Press Releases

The Coalition Government has - from today - abolished the need for permits for collection of firewood on public land, making it easier and more affordable for those who rely on this resource for heating.

Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, said the abolition of permits was welcomed, as apart from making collection more affordable, it was also more convenient.

“On top of the cost factor, there were situations where those who wanted to collect firewood would have to drive to a certain location to obtain a permit and then often travel many miles in a different direction for collection.

“This reduces the burden of red tape put in place under the previous government and is a vastly improved system on what was previously in place. It makes it easier and cheaper for the community to access an annual supply of firewood,” Mr Crisp said.

Minister for Environment

Nationals Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, is encouraging local organisations to apply for the October funding round of the Victorian Coalition Government’s Country Victoria Events Program.

Mr Crisp said the program provided up to $10,000 per event to assist with tourism marketing and event delivery and development.

“The funding aims to support regional organisations to deliver sports, music, visual arts, food and wine and multicultural festival events across Victoria,” Mr Crisp said.

“The program targets events with a local community significance that may not be well-known outside the local region.”

Mr Crisp said the program supported smaller community events so that local tourism and community groups could promote their region and develop an identity though events.

“The Mildura electorate is already home to many successful events which provide significant social and economic benefits to our community,” Mr Crisp said.

“This funding provides a significant opportunity to grow our region’s events calendar and I encourage local organisations to put forward an application.”

Mr Crisp said supported events demonstrated potential for increased economic benefits and encouraged visitors to the area.

The Country Victoria Events Program (CVEP) focuses on events that are able to attract, or are likely to attract in the future, a number of intrastate and interstate visitors.

Recently funded events include Geelong’s Toast to the Coast, Heathcote Wine and Food Festival, Shepparton’s KidsFest and the Festival of Performing Arts in Lorne.

CVEP funding application closing dates are April 1 and October 1 annually.

For further information on the program contact Tourism Victoria’s Events Unit on (03) 9653 9747, visit

Nationals Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, is encouraging women in the Mildura electorate to nominate for the 2012 Rural Women’s Award.

“There are many inspiring women in this electorate who deserve to be recognised for the contribution they make to our region and this is the perfect opportunity to do that,” Mr Crisp said.

The Rural Women’s Award supports emerging leaders who have the capability to drive innovation, productivity and sustainability within primary industries while building economic and social development within rural communities.

“The award supports women with leadership skills, a positive vision for the future of primary industries and the potential to make a difference in their chosen field,” Mr Crisp said.

The winner of the award will also have the opportunity to sit on the Ministerial Women in Primary Industries Advisory Panel which provides the Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh, with advice on emerging issues in primary industries and how they affect women.

Mr Crisp said past Victorian award finalists put forward projects on a range of topics including young farmer networks, farm financial management, succession planning, aquaculture, dairy co-operatives, agriculture education and exports.

Last year’s Victorian winner Angele Betheras established Nickelby Alpacas and created an associated tourism enterprise.

“This award is an amazing opportunity for local women working in primary industries to further their leadership development and make a tangible difference whilst inspiring others,” Mr Crisp said.

Entries close on 15 October and application forms can be downloaded from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation’s website at

Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, welcomed today’s announcement that Mildura Rural City Council will share in $1million in funding with nine other local councils across Victoria to combat litter. "The government today has announced that more than $1 million in funding will be allocated to councils across Victoria to employ dedicated Litter Prevention Officers," Mr Crisp said.

"This is a very positive move and one that I am delighted with. While most in the community are diligent with litter control, we still have a number that are prepared to throw rubbish from cars and leave litter lying around, rather than either taking it home or making the effort to bin it.

“Measures which will be used by Councils include patrolling at known rubbish hot spots and educating local businesses and the wider community on best practice waste disposal, enabling them to directly issue fines to those members of the community who don’t properly dispose of their waste.

"Those who do not do the right thing need to be held responsible for their actions. This money will enable additional enforcement capabilities to manage illegal dumping, monitor pollutant traps and enhance Council’s public place infrastructure and signage."

Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Ryan Smith, said “Dedicated Litter Prevention Officers will lead education, capacity building and enforcement activities at a local level and will encourage communities to take practical measures to reduce litter through the development and implementation of highly targeted programs designed to minimise litter in their region.

“Funding for the Litter Prevention Officers Program has been allocated from landfill levy funds and will make a valuable contribution toward reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfill.”

To apply to become a Litter Prevention Officer and for further details visit www.epa.vic.gov.au

The Member for Mildura, Mr Peter Crisp MP, and the Victorian Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business, Hon Louise Asher MP, have today officially announced that there will be a full day public holiday in areas west of the township of Boinka and south of the Murray Sunset National Park within the Rural City of Mildura on Wednesday 5 October for the Pinnaroo Show.

The Pinnaroo Show is one of sixteen local race days and agricultural shows in regional Victoria that are on a firmer footing after the passage through State Parliament in June of the Victorian Coalition Government’s amendments to the Public Holidays Act.

