by admin | Sep 12, 2014 | Media Release
12 September 2014 MEDIA RELEASE A company in which Gina Rinehart is the major shareholder has secured the exploration rights to decimate south-west Victoria’s underground coal seam to extract gas. The company, Lakes Oil NL, has acquired exploration permits PEP 167 and PEP 175, which effectively gives it the right to drill for gas across south-west Victoria between Portland and Warrnambool, up to near Hamilton. Vote 1 Local Jobs founder James Purcell said coal seam gas fracking was a huge issue that has the potential to permanently damage south-west Victoria’s underground water supply. “Our agriculture industry and town water supplies are under threat by the coal seam gas movement,” Mr Purcell said. “Coal seam gas involves drilling underground and exploding the coal to extract gas, which is known as fracking). “Coal seam gas exploration is fraught with danger and this year devastated an underground water supply in NSW, with the EPA finding the exploration had contaminated an aquifer with uranium levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines.” At the recent national Local Government assembly Moyne Shire put forward a motion to ban exploration and drilling of coal seam gas, which was convincingly defeated. “It was effectively knocked on the head by city-based Councillors who do not have agricultural land in their municipalities. This is a huge threat to south-west Victoria as there seems to be a misconstrued belief that coal seam gas will reduce rate payers gas bills – which is simply not true. “Coal seam gas fracking needs to be banned outright in Victoria – the existing moratorium is only a short-term protection. This is a...
by admin | Sep 8, 2014 | Media Release
8 September 2014 MEDIA RELEASE Thousands of Warrnambool district jobs will be lost and the jumps racing industry killed off if The Greens are elected in south-west Victoria. On the day of Warrnambool’s last jumps race meet for the season, Vote 1 Local Jobs founder James Purcell is encouraging south-west voters to be aware of the very real threat. “The Greens have made their position on jumps racing painfully clear; if they are elected jumps racing faces certain death,” Mr Purcell said. “They are putting a huge effort into winning the coveted fifth seat in the Western District’s Upper House and if they do it’s goodbye to jumps racing. “They would have the balance of power and control what happens throughout Victoria.” The Greens are confident of winning this seat and last week presented a petition to parliament calling on the Government to ban jumps racing in south-west Victoria. It is believed the jumps racing industry supports about 2500 direct south-west jobs and injects $20 million into our local economy. “At this year’s May Racing Carnival more than 1400 people signed a petition I had supporting jumps racing. I urge those who haven’t already signed to go to www.vote1localjobs.com.au and sign the petition – if I am elected I will table it to Parliament. “It’s vital the community understands how important their Upper House vote is. There are always two Labor and two Liberal representatives elected to the Upper House. The fifth seat is typically taken by a minor party – if The Greens take this spot it’s the death knell for jumps racing.” Vote 1 Local Jobs is...
by admin | Aug 29, 2014 | Media Release
29 August 2014 MEDIA RELEASE INJECTING $200 million into the south-west’s crumbling road network, reducing the driving age for apprentices and stopping the foreign buy up of agricultural land are key components of Vote 1 Local Jobs’ 8-point jobs plan. Released today by Vote 1 Local Jobs leader James Purcell, the plan includes removing payroll tax obligations from regional businesses, committing government authorities to purchase local through a regional ‘buy local’ incentive and relocating more government departments to regional areas. Mr Purcell said the plan had been refined after consultation with key south-west Victorian businesses. “Each of the eight points are designed to generate jobs and create a secure economic future for south-west Victorians,” Mr Purcell said. “Currently the government spends $50 million per year on the Melbourne Grand Prix. We think this money should be spent on the south-west’s crumbling road network – in four years time, $200 million later, our roads would be vastly improved. “We also proposing payroll tax obligations be removed from regional businesses and this financed through a 1 per cent increase in metropolitan pay roll tax.” The buy local scheme would see local, state and federal government authorities commit to buying from the areas where their offices are located, when product pricing is within 5 per cent of its metropolitan counterparts. “Relocating government departments to regional areas will allow for greater accessibility of services by Western District residents and increased job opportunities in Western Victoria. “Reducing the driving age to 17 for apprentices and other workers during working hours and to travel to and from work will help regional young people to secure...
