August 2021
Friday, 06 August 2021 16:56

More freedoms where no cases or exposure sites

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull has urged Premier Daniel Andrews to do what he said he would do – consider more freedoms in regional areas where there were no COVID cases or exposure sites, earlier.

This comes after the it was been revealed the reason for locking down country Victoria yesterday was wrong.

The Premier’s statement that there was a positive in wastewater at Wangaratta, then a negative and then a positive again, was not accurate. It has been clarified by COVID response commander, Jeroen Weimar that there was no second positive - it was negative, then negative again.

“The Premier said three weeks ago he would look at opening up areas of the country with no positive cases, but had to wait due to football crowds needing to be tested. This time we’ve had no sporting event crowds and have no cases and exposure sites,” said Mr Bull.

“The ring around Melbourne was effective earlier this year. Country people could visit other country areas and locals were able to support local businesses. Accommodation houses were not allowed to book in non-essential travellers. It worked well.

“East Gippsland is not a day trip destination from Melbourne. If they can’t get a room, they won’t come. Our accommodation businesses enforced this well last time.

“I am just asking the Premier to do what he has done earlier in 2021, and what he said he would look at three weeks ago.

“This is especially important on the back of many businesses today finding out they are ineligible for the business supports, despite being heavily impacted.

“The government’s so-called concierge service to assist those falling through the cracks is laughable – all it is doing is confirming to many hard hit businesses they are ineligible,” said Mr Bull.

Friday, 6 August 2021

 

Published in Media
Friday, 06 August 2021 08:57

No lockdowns without full business compensation

Support packages without restrictive criteria that excludes any level of business must go hand in hand with any COVID-19 lockdowns.

“The time has come for the Premier to stop thanking businesses ‘for their sacrifice’ and give them the support they need. Since the fires destroyed a full tourist season, our businesses have been locked down for just on seven months in the time since.”

On top of removing restrictive criteria, Mr Bull said supports must better match losses.

“You cannot have a business that regularly beings in $15,000 plus per week being offered $3,500 in compensation. They can’t pay the bills and keep the doors open.”

“My office is hearing from many that do not qualify for support, or if they are lucky enough to meet the restrictive criteria, it goes nowhere near covering costs.

“The Minister has said before the packages are not to compensate for full loss, rather assistance – well a lot have no more nest eggs to call on. It’s crunch time.

“Since this lockdown was announced yesterday, I have already heard from business owners who say they can’t go on. If this Government is going to lock up regions 350 kilometres from the nearest case or exposure site, it has to pay.

“The government’s own data tells us the packages reach about one in five businesses in the state, but there are far more than one in five struggling, with many already closed.

“We were given hope when in the last lockdown the Minister said he would set up a concierge service for those commercial enterprises that fall through the cracks, but those needing help called to be told again they don’t qualify - words not backed up by actions.”

Mr Bull also called on those who support state-wide lockdowns to be as equally vocal on the supports needed by the business sector when it happens, but many conveniently forget the latter. They need to go hand in hand.

Friday, 6 August 2021

Published in Media
Thursday, 05 August 2021 12:27

Bushfire recovery at glacial pace

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull has told State Parliament the Andrews Government’s bushfire recovery response is moving at the speed of a glacier.

He said the fact that 19 months after the fires, it was disgraceful an enormous amount of tourism infrastructure was not rebuilt, and the Government would not provide timeframes.

“Although I’ve been given nothing official, I understand the bridge that provides access to the Thurra River Campground (one of the biggest in East Gippsland) and historic Point Hicks lighthouse and its accommodation, will not be built for another 14 months – that’s three years after the fires.

“The fact it has not gone out to tender yet is appalling. Parks don’t have to build this, they only have to put it out to tender.

“Our Premier was happy to stand in front of the cameras after the fires and say he would walk with us every step of this recovery, but he hasn’t been back, and he hasn’t done anything to stop this go-slow approach.

“Three years to build a bridge. For goodness sake, if it was on the Yarra it would have been done in weeks.”

Mr Bull said there were many other areas where there had been no progress.

“The popular boardwalk around East Cape at Cape Conran has had police tape up for 19 months and work has not started, day visitor areas around Mallacoota Lake remain inaccessible, the Wilderness Coast Walk is closed, Fly Cove Walk closed, Mueller Inlet campground closed, Cicada Trail closed, Swan Lake Track closed, Wingan Inlet Rapids Walk closed and many more – they are just some of the popular locations still not open.

“These communities and businesses, that rely on these locations being open for their economy, are frustrated at the progress and angry they have no timeframes.

“The latest was Parks Victoria told me on July 5 was that I’d have a list in 10 days of each job, its current status and an expected completion date. Here we are on August 4 and nothing.

“You get into meetings and they just tell you things they don’t follow through on.

“I was told last year the Wingan Inlet boardwalk would be rebuild over summer. We are nearly in the following spring and it is not done.

“The just lie and I don’t know whether it’s done purposely, its incompetence to not be able to deliver on what they day, or a combination of both, but it’s frustrating.

“Surely after 19 months our communities at least deserve a timeframe,” he said.

Thursday, 5 August 2021

 

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