Press Releases

A program for disadvantaged young learner drivers has received a funding boost with the announcement that the Coalition Government has further committed $10.5 million to the continuation of the L2P driver mentor program.

Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said the program, run under the auspices of Wellington and East Gippsland Shire Councils and administered by Mission Australia, provides flexibility and support to young drivers and this continued funding injection is welcomed.

“The aim of the L2P program is to reduce the number of young-driver fatalities by giving learner drivers experience in many different driving environments and the program is run in a number of townships in East Gippsland, including Maffra and Bairnsdale.”

“It is clear this program has been extremely effective in achieving positive outcomes for our learner drivers with 137 clients signed up on the database and to date, 24 learner drivers have gained their P Plates.”

“It is a particularly important service for people living in rural areas, where learner drivers from disadvantaged backgrounds need this option to achieve more time behind the wheel,” Mr Bull said.

Deputy Premier and Member for Gippsland South, Peter Ryan said the VicRoads’ program is delivered through local councils and community groups and recruits and trains supervising drivers to mentor young drivers who would otherwise have limited hours of driving experience prior to sitting their probationary test.

"Of course it is reliant on the volunteer mentors giving up their time to make it happen, and their contribution should be given due recognition,” Mr Ryan said.

Minister for Roads, Terry Mulder said “we know that learners who complete 120 hours of supervised on-road driving experience have a 30 per cent lower crash rate for the first two years on their P-plates, compared with those who only have 50 hours of practice.”

“However some young learners simply don’t have access to a car or someone to supervise them to achieve the 120 hours practice required. This program pairs them up with volunteers who support them to practice and become much safer drivers,” Mr Mulder said.

The L2P program gives disadvantaged young people the opportunity to get their licence, which can often then help them get a job or access further education.

“Recent focus groups revealed many L2P participants believed their driving behaviour had improved since joining the program. They no longer participate in unlicensed or dangerous driving and, importantly, they discourage this behaviour in their friends.”  Read More

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan and Minister for Skills and Higher Education Peter Hall today announced a new program that will see local Gippsland students gain healthcare qualifications while contributing to the long-term healthcare needs of their local community. Read More

Gippsland Rotary Centenary House (GRCH) will receive $50,000 from the Victorian Coalition Government to support major improvement works at the facility. Read More

Gippsland can look forward to new leadership in the development of the region with the launch of a group dedicated to advancing the interests of Gippsland communities.

Deputy Premier and Member for Gippsland South Peter Ryan officially launched the Committee for Gippsland at Warragul today.

Mr Ryan said the Committee for Gippsland Steering Committee was formed three years ago by several private business people and enterprises with a passion for the region and a desire to see a more co-ordinated approach to advancing the region’s interests.

“The Steering Committee conducted widespread consultation and research and identified a clear need for the establishment of a strong regional lobby group,” Mr Ryan said.

“Today that vision has come to life with the launch of the Committee for Gippsland. This new representative body will now fulfill the important role of lobbying governments and the private sector on behalf of local communities.”

Mr Ryan said the inaugural Committee for Gippsland board was announced in December 2010, with Harry Rijs of Bairnsdale’s Patties Foods named as chairman. Mary Aldred was appointed as the group’s Executive Director in March.

“The Committee for Gippsland has been modeled on similar regional committees such as the Committee for Geelong which has achieved inspirational results in that area,” Mr Ryan said.

“I have no doubt this new group will provide vision and leadership in developing Gippsland as a prosperous, resilient and sustainable region.

“It’s about encouraging the people of Gippsland, including businesses and community leaders, to better influence change, plan for, lead and invest in the regions development.

“I look forward to working closely with the Committee for Gippsland over coming years developing key priorities for the region and ensuring Gippsland enjoys economic prosperity and success,” Mr Ryan said.

Mr Ryan was joined at the launch by federal and state members of parliament, local mayors and other representatives of government, business and community organisations. Read More

The Coalition Government will provide $140,000 towards the development of the East Gippsland food growing and processing industry, Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan announced today.

Speaking at Bairnsdale alongside Nationals Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull, Mr Ryan said the funding would support Stage Two of the East Gippsland Food Cluster project which focused on implementing priority projects identified through the East Gippsland Food Cluster feasibility study.

“The East Gippsland Food Cluster has the opportunity to develop innovation in the food growing and manufacturing sectors of East Gippsland,” Mr Ryan said.

“The Food Cluster has been meeting regularly over the past two years, and it’s encouraging to see eight local food businesses working together to further develop our local food industry.”

The Board includes Frais Farms, Patties Foods, Oneharvest/Vegco, Dennison Food Manufacturing, Bonaccord Produce, Bulmers Family Farm, Riviera Farms and Kerton Farms.

Mr Ryan said the objective of the cluster was to work together with key stakeholders to generate economic growth, export opportunities, and employment.

“During 2010 the Cluster sourced further commercial opportunities for the development of the East Gippsland Food Production and Manufacturing sector,” Mr Ryan said.

“With Victorian Government support, the Food Cluster will continue to investigate opportunities to grow the East Gippsland Food Industry through existing businesses, joint ventures and start ups, some of which will involve leading edge technology. Funding will also enable the Cluster to engage an Executive Officer to explore these opportunities.”

Mr Ryan said the expected outcomes of the Food Cluster would include:

The development of new opportunities in both the domestic and export markets for product produced in Gippsland;

- Increased productivity through innovation in food processing;

- Improved retention of skilled labour

- Reduction in seasonal labour supply variation, and

- Increased employment opportunities.

Nationals Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull said the overall $273,000 total project cost included $140,000 from Regional Development Victoria (RDV), $50,000 from Workforce Victoria, $50,000 from the East Gippsland Shire Council and $33,000 from the Food Cluster.

“The $140,000 grant to be provided to the Food Cluster through the Shire Council was made available under the Coalition Government’s $4.8 million Innovation Through Clusters program which is provided to strengthen innovation and productivity in key regional Victorian industries,” Mr Bull said.  Read More