Payroll tax exemption on JobKeeper payments secured

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Community pressure, with support from The Nationals, has forced the Andrews Labor Government to exclude JobKeeper payments from Victorian payroll tax and WorkCover premiums. Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said it never should have been on the table for the state government to try to tax federal JobKeeper payments. “For a month, The Nationals…

Labor’s forced backflip a win for small business

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Pressure from The Nationals has forced the Andrews Labor Government to provide COVID-19 support to small business sectors it had previously deemed ineligible for funding. Businesses knocked back for the government’s Business Support Fund’s $10,000 grants because of their industry sector will now be reconsidered. Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is encouraging businesses who…

Dimboola fire station project finally ignites

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Construction of a new fire station in Dimboola will soon commence with the State Government finally listening to local volunteers and the wider community and starting work on providing local CFA volunteers with the brand-new building they deserve. With preliminary concept proposals for the new station underway, The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy has congratulated…

Community dedication gets rail project on track

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Four years of perseverance to gain approval to tidy up vacant railway land has finally paid off for the Dartmoor community.   The Dartmoor and District Progress Association identified an opportunity to turn a 1.2-kilometre stretch of unused railway track in the centre of town into an open walking and cycling space, and started work…

New smartphone app protecting our communities

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The Federal Government’s new COVIDSafe smartphone application is a critical step forward to save lives and better protect our community against the spread of coronavirus. COVIDSafe will provide accurate information that will speed up the process of identifying people who have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus. Participation is voluntary. The Nationals…

Government urged to allow common sense on restrictions

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The Andrews Labor Government has been urged to use common sense and allow Victorian’s a little more freedom under the current COVID-19 restrictions. The Nationals used the special sitting of Parliament last week to ask the Premier to change the interpretation of directives relating to land-based fishing, hunting, golf, horse-riding and related low-impact activities. The…

Lowan kids should return to school

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Students in the Lowan electorate must be allowed to get back into the classroom, in line with expert medical advice that says our schools are safe. The Andrews Labor Government is refusing to listen to advice from Australia’s Chief Medical Officer and the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) endorsing a return to school in…

ANZAC Appeal as important as ever

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While our dedicated RSL volunteers are this year unable to get out in the community selling badges and collecting donations for the ANZAC Appeal, communities can still contribute to the cause.   Member for Lowan Emma Kealy encouraged people to support the appeal online, to help raise money for specialist support for current and former…