Mark Richards 4 Latrobe Valley in Traralgon, Victoria | Political candidate

Mark Richards 4 Latrobe Valley

Locality: Traralgon, Victoria

Phone: +61 419 666 765

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24.01.2022 Each year on 11 November, Remembrance Day, we pause to remember those men and women who have served in all wars, and pay our respects to them. This year also ma...rks the 75th anniversary of the end of the World War Two. 75 years ago, as thousands of Victorian veterans returned home to join their families and their friends, thousands more never made the journey home. This Remembrance Day we honour their memory, and the memory of all who have served, as we reflect on their sacrifice and the importance of homecoming. Lest we forget. As we continue our gradual easing of restrictions, Remembrance Day will look different this year. While we are unable to gather together at the Shrine, there are ways we can, and should, honour the memory of all those who have served, along with their families. Victorians are encouraged to pause for a minute’s silence at 11am on Wednesday 11 November and to join the Shrine’s online service at 10.45am, which will be livestreamed on the Shrine of Remembrance Facebook and YouTube channels. Register your attendance at https://www.shrine.org.au/remembrance-day-2020 You can also learn about veterans’ stories and join the online exhibitions and events to recognise Remembrance Day and the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII in a COVID-safe way by visiting: https://www.vic.gov.au/75th-anniversary-end-world-war-two-w

19.01.2022 PPE removal under Covid19 conditions is not an easy task. #GippsNews #LatrobeValley #Gippsland #LoveGippsland

18.01.2022 A massive new support package will see $3 billion in cash grants, tax relief and cashflow support delivered to Victorian businesses as we work together to drive... coronavirus cases down and progress along our roadmap to COVID Normal. Premier Daniel Andrews today announced the multi-billion package to help businesses survive and keep Victorians in jobs taking the Government's total business support to over $6 billion. Over $1.1 billion in cash grants will support small and medium sized businesses that are most affected by coronavirus restrictions including $822 million as part of the third round of the Business Support Fund. Around 75,000 eligible businesses with payrolls up to $10 million will receive grants of $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 depending on their size. More than 108,000 businesses have already shared in $1.47 billion from the first two rounds of Business Support Fund grants. Victoria’s hospitality businesses are the bedrock of our economy, but right now, many are going through a tough time. To support our bars, restaurants, pubs, clubs, hotels and reception centres, the Government will establish a $251 million dedicated Licenced Venue Fund, with grants of between $10,000 and $30,000 for licenced venues of all shapes and sizes. The Government is also providing further relief by waiving liquor licence fees for 2021. Trips to Victoria’s ski fields haven’t been possible for thousands of families this year, so the Government will give businesses in our alpine resorts the support they need with with grants of up to $20,000 to help cover their resort fees, saving them a combined $4.3 million. The Government will also partner with local business groups and chambers of commerce, with grants of up to $20,000 so they can help their members adapt and find their feet in a COVID Normal world. To date, almost 20,000 Victorian businesses have received payroll tax refunds in the last financial year worth more than $540 million and thousands more received a full waiver. To provide a much needed $1.7 billion cashflow boost for businesses, the Government will now defer payroll tax for businesses with payrolls up to $10 million for the full 2020-21 financial year. Building on that support, the Government will also provide a further $137 million in waivers and deferrals of charges including liquor licence fees, the congestion levy and increases to the landfill levy. The 50 per cent stamp duty discount for commercial and industrial property across all of regional Victoria will be brought forward to 1 January 2021 and the Vacant Residential Land Tax will be waived for properties that are vacant in 2020. Even after we reach COVID Normal, many businesses will be required to change the way they do things, so we can keep cases low and protect our hard-won gains. That’s why the Government will invest $44 million to equip businesses with the support they need to thrive under a COVID Normal. It includes $20 million for small businesses to access off-the-shelf digital programs such as Shopify or Squareonline, training and workshops designed to help businesses adapt to online operations. Victoria is home to some of the best fresh food, wine, galleries and homewares in the world but the pandemic has hit many small producers hard. The Government has already rolled out Click for Vic, a new website and campaign aimed at encouraging Victorians to support these hard-working local businesses. Already the website has generated 211,000 leads to businesses featured now we’ll boost that effort with $8.5 million for more marketing and advertising, and expanding the digital platform and its partnerships with third-party e-commerce providers to sell these strengths far and wide. Exports are vital to Victoria’s economy contributing 12 per cent to Victoria’s GSP and 330,000 Victorian jobs. That’s why we’re launching a $15.7 million export recovery package to address logistics and supply chain issues caused by the pandemic, and establish new export channels. Businesses will be connected to international markets through virtual trade missions as well as assistance to adapt their export strategies to respond to the rapidly changing global market. Additional details about support for businesses will be made available at www.business.vic.gov.au.

