The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, has encouraged multicultural organisations within his electorate to consider applying for funding under the Victorian Multicultural Commission’s Community Grants Program for 2010.

Mr Jasper said the program, offering grants up to $20,000, aims at recognising Victoria’s culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse communities, and developing and sustaining local community organisations and programs.

Murray Valley has a large ethnic population, particularly around Cobram and Wangaratta, which has made a significant contribution to the development of this region, he said.

Revision of the proposed ‘risk-based’ fee structure for liquor licences announced today will give some relief to hard pressed country licence holders, particularly publicans, according to The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper.

However, more detailed information is needed to determine the final fee increases to be imposed, and the modelling used by the department to determine the fee increases, Mr Jasper said.

The State Government has at last responded to the massive swell of opposition to the exorbitant fee increases proposed to be implemented in January 2010, on top of the huge increases imposed this year, to reduce the impost on low risk areas, with higher fees to apply to problem areas and hot spots, such as King Street and other areas of metropolitan Melbourne.

Parks Victoria must provide additional controls for the protection for native animals in the Ulupna Island area as a matter of urgency, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

Disgusted at photographs depicting the injuries being inflicted on our native wildlife by dogs and shooters, Mr Jasper said he will take this issue up again with the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Gavin Jennings, when Parliament resumes this week.

I have already written to the Minister on this issue, following representations from several constituents in the area, some of whom actually run wildlife shelters, deeply concerned at the suffering caused to the wildlife, he said.

Opposition to proposed massive increases in liquor licence fees is rapidly increasing in North East Victoria, and in Murray Valley electorate, The Nationals Local Member, Ken Jasper, said today.

Mr Jasper said a second meeting of liquor licence holders is being held at Wangaratta’s Westside Tavern at 11.30am Thursday October 8 2009, following an earlier meeting at Numurkah, where he was able to discuss the issues and learn of the extreme concern at the adverse affect the proposed increases would have on businesses.

Liquor licence holders, and most particularly publicans, are now realising the damaging effect the massive increases proposed by the Victorian Government will have, particularly on businesses operating in country Victoria, he said.