Attorney Generals Shunt

The AGE-Melbourne May 29, 2006

Last time Victoria's auditor-general had to be replaced, his role had become a hot election issue. It got to the point that Ches Baragwanath, whom Labor was claiming had been "hounded" from office by the Kennett government, objected to the unauthorised use of his photograph in ALP fund-raising material. Now Mr Baragwanath's successor, Wayne Cameron, is not seeking reappointment when his seven-year term expires in September, and Liberal leader Ted Baillieu is claiming the Auditor-General was "forced from office". The issue does not have quite the same potency as it once did. The Bracks Government honoured its promise to restore many of the powers that had been stripped from the Office of the Auditor-General. In naming Des Pearson as Victoria's 25th auditor-general on Friday, Premier Steve Bracks also noted that the appointment was made on the recommendation of the Parliament's Public Accounts and Estimates Committee, a process he had promised in 1999. The public service and auditing experience of Mr Pearson, the current Western Australian Auditor-General, suggests he is eminently well qualified to succeed Mr Cameron.

Mr Pearson will have his work cut out for him, and not just because of the inherent difficulties of being a public watchdog. The fact is the Bracks Government has not honoured other commitments it made in its Integrity in Public Life policy in September 1999. In particular, it is still more difficult than it should be for Victorians to assess whether they are getting good value from the use of public-private partnerships to deliver many big projects. These include toll roads, Southern Cross railway station, the County Court building, the Convention Centre and the Royal Women's and Royal Children's hospital redevelopments. Difficulties include the complexity of contracts and the use of commercial confidentiality to deny the public the sort of detail needed for a proper assessment. Labor promised to permit only a narrow definition of commercial-in-confidence - specifically relating to patents and trade secrets - that would prevent the public release of documents. Instead, the concern that dominated Mr Baragwanath's final report, that the Government was happy to use commercial confidentiality provisions to hinder scrutiny of deals to see whether the public was getting value for money, remains valid.

In the lead-up to the November 25 election, Mr Pearson will also be called on to scrutinise other sensitive issues such as government advertising (the Bracks Government's self-promotion is a further breach of its 1999 commitments), allegations that veteran Labor MP George Seitz's electoral office has been involved in a scheme to pay for branch stacking and the allocation of the Snowy Hydro sale proceeds. However, a deal that cries out for independent scrutiny is the Government's arrangement with Transurban to finance the Monash-CityLink-West Gate freeway upgrade. In terms similar to last year's smaller deal to fix the Calder-Tullamarine freeway interchange, the Government has given up $2.9 billion in concession payments due from Transurban for up to 28 years. In return, the toll-road operator will put $609 million into the freeway expansion over four years.

The sums appear to work out badly for the public. The Government, which could have borrowed at 6 per cent or less (or taken $150 million a year from budget surpluses over the next four years), is paying an effective interest rate of 9.7 per cent - a difference that costs taxpayers about $500 million. Transurban borrows at 6.8 per cent to finance its contribution, which then goes to the Government at 9.7 per cent, thus netting the company almost $18 million a year. It also nets the extra tollway profit resulting from freeway access improvements and increased capacity of 30 to 40 per cent. It is little wonder the market's valuation of Transurban jumped by $250 million.

Victorians should not have to rely on Mr Bracks' say-so that the deal is "the best value . you could get" and that peak travel times will be halved. Key details needed to assess such claims are not being released due to commercial confidence. Deals such as this remind Victorians why they need an independent and effective auditor-general.

Wodong Rail ReLocation A Bracks Media sTUNT

BY BRAD WORRALL Melbourne AGE Newspaper ======================================= OPPOSITION politicians have labeled Friday's additional $55 million for the Wodonga rail relocation as a media stunt.

They say it hides the fact that delays in negotiations have added millions to the cost of the rail relocation, land values and developments expenses on the inner city land freed up by the project.

Liberal candidate for Benambra Bill Tilley said Friday's announcement was a smokescreen to hide the lack of progress.

He welcomed the additional $55 million offered by the Victoria Government but asked when would something happen.

"The Bracks Labor Government is full of spin," Mr Tilley said.

"In 2001 they announced the Government was going to work with various parties to deliver this project within three years.

"But nothing happened.

"Now, almost five years after that great media event we have another media stunt dressed up as a government announcement with still no progress."

Mr Tilley wants to see workers on the ground before he starts celebrating.

