Gary Blackwood MP | Politician
Gary Blackwood MP
Phone: +61 3 5623 1960
Reviews
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25.01.2022 Local Dance Schools & Students Need Your Help After being told they could initially open in Step 3, a backflip means Dance Studios have now been classified as higher risk indoor activity and forced to remain closed. I'm calling on parents, students and anyone that thinks this industry should be open to sign our survey.... Tag a friend, a student you know or another parent. Together we can make a difference and ensure these businesses are heard. So many businesses are hurting right now, and industries that can operate should be able to do so, even if it is with limits on how many can attend each session. There are more than 1,000 dance schools across the state, employing 5,000 Victorians. The health and mental wellbeing of students is only undermined by the decision to keep the industry closed. Let's get behind industries that can open safely. Let's support our local studios. Join our campaign today.
25.01.2022 One of the biggest missed opportunities from this weeks State Budget was the chance to do more for our small businesses that are the engines of our local economies. Instead, Daniel Andrews and Tim Pallas have borrowed big to fund major projects that are already delayed, over budget and under delivering for our State. There are many shovel ready projects across local communities that should have been given funding to get them going. They would have delivered jobs not just for ...Melbourne, but for our regional economies too. No doubt we had to borrow money to get our recovery going, but we need value for our borrowings. We can't let this opportunity slip and we can't let Labor waste a single dollar when it comes to our recovery.
24.01.2022 The Hotel Quarantine Program restarts today. We cannot have a another failure of this program. There is too much at stake for communities, families and businesses. I find it really disturbing this week to not have seen more about the reset program from the Acting Premier, Acting Police Minister or Minister for Health.... Victorians need to feel confident that there won't be another failure in this program. It is the frontline in our fight against COVID19. Along with every other Victorian I hope this time the Andrews Labor Government gets it right.
24.01.2022 Are you a CFA volunteer? If so, we want to hear from you. We want to know what YOU think is required to rebuild your CFA everything from training, resources, communications and operations. The Michael O’Brien-led Liberal team has a plan to rebuild and restore the CFA as an independent, volunteer based, autonomous fire service. ... CFA volunteers, have your say here: https://www.rebuildthecfa.com.au/volunteer/ If you are a community member you can also sign the petition to support the CFA. It is a community effort. We need to support our CFA.
24.01.2022 To build new trains for Melbourne, Daniel Andrews chose to send Victorian taxpayers’ money to a Chinese Communist Government state-owned company accused of delays, cost blowouts, quality issues and use of forced labour. So much for supporting Victorian jobs.
23.01.2022 I have had thousands of people email me about their lack of confidence in the Andrews Government and the Premiers handling of the COVID19 crisis. Thousands more have voiced their anger by signing the www.noconfidence.com.au petition to tell the Premier exactly what they think of his failed quarantine program. Today Premier Daniel Andrews will front the COVID19 Hotel Quarantine Inquiry.... So far almost every person to appear at the hearings has not been able to answer one very basic question. Who was responsible for the disastrous program that led to our second wave? Many involved in the program including senior Victorian Government Ministers cannot recall key facts, dates and decisions and say they don't remember who was responsible for setting up the program, managing the risks and ensuring it did its job. Today the Premier has an opportunity to come clean about the program, who was responsible, and to provide accountability for the program his Government was responsible for. Victorians deserve to have the truth and for someone to take responsibility.
22.01.2022 Yesterday the Premier was asked at the daily COVID-19 update about the regional metropolitan border and what work had been done to fix the lockdown hurting rural Cardinian towns. The answer was simple - none. In an extra barb communities were told to suck it up, it is only 3 more weeks... It took a question from the media to get an answer, after emails and letters I sent to him have gone unanswered. Not once in the past 8 weeks has the Premier had the decency to reach out and... discuss the issue. For the Premier to say it's just another 3 weeks shows just how out of touch he is with where these communities are and the lockdown they are in. These towns are not interconnected suburbs in Melbourne. They are small communities and the 5km zone together with the metropolitan restrictions are doing unbelievable damage to families and businesses where there have been no cases for months. It shouldn't be 3 more weeks, it should have been addressed and fixed 3 weeks ago. To not even acknowledge the correspondence he has received from the community is a disgrace and it is disrespectful to local towns who deserved to be heard and receive a formal response from him outlining exactly why the situation can't be fixed. Not be told through a camera to the media that their concerns are not relevant. The issue isn't resolved, I'll continue to push for the right outcome for rural Cardinian communities and a response from the Premier because it is the respect they deserve.
