Media Releases

This page contains our media releases as well as other items of media interest. Click on the headings to access the releases.

Media outlets are welcome to join our media alert list (just email us by clicking here).

CA has allocated the following portfolios to the respective spokespersons:

• Forest and timber (Andrew Jones)
• Outdoor recreations (Andrew Jones)
• Regional business (Russ Bate)
• Social issues (Miles Hodge)
• Health and education (Peter Kelly)
• Infrastructure (Fiona Hilton-Wood)
• Environmental & Water (Russ Bate)

Major parties urged to oppose more marine parks
- issued 22 July 2010
We want to see a greater commitment of there being no more marine parks.


Voters urged to turn backs on Greens preferences
- issued 20 July 2010
Don't vote for parties that give their first preferences to the Greens.


Call to extend vegetation clearing rules
- issued 8 July 2010
Rules permitting landowners to clear trees from near homes and fences lapse next month. We're calling for them to be extended.


Call to ignore logging report
- issued 24 June 2010
The government is considering a report, which we suspect might be sponsored by environmental groups who have a very clear anti-logging agenda.


Party to Premier: "That's our policy!"
- issued 15 June 2010
The Premier comes up with a great policy. Remarkably similar to one of our own...


Alliance supports reinstatement of grazing
- issued 5 May 2010
Grazing makes sense. Why won't the Greens support it?


Call to pull Australia Post into line
- issued 14 April 2010
It seems Australia Post wants to do everything but deliver letters.


Election dirty tricks begin
- issued 2 April 2010
Someone is pretending to represent the Country Alliance party in the Yarra Ranges. Beware!


Are the Greens worried?
- issued 25 March 2010
The Greens seem to be devoting a lot of attention to trying to knock us down.


Decisions made ...
- issued 17 January 2010
The CA Executive visits the people of Mildurda.


Majors sell out on country Victoria - again!
- issued 15 November 2009
Labor sells out on country Victoria (again) while the opposition decides to back both heads and tails.


CA calls on Nationals to clarify position on duck hunting
- issued 29 October 2009
Miles Hodge calls on the Nationals to clarify where they stand on duck hunting after one of their candidates called for an investigation into hunting in his electorate.


CA urges councils to use commonsense approach on fines
- issued 12 August 2009
CA says the bushfires prove many councils were wrong in fining residents for tree clearing.


CA warns government over speed of bushfire policy changes
- issued 5 August 2009
CA says the government needs to get on with policy changes to improve Victoria's bushfire resilience.


Greens challenged over alleged bylaw breach
- issued 13 July 2009
CA member alleges unauthorised sign display by the Greens.


Move on protesters now: Country Alliance
- issued 15 June 2009
Protester attack on Hazelwood CEO vindicates our policy position.


CA backs Fielding on 'climate change'
- issued 10 June 2009
We support Family First's Steven Fielding on his calls for more science to support beliefs on 'climate change'.


Our forgotten CFA heroes
- issued 8 June 2009
With winter upon us, this is a sad story about how our bushfire heroes are being forgotten about.


CA waives fees for fire affected members
- issued 28 May 2009
CA has waived its membership fees for its many bushfire affected members.


CA urges states on container deposit legislation
- issued 18 May 2009
The states have an opportunity to continue the good work of Victorian independents.


Liberals mirror CA CFA levy policy
- issued 4 May 2009
The Liberals dust off a policy we ran at the 2006 state election


CA calls for fluoridation meeting to be called off
- issued 16 April 2009
DHS is trying to force fluoridation on yet another community. What ever happened to democracy?


Don't forget the Country
- issued 13 March 2009
While Melbourne gets on with things, CA is concerned they will forget about the issues behind the bushfires.


Alliance starts preselection for 2010 state election
- issued 21 January 2009
Preselection for the upper house has begun.


Stop playing politics - do something for drought victims: CA
- issued 28 October 2008
A recent report highlights the plight of regional Victoria.


CA welcome's Fielding's stance on poker machines
- issued 15 September 2008
We welcome Family First's policy on poker machines - but gee, it seems familiar....