"It's eight years after the project was announced, almost six years after Mr Bracks was elected, five years after the Howard Government promised $20 million to the project and more than a year after Peter Batchelor washed his hands of it, Steve Bracks and his Transport Minister make a flying visit to Wodonga to re-announce the Wodonga rail bypass," he said.

"Let's hope they can live up to Friday's promise and get something happening by next year."

Member for North Eastern Province Bill Baxter said it was better late than never to see the project come closer to fruition.

"It is a long time since the former Kennett Cabinet, of which I was a member, put $20 million on the table to get the relocation under way," he said.

"In the meantime, costs have increased substantially, not only for the project itself but also for the development that will occur on the freed-up land.

ADVERTISING RORT AUTHORISED BY PREMIER

Premier Steve Bracks has been accused of breaching his own government's guidelines in the latest advertising propaganda campaign funded by Victorian taxpayers' money.

Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan will write to the Auditor-General seeking a ruling on the advertisements which he says should be paid for by the Labor Party.

"The latest water advertisements screening on TVs thoughout Victoria carry the tagline 'written and authorised by Steve Bracks'," Mr Ryan said.

"It's a clear breach of the Department of Premier and Cabinet Guidelines which states that such ads should be tagged 'authorised by the Victorian, Government, Melbourne'.

"This is nothing more than a rort of taxpayers' money, written and authorised by the Premier.

"If the Premier wants to use the important issue of sustainable water use as an election platform, he should pay for the ads out of Labor Party coffers, not from the taxpayers' purse.

"This government's arrogant waste of taxpayers' money on propaganda has reached obscene levels and it will backfire at the ballot box in November."

The Nationals have proposed a bipartisan approach to government advertising with the establishment of a clear Code of Conduct to guide all major campaigns.

It is estimated that the Bracks Government will spend $80 million on advertising this financial year, in addition to the hundreds of PR staff and media advisers employed by the Premier's office, other Ministers and all departments.

"The Parliamentary Public Accounts and Estimates Committee should carry out a review and develop a Code of Conduct which would require approval across political boundaries for all government advertising campaigns," Mr Ryan said.

"Most of the ads being funded by taxpayers are not issues based advertisements - they are blatant propaganda designed to increase the vote for ALP Members of Parliament.

"But there's no point squealing when you're in opposition and then refusing to act when your party is in power. We need a common sense system in place which restricts any government's capacity to churn out millions of dollars in advertising with a clear party political agenda, both now and in the future.

"The current advertising guidelines were updated in February 2004 but they are so broad that they are meaningless and even the Premier is ignoring his own guidelines. The public is sick of the double standards and they have had enough of funding political advertising.

"We need a system where the government of the day does not have such a free rein to do whatever it likes in terms of political advertising."

Watch the Liberal Green Support Movers and Shakers Activate

Dismayed by the Government's decision to prolong the life of one of the world's dirtiest power stations - Hazelwood in the Latrobe Valley - green groups are focusing on Alcoa's proposed $1 billion Portland aluminium smelter expansion.

Environment group leaders have met Premier Steve Bracks, Treasurer John Brumby, Environment Minister John Thwaites, Energy and Resources Minister Theo Theophanous and backbenchers to express their concerns.

Marcus Godinho, from Environment Victoria, said the groups would campaign in the lead-up to the November election over the Government's environment record.

Now watch the Liberals, who will be mustering their GREEN VOTE support plan move into action on this one, and with a little bit of help from the tunnel voters party support voters we can look forward to a green controlled government under either a Labor or Liberal banner to continue the Radical Stupidity that is pulling this nation down to destruction.

Alcoa's smelters at Portland, in western Victoria, and Point Henry, in Geelong, use 18 to 25 per cent of Victoria's electricity production. Brown coal, which creates greenhouse gases, fires most of the state's power plants. Alcoa and the Government have discussed the Portland smelter expansion for more than two years. If approved, significant extra power would be required.

In 2004, the Government established a subcommittee to examine Alcoa's expansion. Environmentalists fear the Government wants to delay the decision until after the poll.

Mr Brumby said the Government had been moving things along "expeditiously" - well what do you think this puppet would say - something positive !

The bottom line is that Alcoa is Australia's largest aluminium producer and Victoria's biggest export earner, bringing in about $3 billion a year. The coal-fired Loy Yang B power station in the Latrobe Valley meets most of its power needs. Under a 1984 contract that expires in 2016, the Government subsidises Alcoa's power costs by $100 million to $200 million a year. The Portland smelter, producing about 360,000 tonnes of aluminium a year, is Victoria's largest single exporter, about 7 per cent of its exports.