21.01.2022 Today is teal ribbon giving day. Please consider supporting the fight against this insidious cancer of women. Every donation made today is being matched by sponsors, so your help can do more than ever.... More information is available here: https://www.ovariancancer.net.au/page/156/teal-ribbon-day
21.01.2022 The Victorian Liberal Nationals are calling on the Andrews Labor Government to give Victorian students and their families much needed financial relief by rolling over this year’s student myki cards for a free year of travel in 2021 for students in Year 11 and below, and provide a refund to students currently in Year 12. This year’s school year has been interrupted with many students hardly attending face-to-face learning at all and with multiple student passes a significant o...utlay for many Victorian families. Labor’s current refund policy for student myki passes just punishes parents who have already done it really tough this year. So many Victorian families are struggling financially due to Labor’s second wave of coronavirus, rolling over student mykis for a free year of travel in 2021 can be done immediately and is the least Daniel Andrews can do.
21.01.2022 Daniel Andrews yesterday confirmed a Royal Commission into Crown Melbourne stating it's about accountability, integrity and upholding the highest standards. Where are those standards in the Andrews Labor Government? Victorians wanted a Royal Commission into the handling of the Hotel Quarantine Program which saw 801 people lose their lives and our State closed for months.... Instead Victorians got an inquiry where the Andrews Labor Government spent more on lawyers than it did on the inquiry itself. Victorians deserve integrity, accountability and high standards from their Government. Daniel Andrews is more about double standards than he is about accountability, integrity and upholding the highest standard.
21.01.2022 The Victorian Government must change this terrible decision. Communities know plantation timber will not meet the demand we have in Australia. It’ll result in bad outcomes for every industry connected to Native Timber. ... It must be reversed to save jobs and save communities.
20.01.2022 Our Local Business Action Plan to make Victoria the small business capital of the nation. Our plan will reduce payroll tax for small business, provide rebates on certain local and state government charges and a total freeze on local government charges for small business. Small business is the lifeblood of our economy, but over the past six years, and especially during COVID lockdowns in 2020, the Andrews Labor Government’s mismanagement has smashed small businesses. Many will... never recover. The Liberal Nationals’ Local Business Action Plan backs local business, local jobs and local success. The time has come for governments to get off the back of small business, cut red tape and let small business get on with the work of growing our economy and creating jobs.
20.01.2022 Metropolitan Melbourne (including Cardinia) will enter the second step of the COVID-19 roadmap Changes to restrictions from 11:59pm tonight, September 27th Curfew lifted (from tomorrow morning, 5am September 28)... No limit on number of people from one household for purposes of shopping Childcare open to all children (no permit required and 5km limit does not apply) One childminder allowed for in-home childcare if pre-existing arrangement A household or limit of five people from two households allowed to gather in an outdoor space, not including a home Exercise allowed within 5km of your workplace for permitted workers (as well as your home) Cemetery visits allowed on milestone dates subject to conditions Care facilities/hospitals to allow one visitor per day for maximum of two hours. If patient is under 18, they can have two parents/carers visit with no time limit Residential inspections allowed (subject to conditions) Gardening, landscaping and garden maintenance businesses who have an ABN added to permitted worker list (conditions apply) Outdoor personal training allowed with a limit of two people plus trainer The trigger dates to move to the third and fourth step have now been removed and case number trigger points will instead determine when we move to the next step. The third step will require Metropolitan Melbourne to record a daily average of less than 5 cases for a 14 days AND record less than 5 cases with an unknown sources over a rolling 14-day average. For more information on the changes to step 2 visit https://www.vic.gov.au/second-step-coronavirus-road-to-reco
20.01.2022 Another Gippsland local making a (massive) impact in the AFL. Congratulations to Caleb Serong for his outstanding win, 2020 NAB AFL Rising Star. (Would be even better if he was Collingwood but we can’t win them all).