Plea to Greens - "get it right" on name-calling
- issued 7 September 2008
If the Greens are going to give us a label, they could at least get it right.


Call To Retain Tom Flood Centre
- issued 4 September 2008
CA criticises a proposal to write off a key sporting facility in Bendigo.


Libs challenged to state position on VEAC
- issued 18 August 2008
The silence of the Liberal Party on VEAC hasn't gone by unnoticed.


CA welcomes Labor's 'identical' policy on new wild cat
- issued 5 August 2008
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, particularly in politics


VEAC report condemned as 'perfuming the pig'
- issued 4 August 2008
CA provides a blunt appraisal of the final VEAC report, and advice for the Victorian State Government


Don't tax our belching cows: Country Alliance
- issued 7 July 2008
The 'climate change' debate risks going too far


Call for major revamp on political donations
- issued 25 June 2008
Country Alliance has made a submission to the Electoral Matters Committee of Parliament, calling for major reforms


Immediate moratorium on Savannah cat flagged
- issued 23 June 2008
Jones says an immediate moratorium should be imposed on new cat breed.


Call to bring Parks Victoria under control
- issued 16 May 2008
CA has called on the Environment Minister to ensure PV consults the Otways community.


CA targets extremist protesters
- issued 13 May 2008
CA has issued a blunt warning to extremist protesters if it gets elected.


The forgotten people of the pipeline debate
- issued 6 May 2008
CA Chair, Russ Bate, predicts 'bleak' outlook for regional communities if state government persists with North South pipeline.


Country Alliance calls for compliance with world conservation union recommendations
- issued 6 May 2008
CA calls for compliance with universally accepted categories of forest areas.


Jones queries Lib MP over Yarra Ranges comments
- issued 24 April 2008
A Liberal Upper House MP has been challenged over claims he made in parliament about illegal deer shooting.


Support for red gum consultation process
- issued 22 April 2008
We back the call by the Rivers and Red Gum Environment Alliance to subect new VEAC data to consultation, to ensure transparency.


Call to review indigenous representation
- issued 14 April 2008
Country Alliance calls on the Victorian Government to review the Aboriginal Heritage Council's decision to grant sole representation to the Yorta Yorta clan.


CA questions governments 'no dam' policy
- issued 26 March 2008
Country Alliance believes there are better solutions than relying on the country to fix Melbourne's problems.


CA's new policy for trail bike riders
- issued 5 February 2008
One of the outworkings of CA's most recent executive meetings is the development of a motorbike licence for 14 year olds under limited conditions.


CA supports duck hunting season
- issued 19 December 2007
CA says the decision not to hold a duck shooting season was flawed and the issue could become one for the 2010 Victorian state election.


RSPCA criticised over anti-rodeo campaign
- issued 20 May 2007
Country Alliance has attacked the RSPCA over it's campaign to ban rodeos which support many regional towns.


Country Alliance sets early aim for 2010 state election
- issued 18 May 2007
CA is raring to go after encouraging results from November's election and the first full executive post-election meeting in Bendigo.


CA: the best way to put the Greens last
- issued 24 November 2006
Voting for Country Alliance is by far the best way to put the Greens last in the countryside.


Greens unwittingly give CA's image a boost
- issued 22 November 2006
The Greens have just done us a big favour - they may be factually incorrect in the information they have based it on, but they've linked us with shooters.

We are also happy to be linked with four wheel driving and another activity they won't refuse to rule out banning, fishing.


CA candidate rejects Labor's call for a new national park
- issued 18 November 2006
Andrew Jones says 'no' to a new national park. He has called for greater recognition of the impact of 'green' decisions on the timber industry.


Greens dummy spit over preferences - issued 14 November 2006
CA responds to two media releases issued by the Greens over Labors decision to preference CA ahead of them.


Call for 'two strikes' law to protect timber industry - issued 12 November 2006
The timber industry needs stronger laws to protect it from well resourced protesters.


Turnbull targetting 'wrong water': Lee - issued 2 November 2006
Federal and Statement governments should invest in new water infrastructure, according to Danny Lee.


Hodge backs Liberals student travel policy - issued 25 October 2006
Miles Hodge says he supports the Liberals policy on student travel for country students who are disadvantaged by long distance travel and associated costs.