Hey again we say - its your vote !

Bracks Ignors Victorian Regional Rail Network

AN ALLIANCE of 26 rural councils has launched a savage attack on the Bracks Government's $10 billion transport package because it ignores the Victorian regional rail network.

The Alliance of Councils for Rail Freight Development said the "$10.5 billion extravaganza" allocated only half of 1 per cent to the country rail freight network. The alliance covers municipalities in west and central Victoria and the Riverina.

Glenelg Shire's Cr Geoff White, who is alliance chairman, welcomed the proposal to spend $53 million on upgrading the rail line to Mildura.

But this was conditional on the Federal Government reallocating the $20 million AusLink funding set aside for standardisation to merely upgrading the line, he said. The main rail line from Melbourne to Mildura is the broader gauge.

"The long-held view of the Mildura community is that standardisation is what they need," he said. "This view is strongly supported by the alliance."

Cr White said the Federal Government may be getting sick of the Bracks Government continually changing its mind on big issues.

"If the Federal Government adopts a similar approach as it did with the (EastLink) freeway toll debacle, then the Mildura project is doomed," he said.

Cr White said the transport package did not mention standardisation. "It is clearly not on the Bracks Government's agenda for the next decade, absolutely breaking its 2001 budget commitment," he said.

Standardisation would cost just $500 million - 5 per cent of the transport package, he said.

It was crucial because it would connect Victoria with the national rail freight network.

The vast majority of Victoria's 4000-kilometre rail network is broad gauge. The interstate lines, plus the line to Portland and two grain lines, are standard gauge.

Cr White said upgrading of other country rail lines was not mentioned. "For the next decade, the Bracks Government has shown no intention to make rail freight competitive with road freight," he said.

The Victorian country rail network is now owned by Pacific National under a 45-year lease. The State Government has been involved in long-standing talks with PN over funding for the network.

The Government is finalising an open-access regime that will enable third parties to compete with PN's trains on the track. The Essential Services Commission is due to make a final decision on the open access regime by the end of the month.

A PN spokesman said the company was engaged in positive discussions with the Victorian Government about key current rail projects and the future of the regional rail network. "The PN board this week made a number of key decisions, including approval of the Mildura freight project," he said. "We are also committed to moving forward on other outstanding Victorian rail projects as a matter of priority."

The spokesman said that after the ESC process was completed, "we will discuss with the Government how to address any remaining barriers to achieving a sustainable regional rail network in Victoria".

The policy of the Victorian Farmers Federation grains group is for the State Government to buy back the track from PN.

From the Melbourne AGE newspaper

Bracks Racial Rules Slide up and Down with the wind

MP's speech exposes ethnic rifts A SENIOR state Labor MP has caused uproar in Melbourne's Turkish and Jewish communities and embarrassed Premier Steve Bracks by accusing Turkey of committing a "holocaust" comparable to Adolf Hitler's.

Jenny Mikakos, the parliamentary secretary for justice, has been accused of "hate speech" after telling Parliament: "Unlike Germany, which has taken responsibility for the Jewish holocaust, Turkey has never apologised to its victims."

Ms Mikakos, who is of Greek heritage, told the upper house: "On May 19 the Pontian community in Victoria and around the world will commemorate the 87th anniversary of the Pontian genocide that occurred in present-day Turkey.

Mr Bracks must be concerned that the speech may stir up race-based tension in the lead-up to the November state election - then we remember his recent court action against the christian religion minister about racial action that is now in court.

As two Labor MPs from Turkish backgrounds, John Eren and Adem Somyurek, called on her to sit down, Ms Mikakos, the member for the northern suburban electorate of Jika Jika, continued: "The Turkish Government must begin the reconciliation process by acknowledging these crimes against humanity. The suffering of the victims of the Pontian genocide cannot and will not be forgotten."

Well as the slide moves, so does the credibility meter on Bracks the master of double standards and victimisation, still it's your vote

A Labor Of Love

LABOR branch-stacker George Seitz regularly used money from the child-care centre run by his wife to buy groceries for his own use, a former employee has said.

The revelation came yesterday as Premier Steve Bracks stepped up his defence of his longest-serving MP, saying he was "pleased that he's able to continue" in office for another four years, until he is 69.