19.01.2022 Update on Restrictions From 11:59pm tonight, there are a significant number of changes to restrictions in Victoria. Most importantly, masks will no longer be required outdoors where it is possible for you to reasonably social distance.... For example in a shopping centre yes, you are still required to wear your mask, but in the car park alone as you leave you would not need to wear it. You must still carry a mask with you when away from home. You will also be able to have 15 guests to your home per day (excluding kids under 1 year of age). So you could have 5 guests for lunch, and then 10 for dinner. It is simply 15 per day. There are changes to venue caps that finally will let weddings in particular get back underway. This is a massive change for many who have reached out wanting to get their big day back underway. There are further changes coming from December 13, including an increase to 30 guests to your home per day. These will be in place for Christmas 2020. These are some positive changes, we still need to see how they impact venues but I know they will be very welcome from restaurants, cafes and venues across our region. I'll update you as we get further clarity, but these are the basic changes that come into effect from 11:59pm tonight. Feel free as always to leave any questions here, send me a PM or email [email protected]. Stay well, Gary.
18.01.2022 It's been a hard time for growers through COVID19 with their workforce decimated. While the first 1,500 workers have now arrived, it will come as too little to late for many, and for some farmers they've missed out all together. Late last year it was revealed just how badly the Victorian Government Agriculture Workforce Plan had failed regional communities. Many farmers are telling me that they're not surprised given the track record of the Andrews Labor Government in mismana...ging schemes in the past. We need to make sure every effort is being made to roll out programs effectively and quickly and that they aren't just delivering more red tape and roadblocks like we've seen so far.
17.01.2022 After a mixed week last week here are my tips for Round 4 of the AFL. Best of luck to your team this week! Gary.
17.01.2022 There were no changes announced to restrictions for regional Victoria Sunday - a disappointment for those of us hoping our very low case numbers would allow some more flexibility for hospitality, business, dance schools, learn to swim classes, gyms and others. However Daniel Andrews did announce that face mask rules will be tightened. Face shields, scarves, gators, buffs and bandanas were deemed suitable by health experts when Victoria’s active coronavirus numbers were in the... thousands but apparently not now. That decision seems backwards to me. All Victorians must now wear only a fitted face mask of two-ply+ material or a surgical mask, with no end date for mask wearing flagged. Wearing other face coverings such as a shield, scarf, gator or bandana will not be allowed after a grace period of two weeks. This advice has still not been updated on the DHHS website leading to unnecessary confusion. There remain exemptions for some people including those with breathing conditions and for mental health reasons. So: face shields (unless a mask is worn as well) scarves bandanas face masks only If you have something to say to the Premier, you can do so at www.noconfidence.com.au where thousands of locals have already done so.
16.01.2022 Major projects require major planning. Time and time again we see situations with the Andrews Labor Government where something is announced, planned out on the back of a napkin. We need detail about these projects. Without the detail, Victorians will continue to rightly ask will the project even be of benefit, and are the costs of it even accurate.... https://www.theage.com.au//part-of-modern-rail-suburban-ra
15.01.2022 With the Andrews Labor Government intervening last week in what the Minister called a 'premature' cancellation of Moomba, the Liberals are now calling for the re-think of the cancellation of the ANZAC Day march 6 weeks later. We must take every precaution to keep Victorians safe, particularly those who are most vulnerable, including our veterans. However, if we can hold a Moomba Festival safely after state government intervention there should be every effort made by the gov...ernment to ensure a safe ANZAC Day march can be held, which could have certain restrictions applied to ensure the welfare of those attending. What do you think?
15.01.2022 COVID-19 Update for 25 September Across Gippsland
15.01.2022 As part of the Liberal Nationals Local Business Action Plan, a number of local government fees will be frozen including footpath and road occupation fees, fees on hairdressers and beauty businesses, fees on food businesses, and fees on accommodation providers. Small business is the lifeblood of our economy, but over the past six years, and especially during COVID lockdowns in 2020, the Andrews Labor Government’s mismanagement has smashed small businesses. Many will never rec...over. The Liberal Nationals’ Local Business Action Plan backs local business, local jobs and local success. The time has come for governments to get off the back of small business, cut red tape and let small business get on with the work of growing our economy and creating jobs.
14.01.2022 As has been the case for everyone, my office has been a really different place with COVID-19. The mix of working from home and in office, needing to zoom when I'd rather meet in person, my staff having to undertake drastically different roles to support the community in new ways. It's been a real challenge, but throughout this year we've worked to try and deliver the best advice, advocacy and support we can.... We've also had Bron join the team. My office is open again to the community with new COVIDsafe practices in place. As always you can continue to call, email, or send me a message here, but if you need to can now drop in again to see us. Stay well, Gary.