Water Bank 'one step closer' - issued 24 October 2006
Danny Lee's brainchild of a water bank to protect water in Victoria's irrigation districts is now one step closer after the establishment of a steering committee.


Hodge supports Labors tech school proposal - issued 23 October 2006
Miles Hodge has supported the ALP's call to introduce a technical stream in schools.


Call for review of OPI - issued 20 October 2006
Danny Lee has vowed to call for a review of the procedures of the Office of Police Integrity.


Proposal to extend fox bounty to wild dogs - issued 18 October 2006
Lee calls for the fox bounty to be extended to help eradicate wild dogs including on public land.


Lee joins call for CFA members - issued 16 October 2006
Danny Lee supports the CFA's call for more members to help with the bushfire threat.


New scare for marine parks - issued 9 October 2006
Miles Hodge rejects the latest call for more marine parks.


Call for temporary end to environmental flows
- issued 3 October 2006
Danny Lee has said we should put people before plants when it comes to water.


Hodge calls for tree clearing rules following bushfire warning
- issued 1 October 2006
Miles Hodge has called for consistency in tree clearing rules between the city and country following Ian Kuster's fight in Nathalia.


Lee comments on Walsh's 'sour grapes': challenges Nationals on MIS' - issued 1 October 2006
Danny Lee responds to Nationals MP Peter Walsh's inference that the "Fight for Survival" rally was orchestrated for Mr Lee. Mr Lee also took the opportunity to challenge the Nationals on whether they support Management Investment Schemes.


Lee calls for action over frost damage - issued 26 September 2006
The recent frost damage to stonefruit is proof of the need to expand exceptional circumstances funding, explains Danny Lee.


Hodge challenges Greens over fishing - for a second time
- issued 18 September 2006
CA's Miles Hodge has called on the Greens to declare their position on poisoning trout.


Call for bi-partisan support for water delivery - issued 18 September 2006
Fixing Victoria's water infrastructure needs to become a politcial priority, says CA's Danny Lee.


Call to overhaul regional courts - issued 10 September 2006
Country Alliance's Danny Lee has called for an end to the system of visiting magistrates for major regional centres, supporting the position taken by Mildura MP, Russell Savage.


Lee calls for extension of Exceptional Circumstances Funding
- issued 9 September 2006
Country Alliance candidate, Danny Lee has called for ECF funding to be extended to other businesses affected by drought. Our candidate for the Western Victoria Region, Miles Hodge, has supported that call as it also affects the Wimmera area.


Liberals challenged over Greens preferences- issued 24 August 2006
Country Alliance candidate, Miles Hodge, has challenged the Liberals to back their concerns about the Greens by preferencing them last.


Nationals stance on Greens - one down, two to go- issued 11 August 2006
Northern Victoria Region candidate, Danny Lee, has congratulated the Nationals for doing what CA asked all major parties to do - put the Greens last.


Hodge calls for biofuel research- issued 9 August 2006
Western Victoria Region candidate, Miles Hodge, has called for the State and Federal Governments to apply fuel taxes to research on biofuels to provide options for fossil fuels.


Hodge calls for increased workplace invasion penalties- issued 4 August 2006
Western Victoria Region candidate, Miles Hodge, says that the recent activities of protesters who chained themselves to conveyor belts in Geelong to protest against the exporting of woodchips, demonstrated the need for tougher workplace invasion laws.


Victoria - Closed for business (Greens animal welfare policy)?- issued 10 July 2006
The Greens animal welfare statement will adversely impact on regional Victoria by banning a range of activities including hunting, rodeos and displays of live animals. They are now starting to implement the 'thin edge of the wedge' by banning activites which 'adversely impact on non target species'.


Goodwin attacks Bendigo jobs losses- issued 4 July 2006
CA candidate, Fred Goodwin, has slammed Telstra management for its decision to close its Bendigo call centre.


Branxholme police station must remain open: Hodge- issued 2 July 2006
Miles Hodge calls for a better explanation of the Government's decision to close the Branxholme police station.


