Kealy urges rapid testing solution for workforce shortages

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Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has called on the Health Minister to permit rapid testing for workers who are not vaccinated by the state government’s mandated deadline, to avoid looming workforce shortages. Ms Kealy has been contacted by people across a wide range of businesses and industries that are facing significant reductions in services or…

Letter to the editor: The Nationals’ alternative roadmap

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Victorians are looking for an iron-clad guarantee we’re on the road to reopen, rebuild and recover. Mixed messages and the Premier’s condescending lack of trust in Victorians has left us without hope that Labor’s roadmap will deliver us the freedoms it promises. As double-dose vaccination rates reach 60 per cent in regional Victoria, we deserve…

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…

Labor must step up to fix building product crisis

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Huge challenges facing local builders have driven Member for Lowan Emma Kealy to call on the Andrews Labor Government to address the product shortages plaguing the construction industry. In Parliament this month, Ms Kealy asked the Premier what his government would do to fix the critical shortage of timber and other building products that are…

State of COVID uncertainty to continue until end of year

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Support from crossbench MPs has seen Daniel Andrews’ grab for power over Victorians’ lives and livelihoods extended until the end of the year.  The Nationals opposed the blank cheque State of Emergency extension, instead proposing it be reviewed by the State Parliament every month to secure accountability and transparency in government spending and decision-making. The…

Regional businesses again pay the price for Labor’s failures

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Regional Victorian families and businesses are suffering the consequences of the Andrews Labor Government’s ongoing mismanagement of Victoria’s hotel quarantine and contact tracing systems. Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy expressed grave concerns about the effect of the current lockdown on regional economies and businesses as many were just starting to get back on their…