The State Government has been urged to include areas like Benambra, which is in severe drought, into the highest level of drought supports.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said despite the recent rain over the long weekend, things remained very challenging, as it would not result in pasture growth in winter.

“East Gippsland generally has had a great season along the coastal areas and into the foothills, but we are a big area and locations like Benambra have just got nothing in their paddocks and farmers are in dire straits with massive feed bills every week.

“The fact an area like this has not been included in the highest level of drought supports is not right and it is a matter I have raised with the Agriculture Minister, Ros Spence, both in person and in Parliament.”

Mr Bull said the other element of concern was that the package was too restrictive in its criteria.

“The supports that farmers need, like funds to purchase fodder, for council rate relief or assistance to move stock to greener pastures either in Gippsland or interstate – are all excluded.

“The drought package is for infrastructure and requires a co-contribution. Farmers don’t have time to fill in an application for a shed, nor do they have spare funds for the co-contribution. Every dollar they have is going to feed their animals.

“The criteria makes me think the Minister is either tone deaf to the needs of farmers, or they don’t want anyone to apply because Labor has broken the state’s finances,” he said.

Caption: Gippsland East MP, Tim Bull said the difference between the southern part of the electorate and locations like Benambra are chalk and cheese and the latter should be included in the highest level of drought relief. He also urged criteria changes to allow farmers to spend the supports on what they need.

The Nationals’ Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, is encouraging local students to take part in the 2025 Parliament Prize competition, now open for entries.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for students in Years five to 12 to have their voice heard on the issues that matter most to them and their community,” Mr Bull said.

“Students are asked to imagine themselves as a Member of Parliament and record a 90-second video delivering a Member’s Statement – the same type of statement MPs make in Parliament to raise matters of concern or interest from their electorate.”

The competition is open to all Victorian students across three categories: Years 5–6, Years 7–9, and Years 10–12. Winners will receive a cash prize for themselves and for their school.

“I encourage all students with a passion for their community, or a topic they care deeply about, to get involved,” Mr Bull said.

Entries close Friday, 13 June.

More information is available at vicparl.news/parlprize

Pictured: The Nationals’ Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, at Omeo Primary School recently where he met the senior students and attended their High Country “Question Time”.

Friday, 6 June 2025

In a frustrating update in May, State Environment Minister, Steve Dimopoulos, has now flagged the rebuild of the Cape Conran cabins is still awaiting preparation of a cultural heritage management plan, more than five years after the fires.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, said this did not align with the previous commitment to have the cabins completed and in place by 2025.
“This is the fourth completion date we’ve had and now it does not appear as though it will be met,” he said.
Mr Bull sought an update from the Minister earlier this year who replied on May 7 and stated:
“Following the rediscovery of additional artefacts and impacts to a registered Aboriginal place after preliminary construction on site in 2022, a cultural heritage management plan is currently being prepared to respect and preserve the cultural heritage significance of the area.”
Mr Bull said it was astounding that if additional artefacts were found in 2022, a plan was still being prepared to address this three years later.
“Our Aboriginal cultural heritage is important, but waiting three years for a plan to be developed to ensure the appropriate protections is ridiculous and shows timeframes to the processes need to be applied.”
Mr Bull said he did not lay the blame at the feet of the Indigenous community, but rather at those in the Department in Melbourne who dithered and were in no rush to have the matters expedited.
“In my discussions locally with both Parks’ staff and our local First Nations’ people, both are incredibly frustrated this has dragged out so long and they want the matter dealt so with the cabins can be put in place.
“The Minister should be embarrassed to provide this response and it ought to have included a commitment he would intervene and get things moving, but that is what we have come to expect,” he said.

Monday, 2 June 2025

Following the Allan Labor Government’s decision to cut fisheries officers across the state from 73 to 36, including positions in East Gippsland, the Minister responsible has failed to answer basic questions on how this will impact both officer presence and response levels.

Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, put the questions to the Minister after Victorian Fisheries Authority (VFA) itself conceded at least 100,000 recreational anglers each year are offending.

“VFA keeps telling us at every opportunity there are one million recreational anglers in the State and a 90% compliance rate - so that means 100,000 anglers are not doing the right thing,” he said.

Mr Bull asked the Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Steve Dimopoulos.

Given the officer cuts from 73 to 36:

• What will be the reduction in the number of on-water hours of fisheries officers in Victoria as a result, and
• What was the number of patrol craft before the cuts in comparison to post the reduction in staff?

“Unfortunately, the Minister simply refused to answer either question.

“In relation to the second, he stated there were 55 vessels prior to the restructure, but no number provided for post the changes.

“The responses simply included ridiculous statements like ‘we’re ensuring our structure reflects the evolving nature of the fisheries we manage’.

“It really is an insult to those anglers who are doing the right thing and leaves our fisheries officers short staffed when they are called on to enforce the laws and protect our fishery into the future.

“This is a government that has us heading to a $187 billion debt with interest repayments of $26 million per day (more than $1 million per hour) and is scrambling at every turn to cut front line services and tax us more.

“It all comes back to Labor not being able to manage money and Victorians paying the price. It really is as simple as that,” said Mr Bull.

Caption: The Nationals’ Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, has warned that savage cuts to fisheries officers will have serious consequences for the health of Victoria’s fisheries.

Monday, 2 June 2025