13.01.2022 The delayed 2020/21 State Budget has been handed down and it confirms many of the fears locals have raised with me in recent months. State borrowing and debt is significantly up, yet here in West Gippsland that funding is not flowing through to specific project and infrastructure delivery. The number one item for West Gippsland is a new Hospital, and again there is no mention anywhere in the budget papers of the project.... With nearly a billion dollars allocated for school infrastructure upgrades, only one school in Narracan is listed for improvements. Warragul Regional College will thankfully receive a major boost with nearly $12.5m allocated which will be welcomed by the school community and families, but no date set for works or detail about the project. There is also no funding allocated for other critical education projects such second campus for Drouin Primary School, or upgrades at Drouin Secondary College to meet growing student demand. In fact nearly two thirds of the education spending announced today wont start until 2022/23 according to the budget papers. There is no mention of key roads projects we need such as a Drouin bypass and township upgrade, road upgrades between Drouin and Warragul, intersection upgrades for growing towns including Trafalgar and Yarragon or dangerous intersection upgrades such as at Tynong North Road. There is also no mention of the second ambulance station for Warragul where $700,000 has already been spent on purchasing land. No mention of the Gippsland rail network, no funding to duplicate track between Longwarry and Bunyip, no funding to extend town bus services to allow better access to public transport. There has been funding allocated for investment in our tourism sector including in East Gippsland which is fantastic, but none of that will be spent in key tourism areas here in West Gippsland such as Walhalla and Mount Baw Baw. These are major year round tourist destinations that need investment and should be supported better by the Budget. At a time where the Andrews Labor Government is saying we must spend and invest to recover from COVID-19, it makes such little sense for these projects to not get a mention at all. Of the at least $100 billion in new debt, only $8.2 billion is attached to new infrastructure spending. My staff and I are continuing to sift through the hundreds and hundreds of pages that make up this years Budget and I'll provide a more comprehensive update in coming days, but the early indications are that this does not meet the test for infrastructure delivery in West Gippsland and many areas of regional Victoria. Much more needed to be accomplished with such massive borrowings by the Andrews Labor Government. We cannot waste $1 when it comes to investing to recover from COVID. We cannot afford Daniel Andrews short changing West Gippsland on the recovery process. http://garyblackwood.com.au/state-budget-failings-will-be-/
13.01.2022 Of the more than $100 billion in new debt announced yesterday, just $8.2 billion will fund new infrastructure projects. Projects that were critical to the West Gippsland community missed out. No new West Gippsland Hospital... No Gippsland rail projects to improve frequency or reliability No funding for a Drouin town bypass or CBD upgrade No funding for community services such as Olivias Place No funding to deliver intersection upgrades across the region including at Tynong North Road No funding for Warragul or Moe ambulance station projects No funding for a 24/7 Drouin Police Station These are just a small sample of what was missing from this critical budget for our recovery. This spending needed to deliver for every corner of the State. With such a small fraction of the funding going to new projects, regional Victorians will rightly be asking, where is the money going?
13.01.2022 COVID-19 Update for 1 October Across Gippsland
12.01.2022 The Victorian Labor Government have finally announced their preferred site for a Victorian quarantine hub. The only problem? It's on Federal land. They've not discussed a detailed proposal with the Federal Government. They're demanding the Federal Government fund it.... That's not how you get a project done. The Victorian Labor Government have a history in negotiating with the Federal Government by media. Demanding funding be delivered without a detailed plan. This is another blame game by the Victorian Labor Government who would rather put out a press release than a policy. Victorians know a fake announcement when they see one from the Acting Premier and Victorian Labor Government.
12.01.2022 VICTORIA'S WORST ROADS We all know our roads are stuffed - we drive on them every single day - but the RACV is now calling for people to nominate the most dangerous road in Victoria. It might be easier to provide them with a list of roads that aren't dangerous, but this is yet another chance to have your say and hopefully get some action from the Andrews Government. ... Last year's state budget had very little money for regional road upgrades and minimal increases to the maintenance budget that will go no where near bringing roads up to scratch. Labor also scrapped the successful Country Road and Bridges fund which gave councils funding to upgrade priority road and bridge upgrades on their local network. Leave your nomination in the comments below too and I'll ad them to my list of the region's worst roads. Nominate your road here: https://racv.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/my-country-road/map#/
11.01.2022 #AFL tips for #Round7 which starts tonight. Expect a big Collingwood Football Club win! Hope your team finds success this week, unless your team is Gold Coast Suns.... Stay well, Gary.
