Wannon Labor

18/10/2025

Need better fire gear? Grants are now open!

BlazeAid’s All Fired Up grant program is now open to help Ararat and district farmers strengthen their on-farm fire protection.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available to upgrade or repair Private Fire Fighting Units (PFFUs), including tanks, pumps, hoses, radios, and safety gear.

Grants are now open until February 2026 for farmers in high-risk fire areas. Eligibility criteria applies.

To learn more about the grants program, or to apply please go to: tinyurl.com/pur3yt54 or email the team at [email protected]

12/10/2025

👨‍🌾 An extra $1 billion in concessional loan funding is being injected into the Regional Investment Corporation (RIC) to help farm businesses through times of hardship such as drought, highlighting the Albanese Government's commitment to giving Australian farmers more certainty.

The RIC also supports first-time farmers to establish their businesses and assists with succession planning for the next generation of farmers. 👩‍🌾

To date, over 3,400 low-interest loans have been approved, with over $3.6 billion in settled funds delivering direct benefits on the ground. 🚜🌱

To learn more, visit the link in the comments.

Colac Herald Anthony Albanese Julie Collins MP

24/09/2025

28/05/2025

Labor wins a third Victorian Senate spot.

23/05/2025

Today we’ve turned on the Goldfields Superpipe for the first time in 6 years – the big piece of infrastructure we never want to use.

While the rain falls across NSW, dam levels here in Western Victoria have continued to drop.

Anyone who lived in Ballarat during the millennium drought remembers water restrictions, Lake Wendouree going dry and a very real fear that our reservoir would run dry.

The Brumby State Government sprung into action and started the Goldfields Superpipe project, connecting water sources across regional Victoria to Ballarat’s reservoir.

After years of campaigning and lobbying her predecessors, in 2008 I was able to convince Water Minister Penny Wong to contribute $90 million to finish the project all the way up to the Goulburn River catchment.

In its first year, the super-pipe delivered 12 billion litres of water to Ballarat. It was a real lifeline.

As the rain returned, the pipe was turned off. Recently, it’s sat idle for six years, a physical insurance policy against drought.

It’s my hope we’ll get some rain our way soon and we’ll be able to turn off the pipe again.

But for the time being, thank goodness this essential infrastructure is there.

12/05/2025

02/05/2025

02/05/2025

Come see Wayne and the volunteers at Portland Pre Poll - they are ready for the last day of early voting!

29/04/2025

Ararat Pre-Poll

28/04/2025