Victorian Elections 2006: LABOR'S LAST-MINUTE RURAL ZONE 'SWEETENER'

Victorian Elections 2006

It is a difficult decision that the Victorians are to make, as both major party are presenting hot air and spin leaving little choice. The Bracks government has proven they are incapable of power and the liberals have proven this when last in power. And the state debt keeps rising with dictatorial policies by both parties, a difficult time is ahead. Then there is always the Independants who could pull them into gear by holding the balance of power .. It's Your Choice !!

Thursday, November 23, 2006

LABOR'S LAST-MINUTE RURAL ZONE 'SWEETENER'

Nationals' spokesperson for Planning Jeanette Powell described the announcement yesterday by Planning Minister Rob Hulls that Labor would provide $500,000 to help councils implement new rural zones as a clear case of too little too late.

"The Government announced the new Rural Zones in June 2004 and then walked away from the issue," Mrs Powell said.

"Two and half years later - and just three days before the election - the Government announces that it will help councils implement the new rural zones.

"I guess this is about as close as Planning Minister Rob Hulls has ever come to admitting that he made a mistake.

Mrs Powell alerted the government of the need to assist councils to implement the proposed new zones in February 2004 in a submission to the Rural Zones Review on behalf of The Nationals.

"The problem is most councils have already implemented the new zones and $500,000 is nowhere near enough to do the job," Mrs Powell said.

"To properly implement the new farming zones, councils need to undertake a land capability study which should be paid for by the Government. Land owners should be consulted on the proposed changes to the zoning of their land and have the opportunity to comment.

"This episode is another example of how the Labor Party and the Planning Minister are out of touch with the problems faced by Local Government in country Victoria."

Genevieve Dunn Media and research adviser Jeanette Powell: Member for Shepparton 222 Wyndham St, Shepparton, 3630 Phone (03) 5831 6944 Fax (03) 5831 6836 E-mail: Genevieve.Dunn@parliament.vic.gov.au

The Poll

The poll SOS-NEWS conducted on our subscribers and readers choice pre the Victoria November election has been conducted, the results are as follows.

There was only one vote per computer and Victorians could only be counted in the poll which gave us a challenge. The amount of people voting is correct and as there may have been more than one vote per home computer the figures are a good indication of our subscribers and readers who will be placing an X in the box this November.

Valid poll = 9,777 votes
Independents = 3,235 votes 33%
Liberals = 2,827 votes 29%
Nationals = 1,714 votes 18%
Others = 1,036 votes 10%
Greens = 518 votes 5%
Labor = 447 votes 4%

Informal = 3,090
=========================
Total amount of votes 12,867

SOUTHERN METROPOLITAN REGION
Rita Bentley - Independent

Rita runs a family business (a plastics factory in Moorabbin) with husband David and they have lived in the Southern Metropolitan Region for more than 30 years. They have two teenage children who are still at school, Andrew in year 12 and Suzie in year 10.

As President of the Prospectors & Miners Association of Victoria her involvement in mining is now largely recreational, but she was a full-time, professional gold miner for many years.

She was the founding vice-president (and now secretary) of the Bush Users Group – a coalition of recreational and industry organisations who believe that our public land can be better managed.

A founding board member of the practical, science-based environment group - the Australian Environment Foundation, she did not seek re-election to the AEF board this year, which will allow her to concentrate on issues closer to home.

She is also a member of the Institute of Public Affairs, Timber Communities Australia and the Tooronga Action Group.

Rita has served on a variety of government committees and boards. She is currently a member of the Resource Minister’s Extractive and Mining Industry Advisory Board and the Environment Department’s Public Land Stewardship Stakeholder Reference Group. She was a member of the Environment Department’s Recreation Advisory Group and on the Mining and Environment Advisory Committee. She is well experienced in the stress of dealing with government and the bureaucracy.

Rita is a breast cancer survivor, considering her self to be one of the lucky ones who, despite losing a breast to the disease, is still at least around to talk about it. She is a strong advocate for early screening.

Now a proud Australian, Rita migrated to Australia from the UK with her family in 1965. From a working class background, the family lived in the Flemington high-rise housing commission estate until embracing the Australian dream of buying a family home in Newport, both of Rita’s parents worked to achieve this. Educated in the state school system, Rita then spent 5 years in the public service, working at the Williamstown Naval Dockyard alongside several of her family who were tradesmen in the Dockyard. She has operated a variety of small businesses since then.

Rita is passionate about people and their rightful place in the environment - a practical environmentalist through and through. While acknowledging that the environment needs to be cared for and cherished, she also believes that the economic and recreational needs of people must be considered. The best approach to the environment – as with most things in life - is a sensible balance.

She has seen the negative effects of extreme Green influence on country communities and is determined to stop the same happening in Melbourne. She fears what will happen if the Greens gain the balance of power in the Upper House of Victoria’s Parliament.

Rita brings a wealth of experience in many fields including industry, family, community and environment.

Salvation From Stupidity
Peter Ryan - Nationals Leader

Peter Ryan has shown the Victorian people that there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. His MP's did not vote with Labor on creating the Otways National Park and have shown their solidarity to the Rural communities of Victoria. Coalition with a few independents and preference swapping could contol the major parties dictating legislation as they please and let the people voice be heard for a change

Will A Liberal Dose Do?
Ted Baillieu Opposition Leader

The new kid on the block but a fresh mind may eradicate the old party system and allow the people's voice to be heard over the party room masters - it's Ted's call and it's your vote.

Gallery Of Concern
Steve Bracks Premier

A dictator dedicated to self preservation at any cost - running rampant with your taxes - consider, hospitals, transport, etc, while he is purchasing national parks, etc.

John Thwaites MP

[Labor Environment]
TWITTER is an out of control Labor Party Radical Greenie who has engineered the agenda for the demise of our farmers and has endangered the public by allowing fuel build up on National Parks as we have seen in the recent bushfires the destroyed the environmnet by his mismanagement

Philip Davis

[Liberal Shadow Agriculture]
Crossed the floor to vote with Labor against the Farmers, as did all Liberal MP's but the shadow Agriculture member - party first - farmers - well it's your vote?

Victorian Elections 2006

Thursday, November 23, 2006

LABOR'S LAST-MINUTE RURAL ZONE 'SWEETENER'

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