Mr Seitz's former employee, who has come forward for the first time but wants to remain anonymous for now, said that between 1997 and 1999 she regularly saw Mr Seitz or his wife Elenor buying groceries using the centre's chequebook, and then taking them home.

She also said she had been handed cheques from the St Albans North Child Care Centre to pay for stacking ALP branches, and to raise money for Mr Seitz's campaign for his seat of Keilor.

Mrs Seitz ran the child-care centre, and its management committee was made up of relatives and ALP members close to her husband.

"The child-care centre was part of the scam," the former employee told The Age yesterday. "It was a bit of a running joke, but it was also serious. It was happening regularly. Sometimes George would be saying the child care centre was struggling financially - and it was a miserable-looking centre - but this money wasn't going into the centre, it was going into the Seitz family coffers." She said the groceries were in "family-sized amounts," which would go "into the wife's car and go home".

Mr Seitz denied the allegation, saying "it was the cooks who would do that, the cooks who were employed would do the shopping".

"I never ever went shopping for the centre. Most of the groceries were delivered. There would be phone orders, which the cooks would do, which were delivered to the centre," Mr Seitz said. He also denied "categorically" that his wife ever shopped using centre money for groceries that ended up at their St Albans house. "You're just going to print what you want anyway. I just deny, it's an absolute fabrication," he said.

The child-care centre also gave cheques as donations to fund-raising events for Mr Seitz's campaign, according to the former employee.

"They weren't big cheques, they were small ones: $100 to $200," she said. "One fund-raiser was a shopping trip, a whole bunch of people on a bus to retail outlets, and, as part of that, the child-care centre paid for its own members to go, and his friends and relatives to go."

The St Albans North Child Care Centre had made a donation of $9500 to a closely allied organisation, and most of the funds were immediately funneled back to another Labor backbench Seitz-linked community group, the Keilor Golf Social Club, funds from which are used to stack ALP branches.

Mr Bracks told Southern Cross radio he was not concerned by the allegations against his backbencher.

Mr Seitz had "stood up for his area, for Keilor itself, and I think things have improved there enormously over a period of time".

He said it was "a party matter, so the party organisation will have a disputes committee which will examine that".

Its Only Your Money - Who did Vote For Bracks

LABOR'S state conference has accused Premier Steve Bracks and Treasurer John Brumby of not being open and accountable about funding of major projects.

In a revolt by union and rank-and-file ALP members, the weekend conference passed a motion urging the Government to give voters more details about deals between with the private sector on big infrastructure projects such as the Spencer Street Station redevelopment, EastLink and the renovation of the Royal Children's Hospital.

The head of Labor's centre faction, Eric Dearricott, successfully moved an amendment calling for the publication of detailed "value for money" statements comparing the cost of "public-private partnerships" to the cost of the state funding a project.

Mr Dearricott said yesterday: "The amendment I proposed simply spelt out in the party's platform what should be included in the 'value for money' statement so that a genuine comparison can be made with traditional funding methods."

Mr Brumby opposed the amendment, saying it was already covered in Labor's platform. But in an often fiery debate, angry members questioned how taxpayers were getting value for money from PPPs.

In a blow to Mr Brumby, who had been assured he had the numbers, the amendment was supported and it now forms part of Labor's pre-election platform.

Mr Brumby's spokeswoman Sally Finlay said yesterday: "The Government will continue to use PPPs where they deliver the best value for money for Victorians."

Also at the ALP conference:

│ The Government avoided a potentially embarrassing debate relating to former Orbost teacher Andrew Phillips, forced to resign last year under the contentious "zero tolerance" laws for child sex offences. The conference was closed before debate on a motion calling for judicial review mechanisms to ensure employees, including teachers, are not prevented from holding a job for a "reason that is not a valid reason or where such exclusion would be harsh, unjust or unreasonable".

│ Mr Bracks stepped up Labor's attack on the Federal Government's industrial relations changes, announcing new laws to protect long-service leave for Victoria's public sector workers.

│ Mr Bracks announced a $250 million upgrade of tram stops and railway stations.

You read in the previous posting how Bracks had lost the FEDERAL road funding $200 million by his arrogant 4th Reich dictator attitude to you the people. So now he is going to take $200 million from the Victorian taxpayer to fund the above mentioned vote catching projects. And you can bet will renege on these after the election just like the Bracks clockwork mechanism does with monotonous regularity ...