“In 2008, Labor removed regional Councils’ ability to facilitate local arrangements for public holidays,” Ms Asher said.

“Labor’s restrictive, one-size-fits-all approach meant that many local shows and race days, such as the Pinnaroo Show missed out on volunteers, attendances and turnover as regional Councils were forced to recognise only one regional event at the expense of others, or none at all if a Council decided to recognise Melbourne Cup Day.”

“During 2010 Labor put in place a set of one-off administrative arrangements for selected regional Councils solely to get them past the November State Election.”

The new laws now provide the Rural City of Mildura with the opportunity to request either one whole day or two half-day public holidays as a substitute for Melbourne Cup Day. These arrangements can apply to the whole or part of a municipality, and are now written into the Public Holidays Act.

“This implemented election promise came about because of the lobbying of local MPs such as Peter Crisp,” Ms Asher said.

Mr Peter Crisp MP welcomed the announcement and said that it was great news for the local area.

“As well as a means of showcasing local produce, skills and enterprise and providing networking opportunities for many small, farming and family businesses, the gazetted arrangements also mean business owners can actively participate in agricultural and pastoral shows as organisers, committee members, volunteers and attendees,” Mr Crisp said.

Melbourne Cup Day continues to be the automatic default public holiday, which means that all Victorians can continue to enjoy the same number of public holidays each year, regardless of whether they live in regional Victoria or in metropolitan Melbourne.

Councils wishing to request alternative local Melbourne Cup Day holiday arrangements need to write to the Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Businesses with details of their proposed arrangements at least 90 days before Melbourne Cup Day each year.

Information about all Victorian public holidays and regional public holiday arrangements is available online at business.vic.gov.au/publicholidays or by calling 13 22 15.

The Nationals Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp has encouraged eligible residents and community organisations in the Mildura electorate to apply for the 2011-2012 Victorian Veterans Council Grants Program.

The program provides practical support to the veteran community through the funding of a range of welfare support, commemorative and educational initiatives.

Mr Crisp said grants would be distributed through two funding streams - the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund and the Victorian Veterans Fund.

“The ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund primarily focuses on projects which provide welfare support to veterans and their dependants,” he said.

“This may be through the provision of temporary emergency accommodation, equipment that benefits the welfare of the ex-service community or funding the operating costs of capital items used for the provision of welfare.

“The Victorian Veterans Fund provides grants of up to $30,000 for projects which honour and commemorate the service and sacrifice of veterans and inform Victorians about our history of service.”

Mr Crisp said applications must be submitted for the ANZAC Day Proceeds Fund by Monday 5 September 2011 and to the Veterans Fund by Monday 19 September 2011.

For more information please call the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356 or visit 

Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp, is encouraging local governments to apply for grants of up to $250,000 to fund public safety infrastructure projects to prevent crime and make their communities safer.

“The Coalition Government’s Public Safety Infrastructure Grants program is part of the Coalition Government’s $39 million commitment to community crime prevention and will help local councils improve security and community safety,” Mr Crisp said.

“The Government recognises that local councils are best placed to develop strategies for addressing local crime problems and these grants will support them in this task.

The grants of up to $250,000 will support local councils in developing a variety of public safety infrastructure including closed circuit television (CCTV) systems, vandal-resistant external lighting systems, security grade doors, perimeter fencing, window treatments and screens, or alarms for community assets and facilities.

“Community safety and crime prevention is a high priority for the Coalition Government and this initiative will help to make Victorian communities safer,” Mr Crisp said.

For further information please visit

The Victorian Coalition Government has made $600,000 available in grants to Landcare groups and networks across the state to celebrate Landcare’s 25^th anniversary, Nationals Member for Mildura, Peter Crisp said.

The first Landcare group was established at Winjallock near St Arnaud in 1986.

“In recognition of the 25 year milestone, each of the state’s 10 Catchment Management Authorities (CMA) will be provided with $60,000 for groups to undertake small projects,” Mr Crisp said.

“The grants will be assessed and allocated on a competitive basis where proposals meet the objectives of the grant’s guidelines.”

Mr Crisp is encouraging local Landcare groups to submit proposals for projects that celebrate the event by identifying small activities that deliver local Landcare priorities and bring members of the community together.

“Competition for funding under this program will be quite intense so I am encouraging all Landcare groups and networks to get their proposals in as quickly as possible,” Mr Crisp said.

“Only one submission from each group or network can be made so careful consideration will need to be given as to the best proposal to put forward.

“Landcare is a vital and extremely valuable organisation which has made a major difference to our landscape over the past 25 years and these grants will enable us to look forward to the next 25 years of Landcarers,” Mr Crisp said.

Assessment will prioritise proposals that address local priorities for improving land, water and biodiversity resources, are forward looking, and demonstrate links to new communities (i.e. those who have not previously been involved in Landcare).

Application forms are available from local CMAs with further information available at