BREAKING: Scott Morrison MP has beaten Peter Dutton MP 45-40 in a Leadership Spill to become the 30th Prime Minister of Australia.
Early on, the Leadership Spill motion was carried 45-40 before a second vote to determine the new leader began.
This process saw Julie Bishop drop out of the race, leaving just Mr Dutton and Mr Morrison.
It is alleged former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will resign from parliament forcing a by-election in the electorate Wentworth, New South Wales.
More to come.
THE Wallan Ambulance Auxiliary is on track to raising $16,000 in much needed funds.
The group are trying to hit the magical number in order to help the Wallan Ambulance Station purchase a training mannequin which relays real time information about the patient.
The group is hosting a father’s day barbecue on Sunday, August 26 to raise the funds, kicking off from 11am at Pretty Sally Home and Hardware.
Meanwhile, the group’s monthly meetings are now held at Wallan Neighbourhood House on the second Thursday of each month starting from 1pm.
Any person wishing to join our auxiliary or who would like to see what the group is about can contact Tom on 0427 755446.
by Joshua Wells
UPDATE: Five frontbenchers have resigned in the last 15 minutes.
Minister for Trade Steven Ciobo, Minister for Health Services Michael Keenan, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge, Minister for Health Greg Hunt, and Minister for Law Enforcement Angus Taylor have all formally resigned from Turnbull’s cabinet.
EARLIER: Treasurer Scott Morrison will reportedly contest for the Liberal party leadership against Peter Dutton.
It is unclear at this stage whether Malcolm Turnbull will step aside or continue to contest.
EARLIER: Malcolm Turnbull has defeated Peter Dutton following a leadership challenge in Canberra.
The Prime Minister applied the pressure to the party room after rumours of the challenge began recently.
Turnbull won the vote 48-35 with more than a third of the party room going with the challenger.
EARLIER: The Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, vacated his position as Liberal party leader at 9.18am this morning.
The move prompted Peter Dutton MP to contest for the leadership in another challenge.
It was a ‘put up or shut up’ moment for the party in Canberra with all leadership positions vacant for the time being.
More to come.
Pick My Project is a novel $30 million online community grants program that gives residents the chance to suggest project ideas and then vote to decide which ones are funded.
In Kilmore, Wallan, Wandong and Broadford, 10 projects have made the short list – all embracing a range of big and small ideas across a wide range of concepts and venues.
District project ideas with the most votes will be invited to enter into a funding agreement for their project, with funding between $20,000 and $200,000 available.
In Kilmore, the Kilmore Creek Heritage Art Walk Student Garden has been short listed. The garden depicts local school students’ design for Kilmore in mosaics and stone.
The garden is planned for the Kilmore Creek Walking Track as the third stage of a Heritage Art Walk, where a series of panels will be installed telling the significant history of Kilmore as the oldest, settled and gazetted inland township in Victoria.
The third stage garden illustrates the thoughts of the students about Kilmore’s future with native plantings and a coloured mosaic in tiles and stone.
The walk is open to residents and visitors as a place of quiet reflection on Kilmore, past and future.
In Wandong, the History group’s Pick My Project is to relocate an historic hut to the Wandong Heathcote Junction Memorial Park and restore it to be used as a visitor information and exhibition space. The hut was used in the Mt Disappointment State Forest during World War 2 to house internees and later as a camp hut for Forestry workers.
Other projects include the planned expansion to the Kilmore Scouts’ storage facilities and a shed replacement to allow more equipment for the growing scout population.
Kilmore Miniature Railway is also seeking support with a development proposal to rejuvenate and extend the rail track to Hudson Park.
Ever to the forefront with creative ideas, Love in Action is looking to transform the old police station into the Wallan Future Hub that will connect people, pathways and provide practical help.
Local choir, With One Voice proposes a Wallan Sings Weekly community choir program connecting all community members with a love of music. Transition Village Wallan – a community response to homelessness offering safe housing sees Pick My Project as a way of expanding the group’s program to empower residents to rebuild their lives.
The Bush Bus – a mobile, nature inspired playgroup is looking for funding to develop a free outdoor playgroup that travels throughout the Mitchell Shire.
Wallan Bowling Club wants to light up its greens to enable community members to bowl at night and in Broadford a community drone event focused on building and racing drones will get off the ground if it gets enough votes.
To vote, simply register on the Pic My Project website – www.pickmyproject.vic.gov.au – and select a voting area by searching by street address or locality, or by dropping a pin on a map. Project ideas close to this selected area will be shown, and the community can vote for up to three favourites.
Voting closes at 5pm on Monday 17 September. Between now and close of voting the North Central Review will be taking a closer look at the projects seeking votes.
