SURF COAST RECEIVES ROAD SAFETY GRANTS BOOST

Road safety on the Surf Coast has been given a boost after the Surf Coast Shire received a slice of a $1 million Transport Accident Commission grants program. Gayle Tierney MP this week congratulated the Surf Coast Shire after it was successful in securing funding for a project designed to save lives and prevent serious…

SUPPORT FOR 10,000 FIRST-YEAR APPRENTICES WILL CONTINUE

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP has today welcomed an Andrews Labor Government announcement that will see TAFEs across the state benefit from $3.5 million to continue support and guidance to apprentices aged 15 to 24 during the first year of their apprenticeship, after the program was cut by the previous Liberal Government. Ms…

FOSTER CARERS AND ANIMAL SHELTERS URGED TO APPLY FOR GRANTS

Local not-for-profit groups dedicated to reuniting pets with their owners, rehoming lost pets, running dog socialisation classes and providing responsible pet ownership education are now eligible for grants thanks to the Andrews Labor Government. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP urged local non-government and not-for-profit organisations to apply for grants of up to $50,000…

NEW ROUNDABOUT AT BUSY GHERINGHAP INTERSECTION

The Andrews Labor Government is investing in a new roundabout on the MidlandHighway to boost safety and reduce the risk of crashes at a busy Gheringhapintersection. Gayle Tierney, the Member for Western Victoria welcomed the $2.48 million upgrade atthe intersection of Midland Highway and Fyansford-Gheringhap Road which will address a history of head-on and rear-end…

NEW SMALL BUSINESS SEMINAR FOR WARRNAMBOOL

Small businesses in the Warrnambool area will be able to access relevant, reliable and affordable information on growing their business at a seminar to be held on Wednesday 22 July 2015. Through the program, businesses and prospective business owners are provided with the facts and advice needed to make informed decisions and create a platform…

$500 MILLION REGIONAL JOBS AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND NOW OPEN

Local councils,  not for profits, community groups and businesses in Western Victoria are set to benefit from the Andrews Labor Government’s new $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, with applications now officially open. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said the Fund presented an enormous opportunity to create jobs, build critical infrastructure and drive…

GRANTS HELP LAVERS HILL BUILD A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today announced that Lavers Hill P-12 College had successfully received funding under a new grants program that will measure and strengthen student resilience. Ms Tierney said the approach will include the use of a specialist survey and is based on compelling international research and evidence linking strong resilience…

GRANTS HELP WARRNAMBOOL BUILD A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today announced that Warrnambool East Primary School had successfully received funding under a new grants program that will measure and strengthen student resilience. Ms Tierney said the approach will include the use of a specialist survey and is based on compelling international research and evidence linking strong resilience…

GRANTS HELP COBDEN BUILD A MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today announced that Cobden Technical School had successfully received funding under a new grants program that will measure and strengthen student resilience. Ms Tierney said the approach will include the use of a specialist survey and is based on compelling international research and evidence linking strong resilience to…

ANDREWS LABOR GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS PORTLAND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

The Andrews Labor Government is improving mental health services in Portland with a$90,000 grant to the Dhauwurd-Wurrung Elderly and Community Health Service underthe Andrews Government’s Enhanced Community Mental Health Initiative. The funding, announced today by Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP, willbe used to upgrade and remodel internal and external areas of the Cultural…

MASSIVE BOOST TO GIVE KINDER KIDS MORE ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION

Gayle Tierney MP announced today Kindergartens across Western Victoria would receive extra funding under a package worth up to $83.7 million announced by the Premier, Daniel Andrews. Kindergartens across Victoria are receiving the additional funds so they can improve theirstaff-to-child ratios. The funding boost will support eligible community-based kindergartens to hire additionalstaff, giving preschool kids…