Goodwin backs councils' concerns over toxic dump- issued 23 June 2006
CA's candidates for Northern Vic Region, Fred Goodwain, shares concerns of local councils of transporting toxic waste.


Telstra has to remain in public hands: Lee- issued 22 June 2006
CA's candidates for Northern Vic Region, Danny Lee, says Telstra's latest whinge about regulatory decisions shows why it shouldn't be sold.


Local candidates lock horns over fishing, shooting- issued 20 June 2006
CA's candidates for Western Vic Region, Miles Hodge, has reacted angrily to the local Greens candidates position on duck shooting - and has challenged the Greens to declare its position on recreational fishing.


CA set to unplug pokies- issued 16 June 2006
CA's candidates for Western and Northern Vic Region, Miles Hodge and Fred Goodwin have urged for a rapid roll-back on poker machines.


Hodge rejects "non family" school material- issued 6 June 2006
Miles Hodge has called for a stop to the omission of references to 'mother' and 'father' in school material.


Lee calls for irrigators' "water bank"- issued 6 June 2006
Lee, Goodwin call for the establishment of a "water bank" to deal with water trading concerns.


Independents congratulated over Snowy deal collapse- issued 2 June 2006
Craig Ingram and Russell Savage are congratulated over their leadership on the Snowy deal collapse.


Lee, Goodwin say no to national parks on the Murray- issued 1 June 2006
Northern Vic candidates, Danny Lee and Fred Goodwin, say no to the restrictions created by national parks along the Murray River.


Hodge supports Libs on technical colleges- issued 1 June 2006
Western Vic candidate, Miles Hodge, supports the Liberals' call for more technical colleges provided they are located in regional areas.


Lee supports councils' calls for greater controls on poker machines- issued 19 May 2006
CA's candidate for Northern Victoria Region, Danny Lee, says CA's policies on poker machines and planning align with regional concerns on poker machines.


CA announces its position on fluoridation- issued 5 May 2006
CA supports the position taken by the National Party but wants to go further. CA repeats its call from December to start off from a 'no fluoridation' basis.


CA announces Miles Hodge as its #1 candidate for the Upper House seat of Western Victoria Region- issued 3 May 2006
To view the attached profile (click here), you will need the password by calling Neil on 0425 746 066. (It is the same password as used for Danny Lee's profile)


CA announces its candidates for Upper House seat of Northern Victoria Region- issued 26 April 2006
To view the attached profiles (click here), you will need the password by calling Neil on 0425 746 066.


Fox Prizes 'don't go far enough' - issued 13 March 2006
The Government's response to the fox problem could be expanded


McGauran's defection underlines policy failures - issued 27 January 2006
The National Party has come 'too close' to the Liberal Party


Alliance opposes Snowy sale - issued 27 January 2005
CA supports the Victorian Government's position on opposing the sale of the Snowy Hydro Corp


Alliance enters flouridation row - issued 15 December 2005
Says more consultation with the local community in Horsham is needed


Alliance to support Telstra rally in Bendigo - issued 8 December 2005
Country Alliance will be supporting the CEPU's rally this Saturday in Bendigo against the sale of Telstra


Joyce accused of being Scrooge - issued 7 December 2005
Senator Joyce has shown he is prepared to put his party before his constituents


Mildura locals dominate CA executive - issued 4 December 2005
A quarter of the CA executive comes from Mildura


CA set to open it's fourth branch - issued 27 October 2005
CA is opening up branches to meet demand


Victoria - 'the place to dump?' - issued 7 October 2005
CA supports the opposition to a toxic waste dump near Mildura


CA releases firewood policy - issued 7 September 2005
CA believes firewood collection near private properties should be allowed.


"No Sale of Telstra" stickers ring true for country folk - issued 5 September 2005
CA's latest sticker proves to be an instant hit in the bush.


New political party set to obtain registration - issued 15 August 2005
The Victorian Electoral Commission has advised Country Alliance that it will register the party by notice in the Government Gazette this week.


No fries with this, please! - issued 18 July 2005
CA throws its support behind the farmers' rally to Canberra to protest McDonalds' decision to use imported potatoes for their fries.