Country schools, sport can safely reopen sooner

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Students in regional Victoria should not have to endure more weeks locked out of the classroom. According to the Andrews Government’s roadmap, only Prep to Grade 2 and final years students are back in the classroom this week to start to get their studies back on track. Despite high vaccination rates across regional Victoria, it…

Government must step up to support field days

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Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has implored the Andrews Labor Government to step up and support regional agricultural events that have been forced off the calendar due to COVID and no financial support from the government. Events such as Hamilton’s Sheepvention and the Wimmera Machinery Field Days — Victoria’s longest-running field days — are an…

Nationals’ plan to breathe life back into sport

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The Victorian Nationals have today called for the immediate delivery of a $10 million fund to get community sport back on its feet. Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said lockdowns had seen sporting clubs across Victoria suffer 18 months of cancellations, ripping the soul out of local sporting clubs.  Participant and volunteer bases have been…

Kealy calls for SA Ombudsman investigation into border issues

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Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has called for the South Australian Ombudsman to launch an inquiry into the South Australian Government’s border permit processes and travel exemptions. Ms Kealy’s calls follow an announcement from the Victorian Ombudsman earlier today that it had launched a similar investigation into Victoria’s border permit system after more than 80…

Hospitality patron caps must be increased

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The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is continuing her call for greater patron numbers to be allowed in hospitality venues to ensure financial viability for local businesses. The Nationals raised the issue in Parliament last week, saying that patron cap limits announced for regional hospitality venues were unviable. “The limits on seated dining of…

Regional journos yesterday’s news under Labor

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The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy is urging the Andrews Labor Government to reverse its decision to exclude country newspaper publishers from COVID-19 support. Country newspapers are not eligible to apply for business support because the Andrews Government has excluded them from its narrow eligibility criteria. Ms Kealy said local news organisations have been…

Regional restrictions cruel hospitality businesses

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The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy believes thousands of regional hospitality businesses will stay shut tomorrow and their staff will still be out of work as a result of the unworkable rules imposed by Daniel Andrews. The Andrews Labor Government offered a small glimmer of hope for country businesses with the announcement yesterday it…