GROWING THE FUTURE OF FOOD IN WESTERN VICTORIA

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP, is urging local producers and agri-businesses to get ready to apply for the Andrews Labor Government’s new $20 million Food Source Victoria program ahead of applications opening on 1 July, 2015. A key election commitment, the program will support producers in Western Victoria to work together to market…

ANSON TO REPRESENT SOUTH WEST ON PUBLIC TRANSPORT ADVISORY GROUP

Warrnambool City Council CEO, Bruce Anson, will represent South West Victoria on the Regional Transport Advisory Group, which will drive consultation with local communities and provide recommendations to the Andrews Labor Government during the development of Victoria’s first Regional Network Development Plan. Mr Anson brings decades of senior management experience to the Group, having held…

SMALL BUSINESS BUS BRINGS ADVICE ON WHEELS TO ANGLESEA

Small business operators in the Anglesea area can access free mentoring, support andinformation about Victorian Government services when the Small Business Bus visits on Wednesday 24 June 2015. The Andrews Labor Government is doubling its mobile support for small business with asecond Small Business Bus now delivering valuable advice to towns and suburbs across Victoria.…

SMALL BUSINESS BUS BRINGS ADVICE ON WHEELS TO COLAC

Small business operators in the Colac area can access free mentoring, support and information about Victorian Government services when the Small Business Bus visits on Thursday 25 June 2015. The Andrews Labor Government is doubling its mobile support for small business with asecond Small Business Bus now delivering valuable advice to towns and suburbs across…

SMALL BUSINESS BUS BRINGS ADVICE ON WHEELS TO CAMPERDOWN

Small business operators in the Camperdown area can access free mentoring, support and information about Victorian Government services when the Small Business Bus visits on Friday 26 June 2015. The Andrews Labor Government is doubling its mobile support for small business witha second Small Business Bus now delivering valuable advice to towns and suburbs across…

CCTV CAMERAS MAKES WARRNAMBOOL SAFER

A new CCTV system officially launched in Warrnambool today will help police keep a closer eye on crime and create a safer entertainment precinct. The Warrnambool City Council received $168,000 from the Victorian Government to install nine closed circuit TV cameras across seven sites in Warrnambool’s late night entertainment precinct. The camera sites were determined…

SACRED HEART PRIMARY TAPS INTO WATER CONSERVATION

Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney today visited Sacred Heart Primary School inColac to see Barwon Water’s school education program in action. Ms Tierney joined a Year 3 class as they learned about waterway health. Other classes tookpart in sessions on the water cycle earlier in the day. The education program, which has been running…

Roof Water Harvesting Project expanded in Warrnambool

Labor Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney today announced a $500,000 expansion of Wannon Water’s multi-award-winning Roof Water Harvesting Project to capture water from the roofs of a new industrial subdivision in Warrnambool’s north east, boosting the city’s drinking water supplies. Speaking in Warrnambool, Ms Tierney said the Warrnambool Roof Water Harvesting Project was an…

COLAC RESIDENTS TO BENEFIT FROM L2P PROGRAM

Young drivers in Colac will benefit following the announcement earlier this year of $16 million in funding to continue the L2P learner driver mentor program across Victoria. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney welcomed the funding, which will help disadvantaged young drivers in Colac and across the region get their licence. The program targets young…

OPPOSITION SPLIT OVER RATE CAPPING

A split has emerged within the Liberal Party on fair go rate capping, as Andrew Katos, Member for South Barwon, declared war on the policy – despite Opposition Spokesperson David Davis’ support. The split emerged after Mr Katos declared he did not believe in rate capping in today’s Geelong Independent, saying the policy was merely…

SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR COLAC-BALLARAT ROAD

The south-west of the state will receive a boost, with the Andrews Labor Government providing $2.4 million to upgrade Colac-Ballarat Rd as part of the 2015-16 Victorian Budget. The upgrade will make a significant difference to the more than 1,000 vehicles that use the busy road each day. As part of the upgrade, improvements will…

