The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, has again called on the State Government to reintroduce the State-wide fox tail bounty, which was so successful in the past.

Joining The Nationals call for a bounty on foxes and wild dogs, Mr Jasper said now is the time to act, before the spring lambing season.

The most recent bounty program to assist curb fox and wild-dog numbers in bushfire affected communities, which ended in October 2007, whilst not wide enough, was successful in reducing fox numbers by more than 63,000, he said.

This represents 63,000 foxes not killing our lambs, calves, chickens and native fauna and wildlife. Wallabies, bandicoots, bilbies and parrots are all listed as being threatened by foxes, Mr Jasper added.

A critical situation has now developed regarding Mt Buffalo, with reports the historic Chalet is to be fenced off and day visitor support services reduced, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

It appears the State Government has abandoned the future for this major tourism asset for North East Victoria, and one of Victoria’s most visited National Parks, he said.

The latest developments suggest ongoing negotiations between Parks Victoria and incumbent lessees, the Burbank Group, have broken down and the Chalet, closed for some 20 months, will be simply locked up and fenced off, Mr Jasper said.

It is time the Environment Minister, Gavin Jennings, stepped in, and the State Government made a long term commitment to the future viability of this tourism icon.

A new award, the Westpac Community Treasurers’ Awards, recognises the invaluable work of honorary treasurers striving to ensure local community organisations remain viable, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

The honorary treasurer is often the backbone of the local sports group, kindergarten, hall committee, or other community group, working without pay, without fanfare and sometimes with little thanks, and the work they perform is invaluable, he said.

This new award, an initiative of Westpac and Our Community, a national social enterprise providing resources, training and advice for Australia’s 700,000 community groups, offers an award of $5000 in three categories, small – for organisations with budgets under $10,000; medium – budgets between $10,000 and $250,000; and large – organisations with an annual income over $250,000.

The annual conference of State National Party Members of Parliament held in Sydney late last week strongly affirmed the Victorian, New South Wales, South Australian and Western Australian Nationals would continue to act as separate non-metropolitan based parties in those States, The Nationals Member for Murray Valley, Ken Jasper, said today.

The Conference of State Parliamentarians [COSP] also congratulated the Queensland Liberal National Party [LNP] on its achievement of an historic merger, long time secretary, Mr Jasper, said.

The motions affirming the position of the various states in maintaining their independent status, and in recognising the change in Queensland, were part of a communiqué from the conference, held at New South Wales Parliament House, Sydney, he said.