News and Update links from the media

New three-year fishing licence to save anglers money ... Vic Govt Media Release

Victoria’s recreational fishers will be able to purchase a three-year Recreational Fishing Licence (RFL) from this weekend, the Minister Responsible for Fisheries, Bob Cameron, announced today.

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Victoria to go it alone at the next games ...
Vic Govt Media Release (EDITOR: I can't believe he said that!)

The Minister for the Commonwealth Games, Justin Madden, today announced that Victoria was considering pulling out of the Australian team and competing as a separate State at the next Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Mr Madden said Victoria was sick and tired of carrying the rest of the nation to sporting glory.

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Labor out of touch on rabbit control ... Liberal Media Release

The Bracks Government has shown yet again that it knows nothing about country Victoria, with its decision to remove the right of landholders to choose their method of rabbit control.

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Rural Ambulance Victoria: administration ... Full Hansard Text

Mr RYAN (Leader of The Nationals) -- I again -- and with regret -- grieve for country Victorians in relation to the operations and administration of Rural Ambulance Victoria (RAV). In doing so I pay tribute to the paramedics who form this essential service and do wonderful work on behalf of country Victorians. But the fact is that the operations and the administration of RAV are in disarray and need to be the subject of an extensive investigation in the nature of that which I called for on 8 February when I first spoke about these matters, and with regard to which the government has at least now constructively turned its attention to, although it has not done so to nearly a sufficient degree.

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IMFMP Initial Discussion Paper

A Draft Position Paper is currently being prepared taking into consideration the Feedback received. It is anticipated the Draft Position Paper on the Integrated Municipal Fire Management Planning Framework will be released for consultation on at the end of April 2006.

35 Briefings on the Draft Position Paper will be held around the State in May. The briefings are open to all the stakeholders in fire management planning and the community. For a briefing near you, please see the list of Dates and Venues. The meetings will also be advertised in local newspapers. The most local meeting will be held in Benalla on Tuesday 9 May at 2.00 pm in the DSE, Syndicate Room 1, 89 Sydney Road.

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Wangaratta Schools merger gets green light ... Vic Govt Media Release

Wangaratta High School and Ovens College will merge next year after final approval by the Education and Training Minister, Lynne Kosky. Ms Kosky said she had approved the merger following strong support from the two local school councils and the wider community.

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Fuel reduction burning a key priority ... Vic Govt Media Release

In 2004, the Government provided an additional $168 million in funding to boost Victoria’s country fire fighting services over the next four years. Crucially, this funding will also mean extra staff and equipment are in place for fuel reduction burning.

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'Tail Tag Free' cattle trading starts in Victoria ... Vic Govt Media Release

“The introduction of ‘tail tag free’ trading is the final step in Victoria’s introduction of the NLIS and the Victorian cattle industry can be justifiably proud of its achievements,” Mr Cameron said.

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ABC Goulburn Murray | Local News | Story
Anti water fluoridation campaigners to use cancer link research
Friday, 7 April 2006. 14:09 (AEDT)Friday, 7 April 2006.

Wangaratta's anti water fluoridation campaigners will use new research to fight the chemical being added to their water supply. Protester Norm Ryan says he has new US research linking the chemical to cancer.

He plans to take it to the Victorian Government to stop the chemical being added to Wodonga and Wangaratta's supplies. "It has now become journalised, that means that study that was done over in the States is now verified and through Harvard University that fluoride causes cancer," he said.