Building the Education State in the South-West Coast

Students in the electorate of South-West Coast are big winners in the Andrews Labor Government’s first Education State Budget. Warrnambool Special Development School will receive $5 million towards the first stage of the schools new location, which will accommodate rising enrolment numbers. The Labor Government has used its first Education State Budget to inject a…

LABOR GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE ANGLESEA ROUNDABOUT

The Andrews Labor Government will upgrade one of Anglesea’s most notorious intersections. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney welcomed the $2.9 million in funding for roundabout improvements at the intersection of Great Ocean Road and Camp Rd as announced in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget. The roundabout forms a key junction for traffic travelling between the…

LABOR GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE ANGLESEA ROUNDABOUT

The Andrews Labor Government will upgrade one of Anglesea’s most notorious intersections. Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney welcomed the $2.9 million in funding for roundabout improvements at the intersection of Great Ocean Road and Camp Rd as announced in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget. The roundabout forms a key junction for traffic travelling between the…

NEW SMALL BUSINESS WORKSHOPS FOR WARRNAMBOOL

Small businesses in the Warrnambool area will be able to access relevant, reliable and affordable information on growing their business at a workshop to be held on Wednesday 20 May 2015. Through the program, businesses and prospective business owners are provided with the facts and advice needed to make informed decisions and create a platform…

PORTLAND GETS SHARE IN $500,000 TO TACKLE AGAINST ICE

Community groups in Portland can now apply for grants of up to $10,000 todevelop the most effective way to combat ice in their local area, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney announced today. The Andrews Labor Government is providing $500,000 to fund grassroots Community Ice Action Groups across regional and rural Victoria. The funding will…

COLAC GETS SHARE IN $500,000 TO TACKLE AGAINST ICE

Community groups in Colac can now apply for grants of up to $10,000 to develop the most effective way to combat ice in their local area, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney announced today. The Andrews Labor Government is providing $500,000 to fund grassroots Community Ice Action Groups across regional and rural Victoria. The funding…

FREE WHOOPING COUGH VACCINE FOR PARENTS TO START

Expectant parents and parents of newborns in Western Victoria will be able to receive the whooping cough vaccine for free from 1 June. Announced during World Immunisation Week, the Parents’ Whooping Cough Vaccination Program will be available to all pregnant women from 28 weeks gestation and their partners. In addition, all parents and guardians of…

FREE WHOOPING COUGH VACCINE FOR PARENTS TO START

Expectant parents and parents of newborns in Western Victoria will be able to receive the whooping cough vaccine for free from 1 June. Announced during World Immunisation Week, the Parents’ Whooping Cough Vaccination Program will be available to all pregnant women from 28 weeks gestation and their partners. In addition, all parents and guardians of…

HISTORIC AVENUES OF HONOUR PROTECTED

Four Avenues of Honour, planted in remembrance of World War I soldiers, have been given the highest level of heritage protection in the state. Two avenues in the Western Victorian Region- at Mortlake and Kingston- plus two others in Macedon and Cranbourne, have been added to the Victorian Heritage Register. Adding these four significant avenues…

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE 2015 VICTORIAN TRAINING AWARDS

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney today encouraged students who have achieved their training goals to nominate for the 2015 Victorian Training Awards. Now in their 61st year, the Awards celebrate the achievements of Victoria’s training system and recognise collaboration and innovation by students, teachers, employers and training providers from across the state. Ms Tierney…

SMALL BUSINESS BUS BRINGS ADVICE ON WHEELS TO WARRNAMBOOL

Small business operators in the Warrnambool area can access free mentoring, support and information about Victorian Government services when the Small Business Bus visits on Thursday 9 April 2015. Minister for Small Business, Adem Somyurek, said the Andrews Labor Government is doubling its mobile support for small business with a second Small Business Bus now…