Project Applicant Kerry Clarke, who applied for $200,000, is set on driving healthy habits in the region with the idea centred on building bike sheds through the region.
Once constructed, the debate on the rail trail would be reignited for residents.
Ms Clarke said she was excited to see the project go through to the next phase.
“We are pretty excited to get through the first step, it was complicated to apply but we got there,” she said.
“The idea is we want people to get moving, out and about… we want people to be out in the connecting areas – a place to safely lock up bikes.
“Whittlesea has one of the highest rates of heart attack in the state so we thought people we wanted people out there and active… this allows them to know they can ride through town and have somewhere to store the bike.”
Whittlesea Community House’s Mary-Lynn Griffith said she was excited to see the plans come to fruition.
“We are keen to see more people riding in the neighbourhood,” she said.
“We will have the new lights going in on Plenty Road so nothing will cut through and we can all safely enjoy the town.
“We will work with the schools as well to encourage student riders as well.”
Voting has opened where residents across the state can shortlist their favourite ideas.
The projects with the most votes will be funded.
For more, visit www.pickmyproject.vic.gov.au/
by Jackson Russell
A dozen projects from Lancefield and Romsey have advanced to the voting stage and will be seeking community support.
Seven projects from Romsey will be able to be voted on, including the climbing forest stage of the Romsey Ecotherapy Park.
Romsey Region Business and Tourism Association (RRBATA) president and Romsey Ecotherapy Park committee member Jenny Stillman said the climbing forest is the next logical step in the park’s development.
“The reason we’ve gone with this is we have a nice open space where the climbing forest would go and it would tack on nicely to the existing part of the park,” she said.
The climbing forest is essentially a three metre high ropes course connected by timber poles and is targeted towards older children and adults alike.
“It will also be the biggest of its type in the Macedon Ranges… bigger kids and adults will come over for this thing so it gets people into the town too,” Ms Stillman added.
“We’re very optimistic that the community will climb onto the climbing forest and vote for it.”
Other projects in Romsey available for voting are an electronic scoreboard for Romsey Park, Feed It Forward: A Generosity Food Movement, a toilet upgrade for the Romsey Mechanics Institute, Romsey Community Social Enterprise, Trading Post Foodbank and Community Garden, Romsey Horse Welfare Community Education Program, and Tiny House Macedon Ranges.
Lancefield has five projects up for voting, a lighting upgrade for Lancefield Park, a community footpath linking Lancefield, an outdoor area for Lancefield Cricket Club, the Lancefield School and Community Garden Project, and an upgrade for Lancefield Playgroup’s outdoor space.
Voters can visit the Pick My Project website (pickmyproject.vic.gov.au) to register and select their local community by searching for their street address or suburb, or by dropping a pin on the map.
Any Victorian resident aged 16 and over can register and vote on any project within their local community.
For regional areas such as the Macedon Ranges, residents will be able to choose from project ideas located within 50km from their location.
Half of the $30 million in funding will be distributed across nine regional partnership areas.
Project ideas with the most votes in each area will get the opportunity to enter into a funding agreement for their project, with between $20,000 and $200,000 available for each project idea.
Voting is open until 5pm, Monday, September 17. For more information, visit pickmyproject.vic.gov.au
A person is believed to have died in an accident in Wallan.
About 20 emergency vehicles rushed to a trench on Springridge Boulevard, Wallan, in the Springridge Estate where it is believed an accident occurred at 3pm on Thursday, August 16.
Police and emergency services were on scene at a workplace incident at Wallan.
The police released a statement on Thursday night.
“It’s believed a worker fell into a trench on a Springridge Boulevard work site when the trench collapsed about 2.50pm,” the statement read.
“The worker who is yet to be formally identified died at the scene. Police will prepare a report for the coroner.”
MEMBER for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes, could be considering a move to the lower house at the November state election.
In a statement released by her office, Ms Symes said that she had been asked by “many from the communities” of Euroa and Ovens Valley electorates to run as a Lower House representative.
“I’m proud of what I have been able to deliver in securing funding for many projects across North East Victoria in just over three years, and there is plenty more work to do to deliver for these amazing communities,” Ms Symes said.
But having said that, both Euroa and Ovens Valley were won with convincing margins by the Nationals in 2014 – giving a good indication that Ms Symes will have a lot of ground to make up if she decides to contest either seat.
In Euroa, Steph Ryan polled 64.47 per cent of the two party preferred vote with 26,451 votes, easily defeating Labor’s Clare Malcolm (35.53 per cent – 14,580 votes).
Ms Ryan polled strongly in all voting centres with only one centre favouring Labor. That was Clonbinane with the Nationals trailing Labor by just one vote 129 to 130.