18.01.2022 We've always said we'd be guided by the data. That we'd listen to the experts. And that we would ease restrictions as soon as it's safe to do so. Regional Victo...ria has now met the ‘trigger point’ to move to the Third Step with a 14-day average of less than five, and no mystery cases. Our public health team have given the go-ahead and that move will happen from 11.59pm tomorrow night. A fair bit will change then, so I'll run through it all as quickly and simply as I can. Just before I do that one important point. Moving from the Second to the Third Step is probably the most significant step we take in Victoria's roadmap. Regional Victorians will go from only having four reasons to leave the house to well, plenty. But the pandemic hasn’t gone anywhere, and we still have active cases in regional areas so it’s not like the risk has just disappeared. Let’s not kid ourselves about that. That's why at every turn, in every interaction, we're asking everyone to take care and use common sense. In terms of what's changing: Restaurants and cafes can reopen to seated customers but in keeping with the outdoor dining plan announced yesterday, tables will be mostly outside. Tourist accommodation can welcome regional guests, and people can travel within regional Victoria. Weddings will increase to 10 people. Funerals can be attended by 20. All school students will return to onsite learning in Term 4. Outdoor community sport can restart for 18 and unders, with non-contact for adults. And beauty and personal care services can operate alongside hairdressers, so long as masks can be worn at all times. I know everyone has been missing friends and family. We're all in that boat. But we also know that get-togethers at home are a particularly high risk. We tend to let our guard down when we're in familiar surroundings with those we love. That's just human nature. And in these early stages of reopening, we still have to limit the number of people we have contact with as much as possible. That's why in Step Three, two households can form a 'bubble' meaning up to five members of one household can visit the other at home. If you want to catch up with other mates or relatives, you can still do that at the park, pub or other public space up to 10 can meet up outside. Please only see those you really have to, and limit the number of different people you interact with. That means your third-best friend from primary might have to wait. And because we now know the risk of transmission is up to 20 times higher indoors compared to outdoors, we're also encouraging people to do as much work, socialising and recreation outside as possible. That's what's changing here's what's not: We're still asking everyone who can work from home to keep doing so. Face coverings remain mandatory when you're out in public. And if you've been coming to metro Melbourne for permitted work or caregiving or vice versa that can continue. But we can't have people traveling between metro and regional areas without a good reason. If you live in Melbourne but are in regional Victoria for work, or to see your partner, the First Step restrictions travel with you. That means you won't be able to eat out, for example. This is a big step and this success belongs to the whole state. It's down to regional Victorians doing the right thing and following the restrictions, no question but it couldn't have happened without metro folk staying away too. I know how hard that's been. I haven't seen my mum since Christmas either. But know that your sacrifices have helped to give your loved ones that bit of extra freedom that bit faster. Now it's up to all of us to guard these low numbers. I appreciate today's news might be hard for Melburnians, who are no doubt looking on with some degree of envy. But we will get there too. Regional Victoria had more than 500 active cases just a few weeks ago. Now there's just 43. This is testament to the fact that the strategy is working. And I want to thank every single one of you for your patience. Your resilience. Your determination to see this through. This is about moving forward and we don't want to risk any backward steps. I know we can do it.

16.01.2022 Last time I listened and Traralgon wanted more free car parks. They are now funded and in progress. Let me know what’s needed next? Proven track record --------------------------- I have a proven track record of working with State and Federal government to achieve outcomes for Latrobe City, as evidenced by the record infrastructure funding.... I personally want to ensure the $217 million Latrobe Regional Hospital expansion and the building of 800 car parks across Traralgon and Morwell is delivered on time. Help me do more for you -------------------------------- Vote me to Latrobe City Council and I will do even more. I will make the most of this opportunity to grow our reputation as a key region in Victoria. Let me know what I can do next ------------------------------------------ Feel free to contact me via my website at www.markrichards.com.au to let me know what you need. I'm listening and happy to hear your views. #LatrobeCity #EastWard #LatrobeValley #Traralgon #Glengarry #Toongabbie #TraralgonSouth #Tyers #HazelwoodNorth #Callignee

14.01.2022 The Victorian Government is improving community resilience against bushfires through the Powerline Bushfire Safety Program. The aim of the program is reducing t...he risk of fires started by high voltage electricity lines across the state by more than half. An additional $7 million has been made available for the program. This includes $2 million to investigate and deliver new powerline safety technologies and $5 million to replace bare-wire private overhead powerlines in Victoria’s highest-risk bushfires. The Private Overhead Electric Line (POEL) Scheme opens on 15 September to eligible residents across bushfire-affect areas. For more information go to: www.energy.vic.gov.au/saf/powerline-bushfire-safety-program www.premier.vic.gov.au/boosting-powerline-bushfire-safety

12.01.2022 Victoria’s roadmap for reopening How we LIVE in regional Victoria https://www.vic.gov.au//Victoria-coronavirus-roadmap-regio

12.01.2022 The submission closing date is Monday 31 August 2020.

05.01.2022 Victoria’s roadmap for reopening How we WORK in regional Victoria https://www.vic.gov.au///How-we-work-Regional-Victoria.pdf

02.01.2022 Thanks to a new category of license, commercial operators in East Gippsland can fish for octopus. The new licence secures jobs for the region and puts fresh foo...d on tables for seafood lovers. 11 ongoing licenses will be issued, this will allow operators to catch up to 68 tonnes of octopus per year. Fisheries have been permitted to catch octopuses in the past. Under the new license, they will be caught in purpose-built, unbaited traps that minimise bycatch. Catches from the Western and Central zones will continue to be managed using permits issued by the Victorian Fisheries Authority. https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/commercial-octopus-fishery-l

01.01.2022 From 11:59pm, we're taking some big steps in reopening our state. I've listed some of the changes below. I also wanted to say thank you. ... Nothing about this year has been easy. Victorians and Melburnians especially have sacrificed so much and done it so tough. And this success really does belong to you.