ENTRIES OPEN FOR 10th VICTORIAN INDIGENOUS ART AWARDS

Indigenous artists across the state are invited to be part of the 10th anniversary of the Victorian Indigenous Art Awards. Minister for Creative Industries, Martin Foley, today called for entries to the awards, which have grown from strength to strength since being established by the Victorian Government in 2005. The Member for Western Victoria, Gayle…

FUNDING TO HELP LOCALS PRESERVE THEIR ENVIRONMENT

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP today welcomed the Andrews Labor Government’s $3.2 million commitment to ensure the funding of Victoria’s 68 Landcare facilitator positions for another four years. Facilitators perform the vital role of building community capacity, assisting communities to deliver local action, facilitate effective participation in Landcare activities and enable groups to…

DUPLICATION OF PIONEER ROAD BREAKS NEW GROUND

The Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has welcomed the $12.5 million start of works of Pioneer Road in Waurn Ponds this week. Motorists and pedestrians will be the big winners from the upgrade of Pioneer Road by reduced congestion, improved access in and out of the busy shopping and recreational precinct, as well as…

DUPLICATION OF PIONEER ROAD BREAKS NEW GROUND

The Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has welcomed the $12.5 million start of works of Pioneer Road in Waurn Ponds this week. Motorists and pedestrians will be the big winners from the upgrade of Pioneer Road by reduced congestion, improved access in and out of the busy shopping and recreational precinct, as well as…

SMALL BUSINESS BUS BRINGS ADVICE ON WHEELS TO TORQUAY

Small business operators in the Torquay area can access free mentoring, support andinformation about Victorian Government services when the Small Business Bus visits on Tuesday 17 March 2015. Minister for Small Business, Adem Somyurek, said the Andrews Labor Government isdoubling its mobile support for small business with a second Small Business Bus now delivering valuable…

$2 MILLION TO BE SPENT TO STRENGTHEN BRIDGES ON GLENELG HIGHWAY AND PORTLAND-CASTERTON ROAD

The Andrews Labor Government will strengthen bridges along major regional freight corridors through the Stronger Country Bridges Program. $35.8 million in funding will be fast-tracked to strengthen 48 bridges in regionalVictoria, which will reduce transport costs for freight and increase productivity. Members for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford and Gayle Tierney today announced that $2million would…

VET FUNDING REVIEW TO FIX TAFE SYSTEM

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney MP has welcomed the Andrews Labor Government’s VET Funding Review following the Productivity Commission’s Report on Government Services released on Friday. The Report showed Victoria spent just $9.36 per hour on vocational training in 2013 – thelowest of any state or territory and down from $11.36 in 2011. The…

LABOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING BOOST FOR SOUTH WEST

The Andrews Labor Government is rebuilding Victoria’s struggling TAFE system, with South West TAFE Institute of TAFE receiving a $4 million boost from the first $20million of the emergency TAFE Rescue Fund. Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert said the emergency funding was the startof the Labor Government’s work to rebuild public TAFE institutes,…

LABOR GOVERNMENT STEPS IN TO SAVE SOUTH WEST TAFE

The Andrews Labor Government is rebuilding Victoria’s struggling TAFE system, withSouth West Institute of TAFE to share in the first $20 million of emergencyfunding to save campuses at risk of collapse. New figures have revealed the extent of damage of the Coalition’s cuts to TAFE,with forecast losses of $71.8 million across the sector for 2014.…

LABOR GOVERNMENT STEPS IN TO SAVE SOUTH WEST TAFE

The Andrews Labor Government is rebuilding Victoria’s struggling TAFE system, with South West Institute of TAFE to share in the first $20 million of emergency funding to save campuses at risk of collapse. New figures have revealed the extent of damage of the Coalition’s cuts to TAFE, with forecast losses of $71.8 million across the…

CRIME UP IN COLAC AS FAMILY VIOLENCE SURGES

Crime has risen again in the Polwarth region under Denis Napthine with another 7.2 per cent increase from the previous year, according to the latest Victoria Police statistics. The statistics also show that family violence continues to rise with a 24.6 per cent increase in the Colac and Surfcoast region. Denis Napthine and the Liberals…