The picture was much the same in Ovens Valley with Labor’s Gail Cholosznecki (12,305 – 33.43 per cent conceding to the Nationals’ Tim McCurdy (24502 – 66.57 per cent) two party preferred.
“I grew up in Benalla, I understand what country communities want and I will continue to work as hard as possible to keep delivering new jobs, better schools, hospitals, sporting facilities, transport and helping our farmers,” Ms Symes said.
However, given the issues with V/Line over the life of the current government, transport could be a rather large hurdle to negotiate.
The upper house seat of Northern Victoria has five elected representatives, Wendy Lovell (Liberal) was the first elected candidate with 40.54 percent of first preference votes.
Labor’s Steven Herbert filled second place with 25.96 per cent.
However Mr Herbert’s tenure was short lived, quitting politics for chauffeuring his pet dogs around at taxpayers’ expense. His place is presently filled by former unionist, Mark Gepp.
Daniel Young representing the Shooters and Fishers Party was the third elected candidate with 3.44 per cent.
Coming in fourth was National candidate, Damian Drum (0.26 per cent). Mr Drum resigned his seat mid-term to pursue a career in federal politics. Luke O’Sullivan presently occupies that place for the Nationals.
Jaclyn Symes was the fifth elected on 0.07 per cent.
Ms Symes seems to be keeping an open mind on her future saying – “My priority is to keep delivering for all of Northern Victoria and any decision regarding running for Euroa or another seat is one I will make with my family and party colleagues.”
Mayor, Cr Kris Pavlidis, who doubles as the Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria chairperson, rose to ask the council for their support for the Victorian Local Government Joint Statement Against Changes to the Status Resolution Support Service for People Seeking Asylum.
The council decided to formally adopt the urgent item which will see the City of Whittlesea call on the federal government to reverse the assessment changes on the Status Resolution Support Services program and to continue to provide to funding for vulnerable residents.
Cr Pavlidis said she was pleased the motion passed.
“I am really pleased that the council has continued to lead in the debate by moving the urgent motion. This demonstrates the commitment to people setting in our community and realising their vulnerability,” she said.
“I think the essence of the motion is for people to be able to join our community. It is incumbent of citizens to give a helping hand when needed.
“This is basic survival. Their food, housing costs and being able to live. It is basic living needs. It isn’t enough to stamp a passport. Particularly with people arriving with trauma, maybe under tragic situations that we can’t fathom, so we can’t understand their plight.”
Federal Member for McEwen commended the council on their decision to support refugees.
“The City of Whittlesea has a long history of supporting migrant residents and refugees,” he said.
“They need to be commended for their leadership.
“As we are in opposition [Labor party], we have a solid policy to discuss about refugees but the main thing for us is returning decency to people.
“We need to protect children, look after people… we don’t support the hap hazard way the government has cut support to refugees.”
Premier Daniel Andrews made the announcement in New Gisborne on Friday alongside Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas and representatives from local sporting clubs who will directly benefit from the project.
As part of the Macedon Ranges Shire Council’s Precinct plan, the work will see a new grass oval, a synthetic surface sports field accommodating football, soccer and cricket, a pavilion, new tennis and netball courts, outdoor gym equipment and play spaces, barbeques and a track for walking, cycling and running.
The Precinct will be spread across two connecting sites in New Gisborne at the corner of Barringo Road and Hamilton Road, but will benefit communities from across the region.
The new Sports Precinct will be accessible to local teams, with the Gisborne Bulldogs Football Netball Club, the Gisborne Rookies Junior Football and the Gisborne Dragons Cricket Club all set to benefit.
The first stage of the project will see the two sports fields and accompanying pavilion built while funding is still being sought for the indoor sports stadium part of the precinct.
Mr Andrews said the project represents politics at its best.
“When local communities have a great idea, they work with local government and their local representative to develop that concept into a plan and try to secure funding to make that a reality,” he said.
“It’s not just great for Gisborne; it’s fantastic for the entire Macedon Ranges… it’s going to be a great centre of activity and a real showcase for this community.”
Ms Thomas said the project will help alleviate the pressure on facilities in the Macedon Ranges, especially on Gardiner Reserve which hosts 20 football teams and 30 cricket teams.
“This is a game changer for sport across the Macedon Ranges and for families. We have higher than average participation rates in a whole range of sports and the Macedon Ranges Regional Sports Precinct is about delivering the facilities we need so we can continue to grow sport in this region,” she said.
“Whether it’s watching the mighty Gisborne Bulldogs or a kick to kick on the weekend, I know how much this investment will mean to local families.”
