The question we all want the answer to is: where is it? The funding was approved by both state and federal governments two years ago, yet our farmers still cannot accurately track the weather in our patch because the radar is yet to be built.

It is extremely frustrating to gain momentum on a project like this one only to see it take years to be actioned, and I certainly understand those frustrations.

In an effort to seek answers from the Bureau of Meteorology, I met with them earlier this month and was assured the weather radar will be up and running in nine to 12 months.

You can guarantee that I will be keeping the pressure on the bureau to hold them accountable to this schedule.

The Wimmera has waited long enough and we need this radar delivered.

Andrew Broad, Member for Mallee 

BILL Shorten’s Victorian Labor Party has shown just how out of touch they are with Australians by proposing to change the date of Australia Day from January 26.

Debating this issue shows the warped priorities of Bill Shorten’s Labor Party – especially at a time when Victorians are facing a crime epidemic, surging power prices and rising congestion.

The motion proposed by the Victorian Labor Party is yet another example of Bill Shorten being beholden to the loony left of the Labor Party and the most extreme elements of the trade union movement.

The Liberal National Coalition will never change the date of Australia Day.

The overwhelming opinion of the majority of Australians is that Australia Day should not be moved from January 26.

Australia Day is a day for all Australians, wherever they come from, to celebrate the miracle of Australia – its democracy, freedom and its culture.

James McGrath, Liberal National Senator from Queensland and Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister

NATIONAL Reconciliation Week highlights the issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in a broader Australian culture.  

This year’s theme is: “Don’t Keep History a Mystery: Learn. Share. Grow.” 

It encourages us to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and share that knowledge with others. 

Youth Off The Streets is dedicated to learning and teaching about these cultures.

Teaching our young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people about their culture and history is so important for building connections to their communities and families. 

We have a team dedicated to empowering and teaching young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about their culture through dance programs, cultural camps, art lessons and many more tailored services.

I want to echo this year’s theme of teaching, but with an emphasis on teaching Australian people as a whole, not just Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Through all of our services at Youth Off The Streets we encourage our young people to attend cultural events, participate in programs and learn about the world’s oldest culture and they take immense value from this.

I also encourage my staff to continuously learn about our country’s cultural history and to be culturally aware.  

As part of our dedication to reconciliation, we have created a Reconciliation Action Plan to ensure all our staff are culturally aware and formally trained in cultural competencies and will actively embrace the principles and practices of reconciliation.

Father Chris Riley, chief executive and founder, Youth Off The Streets