WARRNAMBOOL V-LINE SERVICE

Dear Editor, Numerous articles have been published in this newspaper regarding the Melbourne to Warrnambool V-Line service, which is the worst serviced V-Line service in Victoria. At present there are just three services per day that Warrnambool and Colac public transport users can use to access services in Geelong and Melbourne — one in the…

HOMELESS WAITING BLOWOUT IN PORTLAND

Another 1100 desperate Victorians have joined the housing waiting list after Denis Napthine failed to build new public and social housing. Portland recorded a 21.82 per cent increase over the last three months, with an extra 12 people now waiting for housing in Portland. There are now over 35,000 people waiting for accommodation, including almost…

Geelong Defence Jobs

  Victorian Labor will commit $5 million to establish a dedicated Victorian Defence Procurement Office, to be located in Geelong. This new office will ensure that the skill and capability of Victorian and Geelong manufacturers are marketed to the world’s largest defence contractors – generating vitally important local manufacturing jobs. Victoria is already home to…

Geelong High School

Last Thursday, 20 March 2014, the Leader of the Opposition, Daniel  Andrews, announced that a Labor government will fund  the $12  million stage  1 upgrade  of Geelong High  School. The  redevelopment  will  involve  new  classrooms,  upgrades  of hospitality  and  arts  facilities, toilet  blocks  and administration  building upgrades. This is an  important  announcement, and it  is …

V/LINE GETTING WORSE FOR SOUTH WEST COMMUTERS

Labor Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said that South West commuters have suffered yet another month of V/Line headaches as the Napthine Government failed its own performance benchmarks. “The latest V/Line statistics show that services to and from Warrnambool were hit with chronic delays yet again,” Ms Tierney said. “Most lines across the V/Line…

SW TAFE IN FINANCIAL CRISIS UNDER NAPTHINE

Denis Napthine’s TAFE cuts have pushed South West TAFE to the brink, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. The South West TAFE Annual Report revealed that the institution had a deficit of $3.4 million in 2013. The Annual Report also showed that over the past year the equivalent of 49 full-time jobs have…

NAPTHINE GOVERNMENT REJECTS TIERNEY’S CALL FOR JOBS INQUIRY

Labor Parliamentary Secretary for Employment, Gayle Tierney moved a motion in State Parliament yesterday calling on the Napthine Government to get serious about jobs and job creation in Victoria. The motion called on Victoria’s Economy and Infrastructure References Committee to inquire into, consider and report on Victoria’s increasing unemployment rate. However the State Government has…

TIERNEY FIGHTS FOR COLAC FINANCIAL COUNSELING SERVICE

Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney has taken the fight to retain Colac Area Health’s financial counselling program to State Parliament. In a speech made last night, Ms Tierney called on the Minister for Health, David Davis to immediately restore funding to the financial counselling service. “Cutting funding for such a valuable service in Colac…

FIX OUR ROADS – REPORT YOUR ROAD TODAY

State Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney is today calling on local motorists to nominate roads that have become dangerous, fallen into disrepair and need fixing with the launch of www.FixOurRoads.com.au website. Ms Tierney said Labor was launching www.FixOurRoads.com.au because new analysis of VicRoads documents shows the Napthine Government is short-changing families and businesses when…

WILL THE LIBERAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUND THE NCFH?

