Jill Hennessy MP

Victorian homebuyers struggling to get into the market will be protected from underquoting real estate agents, thanks to new laws to be introduced in the...

Western Health staff will be trained to identify the signs of family violence and assist people experiencing violence to seek support as part of a...

Hundreds of hospital staff will be trained to identify the signs of family violence and help patients experiencing harm to seek support as part of...

The number of cases of babies with whooping cough have more than halved in the last year after the Andrews Labor Government reinstated the free...

Victorian patients are one step closer to accessing medicinal cannabis with the Andrews Labor Government’s horticultural trial entering its second phase and a new Independent...

Emergency services volunteers around the state will share in almost $13 million in Andrews Labor Government grants to buy new equipment. Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino today announced the recipients of the 2016-17 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program. Mr Merlino joined Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan and Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards at the Bendigo SES unit to announce the establishment of a new Huntly SES satellite unit, which received a grant of more than $26,000 for a 4WD vehicle under the program. Under the program, the government will spend $2 for every $1 provided by volunteer groups to help them buy additional trucks, tankers, watercraft and trailers, and carry out minor upgrades to facilities. The Victorian State Emergency Service (SES), Life Saving Victoria, CFA, Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association and other volunteer emergency services organisations will share in 273 grants for units, clubs and brigades around the state. This includes: 179 grants worth $9.3 million for Country Fire Authority volunteer brigades 42 grants worth $2.2 million for the Victoria State Emergency Service 30 grants worth $735,000 for Life Saving Victoria 10 grants worth $307,500 for the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association 12 grants worth $320,000 for other volunteer organisations such as St John Ambulance and search and rescue squads The Labor Government is supporting emergency service volunteers to do their life saving work safely and effectively by providing grants for vital equipment and resources under the Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program. Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino “These grants will provide a $13 million boost to volunteer groups across Victoria, helping them buy the vital equipment they need to keep Victorians safe.” “Our emergency services volunteers work hard to keep our community safe and we are ensuring they have the equipment they need to carry out this important work.” Quotes attributable to Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan “It’s great to see the hard work of the volunteers at the Axedale and Goornong CFA brigades and the new Huntly SES Unit recognised with grants for vital new equipment.” Quotes attributable to Member for Bendigo West Maree Edwards “Our emergency service volunteers in Bendigo are an integral part of the local community and I commend them for the work they do protecting our community.”

Construction of the Andrews Labor Government’s $20 million expansion of Eastern Health’s Angliss Hospital is now underway.

The number of Victorian patients waiting for elective surgery is at its lowest level since June 2010.