Hey again ....It's your vote .... another reason for looking at the party system failing the people again and again and again.

Bracks Arogance Looses $200 million Federal Road Funding

VICTORIA will lose $200 million in roads funding in Tuesday's budget, money originally allocated to help the State Government build the Scoresby freeway.

Federal Department of Transport documents seen by The Sunday Age show the money has been re-allocated to other road projects outside Victoria.

Federal Government funding for Scoresby was withdrawn after Premier Steve Bracks broke a key election promise not to put tolls on the road.

But the Government's decision to re-allocate the money outside Victoria contradicts an earlier commitment from federal Treasurer Peter Costello to keep the money within the state.

Last October, Mr Costello told the Liberal Party state council meeting that Victorians should not be punished for the broken promise.

"Should we say that because Steve Bracks and Peter Batchelor broke their agreement that they won't be getting the money that was outlined?" Mr Costello said.

"And so we have had to consider this very, very carefully, and I have come to the conclusion that there is no reason why Victorians should suffer additional fallout from the broken promise of Steve Bracks, and the repudiation of the Victorian Government's contract." Of the $541 million originally allocated for the Scoresby project, $185 million will be spent on the Deer Park bypass, another $82 million will go to the Farady-Ravenswood project, and another $20 million on the Albury-Wodonga bypass.

The rest of the money has been allocated to road and rail projects in Western Australia, Queensland and NSW.

Federal Opposition transport spokesman Kerry O'Brien accused Mr Costello of betraying Victorian motorists.

"Last year Mr Costello said he had decided Victorian motorists 'should not suffer' as a consequence of the Victorian Government's decision not to use federal funding for the Scoresby project," Senator O'Brien said.

"But he has broken that commitment by allowing hundreds of millions of dollars originally allocated to Scoresby to be siphoned off to other states.

"Department of Transport and Regional Services documents obtained by Labor reveal the extent of the Howard Government's 'Great Victorian Road Robbery'."

He said Victorian motorists and the state's road transport industry had been sold out.

"The final kick in the teeth for Victoria is the decision to allocate the last $25 million of unallocated Scoresby funding to the 'road rorts' program controlled by the National Party."

The budget is expected to include about $1 billion in extra roads money, including upgrades to the Hume and Bruce highways, two of Australia's busiest roads.

A spokeswoman for Transport Minister Warren Truss said it was inappropriate to comment on the detail of Tuesday's budget.

Hey it's your vote people - Remember November - Leopards do not change their spots

Victorian LifeFlight Helicopter Service Still Under Threat

The Bracks Government has still not resolved to fund the Powercor Children's Helicopter run by LifeFlight, according to State Member for Shepparton Jeanette Powell.

The free service, which transports critically ill children from rural and regional Victoria to Melbourne hospitals, is set to cease operation unless it receives $400,000.

In Parliament yesterday Premier Steve Bracks said the Government hopes LifeFlight can continue to fulfill its contractual agreement and is negotiating and working with the organisation to achieve this aim.

Mrs Powell said in Parliament today that she had been advised differently.

``I spoke to the executive director of LifeFlight Mr Brett Rankin who told me negotiations have not yet commenced and he would welcome contact from the Government,'' Mrs Powell said.

``The Premier also stated that there was a contingency plan in place but I am advised that the proposed replacement helicopter does not meet the Government's own standards for the tender process.

``It is not instrument-rated and cannot fly at night or in bad weather. The LifeFlight service does meet the Government's standards and is fully instrument-rated and can and does fly at night.''

The charity's operating costs are $2.5 million a year. Powercor, their major sponsor, contributes $500,000 a year, the State Government gives $250,000 or 10 per cent as part of the tender process and the rest comes from donations and other corporate sponsorship. Donations have decreased and operating costs have increased which has resulted in a shortfall of funds.

``The Government has a huge surplus due to increased revenue from speeding fines, licence fees, gambling, state tax and land tax.

``I urge the Government to immediately begin negotiations with LifeFlight so that the lives of critically-ill children in country Victoria are not put at risk,'' Mrs Powell said.

Bracks Refuses To Introduce Bounty

Premier Steve Bracks has today refused to support the reintroduction of the $10 fox tail bounty despite ongoing stock and wildlife losses throughout rural and regional Victoria.

