Brave boy honoured
When a fire engulfed a Lang Lang family’s house in April 2022, it was then six-year-old Koby who sprung into action to alert his parents to the fire and guide his younger brother to safety.
Company to face court
Victoria’s Labour Hire Authority (LHA) has commenced legal action against a company, alleging it provided workers to pick fruit and vegetables without a labour hire licence.
LHA’s claim alleges A L Star provided workers to pick berries and vegetables in regions including Kooweerup, Rosebud, Torquay and Devon Meadows.
The proceedings, filed in the Supreme Court against A L Star Express Pty Ltd, are the first for allegedly providing labour hire services without a licence inVictoria.
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Ambulance time concern
Ambulance response times are below par in Cardinia Shire, with more than one-in-two patients left waiting.
Koby’s courageous efforts were recognised in front of his family and classmates on Monday 8 May, when he was presented with a bravery certificate.
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back into the community,” Mrs Burley said.
“We feel what were doing is good for the community and we don’t need to be taxed.
From 1 January to 31 March, Ambulance Victoria responded to 1577 code 1 emergencies which have a standard response time of 15 minutes or less.
Only 48.9 per cent of these emergencies were responded to within 15 minutes in Cardinia Shire - which is the lowest in metropolitian Melbourne. Ever since the pandemic, which put a strain on health and ambulance services, response times have seen a steady decline with almost five minutes added to the average response time.
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Shop secretary Bev Burley called the move a “greedy grab” by the government.
“It takes away from what we can donate
“It just makes you wonder if your work is worthwhile.”
According to Charitable Recycling Australia (CRA), this could pile an additional $1.5 million in charges onto shops in the charity sector.
In 2021, former environment minister Lily D’Ambrosio intervened to stop the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP, now known as DEECA), from removing the levy protection, “averting a crisis” according to CRA chief executive Omer Soker.
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By Eleanor Wilson Charity shops across the South East have criticised the Victorian Government’s decision to dial back waste levy protections for charities from July this year, which would force them to pay tax on dumped waste they send to landfill. The Victorian Government’s current Landfill Levy Relief Program for charitable recyclers is valid until 30 June 2023, after which charity shops will be hit with a tax for the waste they are forced to remove. Pakenham Opportunity
Op shop tax pain
Seven-year-old Koby (front right) with parents Sean and Caitlin (back), siblings Ivy and Logan and CFA assistant chief fire officer Jamie Hansen.
Picture: ELEANOR WILSON