09.01.2022 HOW DOES THIS MAKE ANY SENSE? The 5km rule make zero sense in rural Cardinia. Tag @ Dan Andrews and tell him just how stupid this now is and tag a friend so they can see just how bad this decision is.... In Spring Street, the 5km zone gets residents access to hundreds of parks, restaurants, takeaway outlets, click and collect retail and friends to exercise with. In rural Cardinia, you might get one park, you might get one takeaway cafe, you might get a local retailer who is still opening for click and collect. You definitely get 400 cows and a few hundred sheep. The 5km zone has to go in these rural communities. They need to be rezoned to regional rules so they can get on with opening up. They need to begin the recovery process today along with the rest of regional Victoria.
08.01.2022 DON'T FORGET TO CHANGE THE CLOCKS Daylight saving changes take place over night tonight. Don't forget to put your clocks forward an hour before going to bed tonight!
07.01.2022 COVID-19 Update for 28 September Across Gippsland GREAT NEWS CARDINIA - ZERO CASES!
06.01.2022 COVID-19 Update for 24 September Across Gippsland
06.01.2022 Todays COVID-19 update had a stunning and devastating admission for Cardinia Shire residents. Just because you move to Step 3 in mid October, does not ensure that the border to regional Victoria will open up. This week the Premier told Cardinia residents to just wait 3 more weeks for the border issue to be fixed when restrictions ease. He refused to review the rural towns in Cardinia to be classed as regional because just 3 more weeks remained until they were in Step 3, and t...herefore he argued it didn't matter. Today he was asked, will the boundary between metro and regional be lifted to allow Victorians (who will all be on the same part of the roadmap remember) to travel freely anywhere in the State. Not only did he say it is undecided, he went further to say that metro Step 3, with the same rules as regional Step 3, may still not be able to travel out of the zone regardless of what happens with case numbers. This raises two really serious questions. 1 - For Cardinian residents, what does it mean for shopping, work, education and seeing family if the border remains? 2 - For regional Victoria under Step 3 already, why then has the next step to move forward on business restrictions been tied to Metropolitan daily figures, when metropolitan communities might not even be able to come to a regional area. This is exactly the sort of confusing messaging that is leaving communities worried about what exactly is happening in 3 weeks time. It is creating unnecessary anxiety for residents, and leaving businesses asking what can they do to plan to reopen in the metropolitan zone vs the regional zone.
05.01.2022 COVID-19 Update for 29 September Across Gippsland
04.01.2022 COVID DAILY UPDATE In the past 24 hours there has been 2 new locally acquired cases reported. There are currently 17 active cases.
03.01.2022 COVID-19 Update for 30 September Across Gippsland
03.01.2022 COVID-19 Update for 2 October Across Gippsland
02.01.2022 It's State Budget Day. This year, the State Budget is more important than ever. We have a climate of economic uncertainty and while a State Budget cannot immediately repair the damage done to local communities and Victorian businesses, it must outline how the road to recovery will begin.... Throughout today and the rest of the week, here on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter my staff and I will continue to update you with the important announcements from the Budget. If you have any questions as always you can reach out and we will do our best to find the information you're looking for. Gary.
01.01.2022 BREAKING NEWS: As a result of intense community pressure, and strong advocacy by the Liberal Nationals, there has been a big win today for regional communities. The Government has opened up new bookings for Learners Permits, Hazard Perception Tests and License tests from today - with appointments available from next week!
01.01.2022 I want to ensure that local Victorian businesses have the environment they need to succeed. The best way to do that? Get the cost of doing business here in Victoria down, and encourage growth. Payroll tax is a tax on jobs, and under our plan we'll reduce payroll tax to help grow those opportunities for local businesses.... The Liberal National's Local Business Action Plan will mean a saving of up to $43,650 each year on payroll tax for small business. This is the right plan for Victorians and together with Victorian Liberal Leader - Michael O'Brien MP, we're committed to ensuring it is delivered.