Speaking in Parliament today, The Nationals Spokesman for Agriculture Peter Walsh asked the Premier to reintroduce the $10 bounty which has the support of farming and shooting organisations throughout Victoria.

"The Premier's refusal to even consider reintroducing the bounty demonstrates once again how out of touch and arrogant Melbourne Labor Ministers have become," Mr Walsh said.

"Obviously they are not the ones suffering the huge financial losses of dead lambs and poultry or witnessing the carnage affecting our small native animals.

"The only good fox is a dead fox and it is frustrating that Melbourne Labor won't take any action to reduce the fox population by encouraging hunting of this declared pest animal."

Mr Walsh said 170,000 fox tails were handed in for payment during the last bounty period and The Nationals supported a permanent bounty system.

"Combined with a poisoning program, the fox tail bounty is a cost effective and efficient method of reducing the fox population in Victoria," Mr Walsh said.

"While the Agriculture Minister is announcing Mickey Mouse schemes like his lucky draw of $2500 for fox shooters, there is no long term commitment to reduce the impact of foxes on stock and native wildlife.

"The Nationals supported the introduction of the $10 bounty on fox tails when it was last introduced and we are continuing to lobby to make it a permanent offer throughout Victoria.

"It is a practical measure that has strong environmental benefits and also has some important social benefits in regional communities where people work together to get rid of a common problem.

"Labor makes a big deal about announcing new National Parks but there's no point creating new parks and then leaving them to run wild with noxious weeds and feral animals like foxes, cats and wild dogs."

CHRIS NIXON TO RUN FOR VICTORIAN NATIONALS

Chris Nixon will run for The Nationals in the seat of Gippsland East after winning yesterday's pre-selection in Bairnsdale.

The 42-year-old father of three from Orbost says he is looking forward to the challenge and will run a positive campaign with an emphasis on building for the future of the region.

"I am running because I believe East Gippslander's are disappointed with what is happening at the moment in state politics and they are ready for a change," Mr Nixon said.

"The Bracks Government is squandering an opportunity to invest in the infrastructure of regional areas like East Gippsland and I don't believe that independents are the answer.

"Less government waste and a greater commitment to country areas would make more money available for improvements to hospitals and schools, along with upgrades to the local road network and natural gas reticulation projects.

"We need to focus on providing training and work opportunities for our young people and that means extra promotion of our tourism industry and improvements to facilities around the Gippsland Lakes and all of our other natural assets."

Mr Nixon said he had nominated for The Nationals because he believes the party is the only one which is 100% committed to standing up for country people in State Parliament.

"We need a strong team of MPs in country Victoria who are all working together to promote the opportunities which exist in the country and help build new opportunities for the future," Mr Nixon said.

"Melbourne Labor receives $100 million a day in revenue from sources like speeding fines, land tax, stamp duty and the GST but not enough money is being invested in new infrastructure and better services in regional areas.

"I am particularly concerned about the excessive amount of red tape which is placing an enormous burden on the farming community and small business sector.

"If I am elected I will commit to reducing the bureaucratic burden and help to build a more prosperous future for our communities throughout East Gippsland."

Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan has welcomed Mr Nixon's nomination.

"It is a great sign for the future of The Nationals that we had three outstanding candidates willing to put their hand up for pre-selection and I would like to thank them all for their involvement," Mr Ryan said.

"I believe Chris Nixon is exactly the type of person that East Gippslander's need to represent them in Parliament.

"He has a strong farming background and understands the challenges facing all producers and the small business sector. As a father with young children, he appreciates the challenges facing local families in areas like health, education and jobs for young people.

"He is an outstanding candidate and I look forward to helping him during his campaign."

The next state election is due on November 25, 2006. The Gippsland East electorate stretches from Heyfield to Mallacoota and includes towns such as Maffra, Stratford, Bairnsdale, Paynesville, Metung, Lakes Entrance, Orbost, Cann River and Omeo.

A dairy farmer in the Orbost region, Mr Nixon is the son of former Federal Government Cabinet Minister Peter Nixon, and has an extensive background in community activities and has been actively involved in the Victorian Farmers Federation.

"As a fifth generation East Gippslander I am passionate about the future of our region and its people," Mr Nixon said.

"Regional areas are not receiving their fair share at the moment and I am looking forward to meeting as many people as possible over the next seven months and listening to their ideas for the future."

Media information: Contact Chris Nixon on 0427 541 529 or Darren Chester on 0418 390 229