looking for a new permanent consolidated home.

Members recently met with local Nationals MP’s Tim Bull and Darren Chester to discuss options.

Commander Michael Doyle explained the flotilla currently has an office at the community centre, 300 metres from the vessel and a separate storage facility on a third site.

“We would preferably like to be consolidated on one waterfront site and want to advance discussions with the various agencies in relation to this,” he said.

The Paynesville Flotilla has in the vicinity of 100 call outs each year, the majority being over the warmer months when boating activity increases, but the needs are year-round.

Mr Bull said he would commence more in-depth discussions with the various local agencies, that included Gippsland Ports and East Gippsland Shire.

“It is a reasonable expectation for the volunteers to be seeking a suitable waterfront site and given the great job they do in responding to emergency situations, a waterfront site is preferable,” he said.

Mr Chester said apart from their emergency response service, the simple presence of the flotilla in Paynesville provided important peace of mind to local and visiting boaters, knowing they are there if required.

“They’re an important part of their community and if we can find them a consolidated base, it is the very least we can do,” he added.

Caption: Coast Guard Paynesville Commander, Michael Doyle and members Greg Marsh and Cheryl Daly with local State and Federal MP’s Tim Bull and Darren Chester, discussing their push for a consolidated new home.

Monday, October 18, 2021

The Andrews Government has completely abandoned forest workers in East Gippsland.

If it is not enough that they intend to end the industry by 2030 and destroy local economies, they have just passed a Bill to add a ‘strict liability’ clause to workers and companies.

‘Strict liability’ will mean that if an honest mistake is made, the accused will have to prove their innocence.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said it was not accepted practice and meant penalties of more than $20,000 to an individual worker or more than $100,000 for a contractor or VicForests may apply.

“The unfairness of this is, we are now punishing one sector if an honest mistake is made. Imagine if a police car was in an unintended accident and they were charged?

“In the Legislative Council debate, Resources Minister Jaala Pulford replied with inconsistencies and misinformation when questioned by Coalition members,” said Mr Bull.

This Bill is being rushed through despite the impending substantial changes to the Code of Practice for Timber Production not being released.

The Australian Law Reform Commission has issued a number of principles, to be considered when applying “strict liability”. This Legislation does not satisfy any.

Mr Bull said the Bill passed on the slimmest of margins with the support of the Labor-voting independents Andy Meddick of the Animal Justice Party, Fiona Patten and the Greens, despite pleas from the timber workers, CFMEU and the Liberals and Nationals.

“It is interesting when you have the CFMEU and the Liberal Nationals Coalition on the same side recognising the issues here.

“Labor and the Greens will stop at nothing to do whatever they can to hurt our forestry sector and people in our regional communities like Orbost, Heyfield, Bairnsdale and Swift’s Creek should remember this come election time next year.

“I am very proud to say that the Liberals and Nationals and the majority of the crossbenchers stood firm,” he said.

Monday, October 11, 2021

Several East Gippsland Health Services have been funded for infrastructure upgrades.
Gippsland East, Nationals MP, Tim Bull said he had been advised by the Minister of funding for works to be undertaken across several facilities.
“While our population continues to grow steadily, ongoing investment in our medical centres is critical and while major works are required in a number of locations, this removes some of the projects off the waiting list,” he said.
Among the works funded are:

Bairnsdale Regional Health Service
* Redesign of the car park area to remove commercial traffic from Hospital entrances and improve mobility access

Bairnsdale Regional Health Service - Consulting Suites and Administration
* Update and reconfigure the bathrooms within the Administration and Consulting suites

Buchan Bush Nursing Centre
* Upgrade motor vehicle to provide staff with safe transportation
* Install solar panel system to enhance energy efficiency and reduce costs over the long term

Cann Valley Bush Nursing Centre
* Security to building and staff during and after hours

Dargo Bush Nursing Centre
* Remodelling of bathroom and replacement of existing flooring to improve infection prevention and control and staff and client safety