“Last year, the Victorian Health Minister, David Davis gutted the National Centre for Farmer Health in Hamilton stripping its $1 million annual State Government funding. “Mr Davis’ explanation for this callous cut was that the Liberal Party believes the Centre should be funded at a Federal level because it has the word ‘National’ in its…

MARSHALL TRAIN STATION A PACKED HOUSE

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has taken up the fight for Geelong public transport commuters in the Parliament. Ms Tierney today raised the severe lack of parking available at Marshall Station, after V/Line has put in place further measures to stop motorists parking on grass areas near the station. Ms Tierney said there is…

VICTORIAN MANUFACTURING MINISTER SILENT ON FORD

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has stated in Parliament that she was ‘taken aback’ when she learnt that Napthine Government Manufacturing Minister has not mentioned Ford once in Victorian Parliament. On the Victorian Hansard website, typing the word ‘Ford’ into the search bar leads to no responses under the Manufacturing Minister, David Hodgett’s name.…

NAPTHINE KEEPS AMBULANCE RESPONSE TIMES HIDDEN

The Napthine Government has gagged Ambulance Victoria from publishing figures on a website that would show ambulance response times and provide the community with up-to-date information about how bad the crisis in the ambulance system has become, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. This week, the Opposition asked the Premier in Question Time…

DISABLED VICTORIANS SLUGGED WITH MASSIVE FEE INCREASE

Victorians with a disability living in state-run residential units are facing massive fee increases as a result of the Napthine Government State Budget, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. The 2013 State Budget revealed that a fee increase paid by those already living in Department of Humans Services (DHS) managed disability accommodation services…

SOUTH WEST CFA CUTS EXPECTED IN STATE BUDGET

The Napthine Liberal Government’s budget cuts to the Country Fire Authority (CFA) are set to continue with reports this week that a further $40 million will be cut in next week’s State Budget, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. Ms Tierney said that leaked documents revealed local CFA group officers were briefed by…

MORE CFA CUTS EXPECTED IN STATE BUDGET

The Napthine Liberal Government’s budget cuts to the Country Fire Authority (CFA) are set to continue with reports this week that a further $40 million will be cut in next week’s State Budget, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. Ms Tierney said that leaked documents revealed local CFA group officers were briefed by…

Local Jobs for Local Workers

Thousands of workers in the services sector – including banking, IT and call centres – would continue to be employed locally under a new policy announced by Opposition Leader, Daniel Andrews. Under the policy released at the Victorian Labor Party State Conference, companies that employ services staff in Victoria would get preference for government contracts…

TIERNEY CALLS FOR APOLLO BAY P-12 MONEY, AGAIN

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has ramped up the pressure on the Baillieu Government to come good on its promise and fund the Apollo Bay P-12 College redevelopment. In Parliament last night Ms Tierney called on the Minister for Education, Martin Dixon to commit the full $10 million for the redevelopment in the upcoming…

TIERNEY TACKLES EDUCATION CUTS IN PARLIAMENT

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has called on the Baillieu Government to immediately reinstate education funding as families feel the impacts of education program cuts at the beginning of the school year. Ms Tierney said families had missed out on assistance with purchasing school books for their children, uniforms, transport costs and excursions after…

TIERNEY ASKS FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION INFORMATION

Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney has raised the issue of emergency services communication in Parliament after two large fires ravaged parts of Western Victoria last month. It has been reported that there were a number of complaints made in the Snake Valley area west of Ballarat, regarding a communications “black hole” during the height…

LABOR TO INVEST IN SOUTH WEST TAFE

A Victorian Labor Government will invest in the TAFE system to ensure that all Victorians have affordable access to education and training, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. Ms Tierney said the commitment to fund TAFE was the central plank of Labor’s Plan for Jobs and Growth, released today. “The community in Warrnambool…

LABOR TO INVEST IN VICTORIAN TAFES

A Victorian Labor Government will invest in the TAFE system to ensure that all Victorians have affordable access to education and training, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. Ms Tierney said the commitment to fund TAFE was the central plank of Labor’s Plan for Jobs and Growth, released today. “The community in Colac…

ANOTHER BLOW TO SOUTH WEST TAFE

In a major breach of cabinet confidence, the transition plans submitted by TAFEs to the Baillieu Government have been leaked to the media, Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney said today. The plans detail how each institution plans to deal with the budget cuts caused by the Baillieu Government’s $290 million cuts to the sector,…