Welcoming proposed amendments to the Food Act which will simplify the running of community fundraising activities such as sausage sizzles, cake stalls and farmers markets, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said the changes should be introduced earlier.

The Food Amendment (Legislation Reforms) Bill passes into law later this year, with a progressive start-up time, but the start-up time for the changes covering activities such as sausage sizzles is not until 2011, Mr Jasper said. That is ridiculous, considering this regulation has been one of the most contentious of the difficulties in meeting the current regulations, particularly for volunteer community groups.

We all acknowledge the need for safe food handling but these regulations were completely over the top and, unfortunately, community groups will have to continue operating under the existing food safety arrangements until 2011.

Welcome rainfalls in June will see an increase in the delivery of water to our storage dams and assist in underpinning the supply of water into the food bowl of Australia, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

Again calling on the State Government to build Big Buffalo dam and extend Lake William Hovell to underpin the supply of water for town supplies, irrigation and the environment, Mr Jasper said it was absurd for Water Minister, Tim Holding, to maintain the fiction there could be no extension to dams due to the 1995 Murray Darling Basin cap, whilst proceeding with the ludicrous North South pipeline.

The Government is spending $8 million to strengthen the wall of Lake William Hovell, which holds a mere 14,000 mega litres, but refuse to even investigate building stage two, which would massively increase the capacity of this dam, he said.

The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, is calling on the State Government to immediately reinstate the municipal rate subsidy scheme for primary producers in exceptional circumstances, and a range of other drought support programs..

Mr Jasper said the welcome rains received in June don’t mean the drought is over or indicate that hard pressed farmers are no longer facing financial hardship.

Commenting on the State Government’s decision to cut funding for a range of drought support programs, including the municipal rate subsidy, drought health services and community support program, drought employment program and the apprenticeship retention program from July 1, he said for the Government to say it would review the situation in October was totally insensitive to the situation faced by farmers.

Students, parents and teachers concerned at proposed changes to the independence test for the Federal Government youth allowance are encouraged to express their opposition by signing the petition calling for State Government action and making a submission to the Senate Enquiry.

The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today the proposed changes to both the youth allowance and the living away from home allowance are having a devastating effect on students currently undertaking a ‘gap’ year to meet independence test requirements.

Having deferred their university and tertiary studies for the one year allowed by most universities, students are rightly angry that the rules have been changed mid-way through their gap year, he said.