CFA volunteers are concerned, not attacking
IN reply to the letter to the editor from Trish Ravenhall (August 26, 2016).
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It is obvious this person has not read the EBA, or listened to the CFA Volunteer Association.
The volunteers are not attacking their conditions, but are concerned about the impact on the ability to perform their duties as they have in the past, without being controlled and hindered in their duties by the United Firefighters Union.
With respect, some UFU members have been acting like thugs – not all members.
The behaviour of the UFU secretary, Peter Marshall, is in question also.
Also, I would like to see how many hours the UFU members actually work, including their superannuation and age of retirement etc, compared to the rest of the workforce.
It would be great if we could have a premier who was honourable and governed for all, not just the union movement.
- Bruce McKay, Ararat
Deliver on your promise to help farming battlers
IN THE past 18 months there have been too many cases of Victorian farmers battling red tape and planning laws threatening to unfairly drive them off their property and out of business.
Victoria’s agricultural industries are a major source of economic growth for our state, but Labor is dragging its feet on promised right to farm reforms, leaving our farmers with no certainty to plan for their future.
At the last sitting of parliament, Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford could not explain a nine-month delay to these reforms.
Ms Pulford claimed the government was committed to ‘working through the issue quickly’, but 37 recommendations handed to the Andrews Labor Government several months ago by the investigating Animal Industries Advisory Committee remain secret.
It is not good enough that this Melbourne-centric Labor Government have left farmers in the lurch.
Daniel Andrews, Jaala Pulford and Labor must deliver on their promise to Victorian farmers, who are an important contributor to Victoria’s economy.
- Peter Walsh, The Nationals leader
Let’s talk about adoption so you can make change
VICTORIANS are encouraged to comment on further changes to Victoria’s adoption laws.
Late last year I announced a Victorian Law Reform Commission (VLRC) review of adoption laws to:
- Promote the best interests of children, their rights and their ongoing needs;
- Align with other key pieces of Victorian legislation;
- Better reflect a contemporary understanding of family and community.
The review fulfils an election promise and builds on the Andrews Labor Government’s existing changes to adoption laws, which removed discriminatory and unnecessary provisions. These include removing barriers to adoption by same-sex couples and amendments that repealed contact statements.
Victorians are encouraged to make submissions on the VLRC’s consultation paper to have their say on issues such as:
- How relationship status and living arrangements affect a person or couple’s eligibility to adopt;
- How an adopted person’s identity is reflected on their birth certificate and other related issues;
- How to provide for the best interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children;
- Post-adoption support.
Submissions on changes to the Adoption Act 1984 are due by September 16. The VLRC is expected to complete the review by February 28, 2017.
- Jenny Mikakos, Families and Children Minister
