.... and now, the news ...

This page contains news posted from 1 January 2008.
Click here to see news posted between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2007.
Click here to see news posted prior to 31 December 2005.

CA's AGM
27 July 2008

Our much awaited AGM in Bendigo has resulted in the re-election of Russell Bate as Chair and Russell Pearson.

We also welcome Keith Lyon who was elected to the vacancy on the executive caused by last year's federal election. Greens side with coalition again
21 June 2008

In yet another strange move, the Greens have moved closer to the coalition by splitting preferences between Labor and The Nationals for next Saturday's Gippsland byelection.

The Age reported ALP state secretary, Stephen Newnham, as saying it was an act of trechery for Green supporters, because it was prepared to direct half its preferences to a party that supported WorkChoices. Notice of AGM
15 June 2008

Notice is now given that our Annual General Meeting for 2008 will be held in Bendigo at 11am on Saturday 26 July 2008 along with vacancies that are now open to nomination.

Click here to download the notice. [link now removed]

Forms must be returned to the address shown by 12 July 2008. CA urges Greens to rethink on Barber
8 June 2008

The Age today reports something that Country Alliance has known for a long time - that the Greens MPs elected to parliament aren't up to the job.

Now The Age reports that Greens flagship MP, Greg Barber, has questioned whether being in parliament was the right career choice for him.

The story quotes him as saying (in reference to his career move from Mayor of Yarra City Council):

"Yeah, I'm starting to think about that now. Maybe I didn't make the right move."

and states:

"The Parliament is the people in between elections and that's a pretty good job, you don't complain."

But, he added, being mayor was "the best job in the world".

It seems Barber would prefer to build toilet blocks than deal with the big issues affecting the Victorian community. Fine, if that's what he wants to do, let him go.

So, our advice to Barber is that if he doesn't want to be there, walk away today - and our advice to the Greens is to push Barber if he is only there to 'warm a seat' for their party. Reminder - get your renewals in
6 June 2008

With the Victorian Electoral Commission set to re-audit memberships prior to the 2010 state election, members are reminded to ensure we pass the audit with flying colours by making sure they have renewed their memberships.

If you are unsure of your status, just drop us an email by clicking here and we'll let you know.

Thanks again for the great support you have shown us, including the generous donations which will go to ensuring better representation for regional Victoria. Executive meeting on April 5th
9 April 2008

The Executive of Country Alliance met in Seymour on April 5. It will most likely be the last meeting before our AGM in July The Age misses the point on Country Alliance policy
15 March 2008

The Age had a story in today's paper about a proposal put forward by the Motorcycle Riders Association to licence 14 year olds to enable them to ride with their parents on public land and private property.

You may recall that this was a policy developed by Country Alliance in discussion with the MRA who put the proposal to Transport Minister, Tim Pallas.

Unfortunately the story went on about the road toll which is irrelevant because the licensing proposal does not relate to the use of motorbikes on signposted roads. The story does not recognise the benefits that the proposal has such as facilitating recreational riding events which makes you wonder if it was journalism at all.

Still, the proposal has been put out in the public domain and fills a badly needed void. More bad news on VEAC proposal
12 March 2008

The Weekly Times has published two stories relating to the VEAC River Redgum proposal, showing just how badly thoughtout it is.

The first article, titled "Three strikes for parks plan" details how A third indigenous group has now hit out at the proposal. The story says the Wamba-Wamba people, traditional inhabitants of the part of Victoria extending from Boundary Bend to Swan Hill, slammed the VEAC proposal, accusing it of failint to consult on the investigation.

"The Government talk to one blackfella and they think it's consultation," a spokesperson said.

The second story, titled "Pay for river fences", details how hundreds of farmers will be forced to pay huge bills for fencing if they are forced of river-front grazing properties.

Moyhu beef producer David Evans told the Weekly Times that VEAC failed to understand the tru cost of its recommendations to farmers. VEAC admitted it had no idea how many farmers would be affected or the length or cost of fencing involved.

Country Alliance has a policy to abolish VEAC because of its incompetency. Executive meeting results in major improvements
23 February 2008

The paperwork from the meeting of the Executive earlier this month has now been completed.

Our policies page has been updated and we now have new arrangements regarding the party's internal workings and management of our branches.

We have also adopted a new strategy to increase the number of candidates we will be running in 2010. CA stall at the Wandin 4WD show
17 February 2008

Country Alliance had a stall at another Wandin 4WD show today, marking the start of another long recruiting drive.

Armed with a bigger marquee and better signage (stuff we've learnt from previous shows), we are definately on our way to improving our electoral stakes at the 2010 state election. We were really bouyed by the number of people who already knew who we were and what we stood for. We were absolutely flat out from the moment we arrived until the day's end.

One of our key messages is that Country Alliance will ensure four wheel drive tracks are managed than they are are now.

We look forward to continuing our membership drive this year. Call for new recreational motorbike licence
5 February 2008

Country Alliance has adopted a new policy aimed at helping children from 14-17 years old to work on farms and participate in off-road trail bike events. The new policy is:

Country Alliance will seek the introduction of a recreational motorbike licence to enable 14 to 18 year olds to work on the land (complying with WorkCover requirements) and participate in recreational motorbike activities, under the supervision of a fully licensed motorbike rider.

Current arrangements do not permit this, and there is a need to fill this void.

The licence would apply only to those areas where 'recreational motorcycle registration' applies, and would not permit the use of motorbikes on signposted public roads. The licence would limit the riding of motorbikes up to 250cc capacity.

The experience gained by the licence proposed by Country Alliance would provide valuable experience for new riders for when they seek their learners permit to ride bikes on public roads when they turn 18.

The Age reports that Liberal Senate leader Nick Minchin is calling for an immediate merger of the Liberal and National Parties.

The report by journalist Michelle Grattan, states that in a speech to the young Liberals today, Senator Minchin said a merger should be negotiated at the national level of the two party organisations so an amalgamation might occur simultaneously at federal and state levels.

"It's no good having Liberals and Nationals in one state go off and form a new right-of-centre party which would leave us with not one but three parties on our side of politics," he reportedly said.

Senator Minchin says the conservative side of politics can no longer afford the luxury of two separate organisations.

"As someone who worked full time for the Liberal Party for 14 years before entering the Senate, I cannot for the life of me see how we can go on trying to sustain two party organisations on our side of politics," he says.

The much mooted merger of the Liberal and National party simply underlines the need for Victorians to get behind Country Alliance, to guarantee ongoing political representation for the bush. CA releases new flyer on "voting above the line"
1 January 2008

Country Alliance has now released flyers to various groups explaining how part of their vote for the major parties "above the line" in the upper house can benefit the Greens.

Click here to see how people who hate the Greens, cast votes that actually helped one of their candidates, Colleen Hartland, get elected to parliament!