Independent Member for the Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called on the Federal Minister for Water Keith Pitt to release the findings of the Inspector-General of Murray–Darling Basin Water Resources Mick Keelty’s inquiry into water sharing-arrangements between the states.

“We are in the midst of a crisis, but that does not mean extremely important information, such as the findings of this inquiry, can be buried for six months,” Ms Sheed said.

“I am concerned that Federal Parliament will not sit until October and the be outcomes of various reports and inquiries may be put on the back burner during the pandemic response.
Mr Keelty’s inquiry is too important to remain on Minister Pitt’s desk, according to Ms Sheed.

“I have written to Minister Pitt and called on him to make this advice available publicly and as a matter of urgency following his receiving it. As Mr Keelty currently has no statutory appointment his advice is not a document that needs to be tabled in Parliament which in any event would be very difficult in the current circumstances.

“I am informed that this document does not require tabling in either house of the Federal Parliament and accordingly it will be in the Minister’s hands to make it available,” Ms Sheed said.

“The Minister must know that access to water in the Southern Basin is critical to food production such as, dairy products, rice, wheat and other cereals not to mention the huge variety of fruit and vegetables being produced.

“Water policy is arguably now more important as a result of the Coronavirus crisis, not less.

“If Mr Keelty’s findings indicate that change is needed in how we distribute water, then we must be given the opportunity to assess the recommendations and see what is achievable.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.vic.gov.au

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Independent Member for the Shepparton District has thanked Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison for their latest rounds of decisive financial actions aimed at assisting local families and businesses help combat the effects of Coronavirus with unprecedented economic packages.

“We are in uncharted waters – there has been no event of this magnitude in my lifetime and on behalf of my electorate I would like to thank the state and federal governments for acting with such deliberation in relation to the serious financial concerns people have,” Ms Sheed said.

Included in the massive expenditure is a refund of payroll tax for the 2019-20 financial year to small and medium-sized businesses, totalling $550 million. The state government will also pay all its outstanding invoices, releasing another $750 million and has allocated $500 million to help transition workers facing job losses.

Meanwhile the federal government has announced $189 billion in stimulus, around 10 per cent of the country’s total gross domestic product.

This package includes a $550 fortnightly payment to recipients of the JobSeeker Payment (formerly Newstart), Youth Allowance jobseeker, Parenting Payment, Farm Household Allowance and Special Benefit.

“This Coronavirus supplement will see a very real and tangible benefit for our most vulnerable, effectively doubling the income in some cases for those out of work and providing a badly needed element of security for those facing job losses,” Ms Sheed said.

“I encourage anyone facing the loss of their job to contact Centrelink immediately so they themselves and their families can be afforded a level of economic protection.

“The state government is also attempting to rapidly retrain people who have lost their job as a result of the Coronavirus response, including work cleaning public infrastructure or delivering food.
“We are all in this together and together we will get through this. Recent moves by our governments give me some confidence and businesses throughout the region need to plan for riding this out where possible,” Ms Sheed said.

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.vic.gov.au

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Independent Member for the Shepparton District has welcomed a $6 million commitment from Minister for Housing Richard Wynne to help the plight of people experiencing homelessness during the Coronavirus crisis but has expressed concerns the not-for-profit charity sector is suffering staff losses.

“I am extremely concerned by the plight of the homeless during this crisis,” Ms Sheed said.

“The Shepparton District was particularly hard hit by homelessness before the Coronavirus pandemic and I am seeing some very worrying trends emerging as the crisis unfolds.

“Shortages in crisis accommodation and emergency food services were apparent prior to the COVID-19 spread. Now volunteer staff, many of them elderly, are being sent home, services are being stretched to breaking point and donated food supplies are becoming erratic. We need a very deliberate government response to assist these incredibly vulnerable members of our community.”

While making up less than 10 per cent of people experiencing homelessness, Ms Sheed said she was particularly concerned about the plight of rough sleepers.

“These are the most vulnerable. They are generally in poor health. They have limited access to medical care and they cannot self-isolate. If COVID-19 gets into this population the results will be dire.”

Ms Sheed also called for community assistance.

“We know local organisations in the Shepparton District such as FoodShare were struggling before the pandemic and now even more so.

“Donations are desperately needed. Look after yourselves and your own family first, but if you have the capacity, please consider donating any excess stocks of canned foods and hygiene supplies to our local charity organisations.

“Together, we can get through this crisis and together we can lessen the impact on the homeless.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.vic.gov.au

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed says she is extremely concerned about the potential spread of the coronavirus in our own local communities and calls for more direct information to be made available to everyone.

“I have noticed that on at least couple of occasions when important interviews are being given on ABC 774 in Melbourne with the Premier or the Chief health Officer that same interview is not being streamed through to our local regional ABC stations,” Ms Sheed said.

“It is important that people have the clearest and most up-to-date information at all stages just as occurred during the bushfires. I am concerned that this is not currently happening in some of our regional areas. I have now raised the matter with the Minister for Health’s adviser requesting that communication be increased in regional areas.

“We have all been told that the coronavirus is spreading rapidly and that the major impacts will be on the older and more vulnerable members of our communities. These people are our parents and grandparents, they are people that we love and care for and every step should be taken to ensure their protection. I am concerned that some of the messaging has been confused, delayed and lacking in clear direction for the community. We can take little comfort from the fact that we live in a rural community. We all travel as do our families and now all non-essential travel has been recommended against.

“We must now be vigilant in terms of following the health advice that is out there and taking even more precautions if you feel that it is necessary in your case.

“We must also look out for others in our community who we know maybe alone or more vulnerable and who may need some additional assistance with shopping and otherwise being prepared for quarantine periods or shutdowns.

“In country communities we know each other and now is the time for acting rationally and carefully to ensure the minimum level of risk to everyone we connect with and indeed for ourselves.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@suzannasheed.com.au

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Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has warned her parliamentary colleagues over the threat to democracy posed by ongoing declines in regional media resources, highlighted by the impending closure of Australian Associated Press.

“We are seeing terrible threats in relation to regional media. We have seen the closure of AAP, which employed something like 180 journalists nationwide, who supported not only our major print and online media organisations but many of the smaller ones,” Ms Sheed said.

“The impact of that will be really very hard-felt, and people are feeling very sad about that loss in the face of other losses and in the face of what has happened with the ABC.”

The loss of AAP will have a critical impact on rural and regional media reporting making the role of the ABC more important than ever, according to Ms Sheed. Just last year we saw WIN newsrooms shut down in Orange, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga and Queensland’s Wide Bay.

“A reported annual budget cut of $105.9 million to the ABC is putting the National Broadcaster under enormous pressure,” Ms Sheed said.

“Vital coverage of the devastating bushfires before and during last summer cost an additional $3 million ABC Managing Director David Anderson has said and combined that organisation is facing cuts to content and jobs.”

Currently, the Victorian Government Regional Communication Policy requires that government departments and agencies place 15 per cent of their annual campaign media expenditure with regional and rural media.

“To ensure that what’s left of our precious regional media survives the transition to digital, I call on the government to raise that level 20 per cent,” Ms Sheed said.

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@parliament.vic.gov.au

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