Ensay Bush Nursing Centre
* To prevent ember attack from bush fires a sprinkler system will be installed

Gelantipy District Bush Nursing Centre
* Acquisition of a telehealth hub comprehensive examination toolkit, providing observation, patient data storage and live-streaming services

Gippsland Lakes Community Health - Lakes Entrance Campus
* Renewable failover solar installation

Omeo District Health
* Full refurbishment and reconfiguration of Transition Care Program unit, to bring the space into compliance with program guidelines
* Reconstruct West Courtyard Garden at Lewington House residential aged care facility, to create a safe, dementia friendly outdoor space

Orbost Regional Health - Orbost Regional Health entrance and reception
* Improve accessibility and safety for the aged and disabled to the main entrance and reception area

Swifts Creek Bush Nursing Centre
* Contribution to equipment and capital improvements to support patient care and safety during regular operation of service and emergencies.
* Improvements to ergonomics and technology, including new computers, video conferencing hardware for telehealth and standing desks for staff

Monday, October 11, 2021

Many will be unaware the State Government has launched a Draft Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy, which is open for community feedback (until September 20). This document requires significant local feedback from East Gippslanders.
If I am to paraphrase my concerns, the Strategy, which prioritises future government investment in the boating sector, does not adequately reflect its importance to our region.
It is city centric!
The perfect example is the inequity around government funding of boat ramp maintenance isn’t addressed.
The background is this. Many metro councils charged boat ramp and car park fees for – by their own admission – maintenance of the launching facilities.
The State Government, in an effort to shore up its voters in the marginal bayside seats, announced it would fund the councils to remove the fees. They made it free for boaters by subsidising the councils for the fees they charged.
Here’s the problem. Councils like The Hobsons Bay and Frankston now receive hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay for the maintenance of their boat ramps, They have two each!
East Gippsland Shire Council with 24 ramps, and Wellington with 18, receive diddlysquat. Fair?
The smaller rural councils with a lesser rate base and more facilities receive nothing, while the wealthier inner city councils with the large rate bases and less facilities get major support.
The stupidity of this is the decision on who received what is maintenance funding, was made on which councils previously charged fees – how ridiculous.
East Gippsland and Wellington Shire Councils, which funded maintenance costs at their 42 ramps to try and keep their regions visitor friendly, get punished.
Here is another example. One of the key points of the document states:
The Port Phillip and Western Port catchment, where the largest concentration of boaters resides, should be given significant priority
At a time when congestion is causing massive issues in these locations and Government is promoting decentralisation, surely we should be priority funding first class facilities at alternate locations, like the Gippsland Lakes.
A big part of the answer to city ramp congestion is to provide facilities at country locations not currently hemmed in by development.
If we upgrade boating facilities at locations out of Melbourne and make it an enjoyable experience, more people will come and make a weekend of it. This takes the pressure off the metro facilities and boosts regional economies.
On congestion around Port Phillip and Western Port, the document, which is full of overarching fluffy statements, simply says government will expand facilities where possible and consider other opportunities. There’s no detail.
The major issue here is car parking, there is not enough. Unless you are going to bulldoze homes ,or build a multi storey car park, the reality is you are not going to make much difference at most locations.
To be fair, the document does suggest some Gippsland Lakes investment, but not nearly enough. It should be the major focus along with other rural areas.
I could go on with more city centric focus examples and although space prevents me, you get the picture.
Pleasingly, I believe East Gippsland Shire has seen it is being short-changed and is taking up the opportunity to highlight this and the Municipal Association of Victoria, which represents all Victorian councils, also has major issues with the document.
I encourage all who have an interest in boating to make a submission. Read the document for yourself and make up your own mind. It is easily found by googling “Victorian Recreational Boating Strategy”.
At a time when we are coming out of drought, fire and Covid, we deserve at least our fair share of government funds (probably more than our fair share), but this document short changes us. It’s another case of Dan thinking the state stops at Pakenham.

Monday, 4 October 2021