by admin | Feb 11, 2015 | Adjournment, Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE Western Victorian MP James Purcell has called on the State Government to overturn the incomprehensible adverse possession decision on 107 Gipps Street Port Fairy. Mr Purcell has used his first adjournment debate to raise the controversial issue directly with the government. “Without the knowledge of most of my community the Victorian Titles Office has recently made an incomprehensible decision to award this land to an opportunistic blow-in,” Mr Purcell told the Parliament. “This land is and always has been regarded by my community as common open space and been regularly used as such by the fishing community and general public for many decades. “I will be seeking to have the horrible adverse possession decision overturned and the land returned to my community as public open space.” Mr Purcell said he had already raised the issue directly with the Premier and had used his first adjournment debate to ensure it was officially listed on Hansard. “The government has 30 days to respond to an adjournment debate so I would be hoping to have further feedback on the issue early to mid March. “It will be a real win for Port Fairy if we can have this decision overturned and the land rightfully returned to the community.” ADJOURNMENT TRANSCRIPT – Port Fairy adverse possession claim Mr PURCELL (Western Victoria) My adjournment matter is for the attention of the Premier. This issue is extremely important to my community of Port Fairy. In December 2012 the Victorian titles office accepted an adverse possession claim for 107 Gipps Street, Port Fairy, from a Melbourne-based individual, despite the opposition of Moyne Shire Council. This...
by admin | Nov 28, 2014 | Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE DAIRY FACTORY WILL CLOSE IF FOREIGN BUY UP GOES AHEAD ONE of south-west Victoria’s four dairy factories will close and a quarter of the district’s dairy industry jobs will be lost if the Chinese government’s plans to buy up our prime agricultural land go ahead, says Vote 1 Local Jobs founder James Purcell. Linear Capital, an investment company with links to the Chinese Government, is planning to buy dozens of south-west dairy farms. Mr Purcell said it is understood the proposal involves an entire controlled production line that would see hundreds of millions of dollars of infant milk formula sent straight to China. “The 50 south-west dairy farms Linear Capital is planning to purchase contribute 500 million litres of milk per year, a quarter of the south-west’s annual milk supply,” Mr Purcell said. “The direct export plans we understand the proposal involves, will see the milk product directly removed from our economy. “Due to the model they are proposing there will be very little benefit to south-west Victoria, or Australia as a whole. “The whole production line, from the farm to the international customer, could be totally invisible to us.” Mr Purcell said the proposal was deeply concerning for the south-west’s economy, future jobs and the status of our agricultural sector. “If you take out a quarter of our product and a quarter of our income, a quarter of our jobs will also go. “We have four dairy factories locally. Take away 25% of our milk and one of our dairy factories will be without product. “This is hugely concerning for south-west Victoria.” Vote 1 Local Jobs...
by admin | Nov 27, 2014 | Media Release
POLITICAL ADVERTISING BUDGETS NEED TO BE REDUCED AND FUNDS PUT INTO EDUCATION POLITICAL advertising budgets need to be slashed and the funds instead injected into the rural post-secondary education sector, says Vote 1 Local Jobs founder James Purcell. Mr Purcell said hundreds of millions of dollars were spent annually on promoting government projects – irrespective of which government is in power. “Obviously community engagement is vital, but with the incredible rise in social media promotion the need for expensive TV advertising is significantly reduced,” Mr Purcell said. “Significantly reducing these budgets and other waste and duplication would free up substantial funds. This money could then be spent on our rural education sector.” Mr Purcell said more innovative communication methods had the potential to save hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars per year. “We are running our Vote 1 Local Jobs campaign on a shoestring budget and have made a minimal financial investment in social media. Our message is being distributed far and wide – without the multi-million dollar budgets the major parties have. “Social media is changing the way we operate and should be embraced as a cost-saving measure by government.” Vote 1 Local Jobs is Western Victoria’s newest political party. It was created by Moyne Shire Councillor and former Mayor James Purcell. It has been inundated with support and has more than 850 members. Mr Purcell stood at the last state and federal election and was the most successful independent in the south-west region’s history....
by admin | Nov 27, 2014 | Letter to the Editor
LETTER TO THE EDITOR November 27, 2014 This Saturday is very important for Victoria’s Western District. It’s the state election and we need to decide what we want for the area where we live. Vote 1 Local Jobs is a new political party created solely for the Western District, to create jobs and economic security. We are standing in the Upper House only – we are not trying to change government or defeat your local member. What we are trying to do is create focused, empowered representation for Victoria. We have a concentrated eight-point jobs plan and are passionate about seeing the Western District succeed. When you vote I urge you to select Vote 1 Local Jobs above the line on the big purple sheet. It’s the last box on the line – letter Q. Irrespective of which party you choose in the lower house, choose Vote 1 Local Jobs in the Upper House for job security and the security of your hometown. JAMES PURCELL VOTE 1 LOCAL JOBS LEADER PORT...
by admin | Nov 26, 2014 | Media Release
MEDIA RELEASE COUNTRY business should be exempt from paying payroll tax, says Vote 1 Local Jobs founder James Purcell. Mr Purcell said regional businesses faced increased costs due to the tyranny of distance and a payroll tax exemption would have obvious positive benefits for regional businesses. “Businesses pay 4.85 per cent payroll tax once they pay $550,000 in wages,” Mr Purcell said. “Removing this tax for businesses located in regional areas will free up cash flow and enable employment growth. “It will also provide a much needed incentive for businesses to locate and employ in regional areas, rather than concentrating their investment in Melbourne.” Mr Purcell suggests the change could be funded by a 1 per cent increase in payroll tax in metropolitan areas. “There are five times more businesses in Melbourne, thus a one per cent across the board increase in Melbourne will create a move by businesses to set up in regional Victoria, which will facilitate business and employment growth in regional areas. “Generally speaking regional businesses have less access to goods, services and support networks than their metropolitan counterparts, so it is wrong they are paying the same rates.” Vote 1 Local Jobs is Western Victoria’s newest political party. It was created by Moyne Shire Councillor and former Mayor James Purcell. It has been inundated with support and has more than 850 members. Mr Purcell stood at the last state and federal election and was the most successful independent in the south-west region’s...