by admin | Jul 25, 2014 | Media Release
25 July 2014 MEDIA RELEASE Vote 1 Local Jobs has been given the go ahead to register as a political party. The Victorian Electoral Commission informed Vote 1 Local Jobs leader James Purcell of its decision yesterday, saying it disagreed with some of the grounds of objection from the Liberal Party and a private citizen. The commission has requested two small changes, that the party’s constitution include more substantial rules about membership and a different abbreviation of the party name (currently LJP) is chosen. “We’re thrilled with the outcome,” Mr Purcell said. “We didn’t feel there was any substance to the objection, but are still obviously happy to receive this finding from the electoral commission. “Changing the party abbreviation is not an issue, we’ll make a final decision next week but are leaning towards V1LJ at the moment. It’s of absolutely no issue to us how we abbreviate the party name. “In regards to the rules around membership, we are working on a structure which will be finalised next week. But we stand by our philosophy that there is no pressure on members at all to be involved in a greater capacity than they wish to.” Mr Purcell said the party was now moving full-steam ahead on securing the membership numbers required to register Vote 1 Local Jobs. “If you’re one of the 500 plus people who have supported us so far but haven’t yet returned your form to the Victorian Electoral Commission please do so, as the commission needs that form returned to reach the figure required. “Over the coming weeks we’ll be stepping up our membership drive....
by admin | Jul 11, 2014 | Media Release
11 July 2014 MEDIA RELEASE The Liberal Party has objected to the registration of Vote 1 Local Jobs as a political party. The objection, received by the Victorian Electoral Commission on July 4, lists two grounds for the objection including that the party is ineligible and its abbreviation (LJP) is too close to the Liberal’s abbreviation. Vote 1 Local Jobs leader James Purcell said he was surprised by the objection. “I was very surprised to receive the objection as I really didn’t think the Liberal Party would pay us any attention at all,” Mr Purcell said. “We’re a small party standing in the Upper House; we do have a very real chance of being elected so perhaps the Liberals see us as some sort of threat. I’m not really sure.” Vote 1 Local Jobs is on its way to becoming a registered political party, working on securing the 500 members necessary to achieve registration. Mr Purcell will be standing in the Upper House at the state election with the express aim of earning the fifth seat, which is typically held by one of the minor parties. The objection lists this as a factor that makes the party ‘ineligible’. ‘It is not our intent to be critical of any party or candidate during the election process – we simply intend to put our ideas forward and let the public decide on our ability to represent Western Victoria,” Mr Purcell said. “The more I think about it the more I think the main reason for the Liberal objection is that they think Vote 1 Local Jobs has a real chance of...
by admin | Apr 30, 2014 | Media Release
30 April 2014 MEDIA RELEASE RACEGOERS are being urged to sign a petition at the May Racing Carnival that documents support for the jumps racing industry. Organised by Vote 1 Local Jobs candidate James Purcell, the petition will be presented to the Premier and tabled to parliament after the November state election. “Jumps racing opponents are vocal in their opposition so this petition is designed to highlight the significant support for jumps racing and allow supporters to have their message heard,” Mr Purcell said. “Jumps racing is an important industry that generates millions of dollars for regional businesses each year and supports a significant number of local jobs. “We need to record the support and counter the anti-jumps racing lobby.” Mr Purcell said there were a large number of jumps racing supporters but no organised push on their behalf to support the industry. “The polls are predicting the Napthine government will fall at the November election. Three years ago under the Labor Government jumps racing hung on day-to-day by only a thread. “Supporters need to band together to show the incoming government – whichever it may be – that this industry has strong support. It’s too late to wait for the election result, that’s why we’re doing it now. “We already have dozens of trainers and jockeys on board, including Australia’s leading trainer Chris Waller and successful jumps jockey Steve Patemen.” Mr Purcell will be at the entrance of the races today and tomorrow with the petition. “Please come along and show your support for jumps racing, so we ensure the state government understands how crucial the industry...