Tim McCurdy - The Nationals
What can you and your party do to address labour shortages in Ovens Valley?
One of the biggest factors causing labour shortages is the lack of affordable housing in the region.
I hear from businesses all the time about how they are struggling to find workers due to there being no accommodation.
The Nationals have committed to a planning flying squad to open up 50,000 new blocks in regional Victoria to ensure the housing industry build continues - slashing red tape and taxes on new developments.
We will also be improving the payroll tax system in Victoria to reduce the tax burden on thousands of small businesses.
We will also be boosting regional tourism, meaning more money staying in our communities, providing more locals with employment, thus delivering greater economic benefits for the community.
In your final pitch, why should people vote for you and your party?
For too long regional Victoria has been neglected and needs desperate funding.
The Nationals have guaranteed that a Coalition Government will deliver 25% of infrastructure funding to the regions.
The Nationals are the only party that truly represent regional Victorians.
We back our farmers, families, and small businesses, because we believe they form the backbone of the Ovens Valley community.
I will be your local voice in Parliament, continuing to represent the needs of the local community to the government, ensuring we get the best deal possible in Ovens Valley.
Mark Bugge - Freedom Party of Victoria
What can you and your party do to address labour shortages in Ovens Valley?
Lift all mandates, so experienced people can return to work.
In your final pitch, why should people vote for you and your party?
I will bring integrity and old shool values back to Victoria and highlight corruption. I can achieve this with the Freedom Party of Victoria.
Zuvele Leschen - Labor Party - Victorian Branch
What can you and your party do to address labour shortages in Ovens Valley?
One of the biggest issues facing the tourist towns in our region is the difficulties in attracting staff - and one of the biggest problems for staff is finding accommodation.
Every day, on my social media pages, there are pleas for workers matched with pleas by workers for accommodation.
Providing secure accommodation for workers, whether they’re health professionals, teachers or in hospitality, will go a long way to solving our labour shortages.
I’ve been interested in this issue for a few years now, and am really looking forward to tackling it, with the help of the local community.
Once we get workers here, the beauty of the region and the lifestyle it offers should encourage them to stay.
In your final pitch, why should people vote for you and your party?
There are too many Labor policies to list in full - but what sits at the heart of them all is strong social justice values and a sense of community fairness.
From building hospitals and investing in the healthcare workers our community deserves and making sure every child has access to a great education, that’s exactly what we’re delivering.
Only Labor will improve our health system, protect our environment, drive down power bills by bringing back the SEC and put energy back in the hands of Victorians.
Zoe Kromar - Australian Greens
What can you and your party do to address labour shortages in Ovens Valley?
Victoria’s labour shortage is an issue we have seen across many industries in our region. Small businesses are suffering.
The Greens plan to introduce a 110% small business wages credit, which will mean businesses with a turnover of up to $2 million can claim 110 per cent of their wages bill against their income. This will reduce their tax bill and lower the cost of expanding to create jobs, increase investment, and raise wages.
Affordable housing will give more opportunities for workers to move to our region and live here long term. I have experienced this first hand working in the hospitality industry in Bright, which has struggled under the pressure of increasing crowds visiting every year.
Many businesses that rely on young people moving to the area have suffered as housing has become less available.
With better government support, investment in small business, and affordable housing, we can address our labour shortage and boost the economy.
In your final pitch, why should people vote for you and your party?
The time for change is now.
I am a young person who is very worried for my future, and for the future of this region.
Our plan will make energy sustainable while bringing costs down, and will make housing more available and affordable.
It’s going to make education cheaper and more accessible for everyone.
It’s going to create tens of thousands of renewable energy jobs, many which will come out of regions like this.
These are policies that will affect everyone in the greater community, and will make all of our lives better.
That’s what I’m standing for.
Julian Fidge - Liberal Democrats
What can you and your party do to address labour shortages in Ovens Valley?• Reduce state taxes in regional areas to improve regional wages and salaries.
The Liberal Democrats will address labour shortages by making life in the region better and more rewarding. We will attract new workers, and retain existing workers by -
• Increasing housing and housing quality by abolishing stamp duty and making more land available for residential, commercial and public housing.
• Increasing regional wages and salaries by reducing payroll and other state taxes in regional Victoria.
• Providing better regional education options for workers’ families using student vouchers.
• Returning regional tax income to the regions to improve our roads and other infrastructure.
• Reducing government red tape and other obstructions that prevent businesses starting and flourishing.
• The Liberal Democrats’ policies can be found in full at: vic.ldp.org.au
In your final pitch, why should people vote for you and your party?
Victorians should vote for Liberal Democrats because we are the only party that has consistently tried to protect Victorians from the government’s damaging policies.
We will reduce the size and spending of government, and reduce taxation.
We have proven members of the upper house who have opposed every stupid, nasty thing the Andrews’ Government has done.
We have great policies to improve the lives of regional Victorians.
Our policies can be be found in full at: vic.ldp.org.au.
The Wangaratta Chronicle attempted to contact both Anna Wise (Family First Victoria) and Aisha Slater (Animal Justice Party) on repeated occasions, but failed to get a response from these candidates or their represented parties.
