Tuesday, 12 November, 2024
Check out new councillors for each ward
Landmark tax ruling for redundant forestry workers
War Memorial found vandalised
See Real Estate liftout inside
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A Star News Group Publication
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Op Shop gets a new start
L-R: HLLC president Vicky King, Healesville-Yarra Glen Uniting Church members Beth Honeycombe, Margaret Blair, chairman Bruce Argyle and HLLC member Kath Gannaway. (Stewart Chambers: 442261)
Healesville East End Op Shop has finally found a new owner, expecting to get reinvigorated. Healesville Living and Learning Centre (HLLC) president Vicky King handed over the keys to the town’s longest-running opportunity shop to the Healesville-Yarra Glen Uniting Church on Thursday 7 November. “Having had custodianship of this muchneeded and much-loved community institution for all those years, the HLLC board believed it was important that it be passed on to a local organisation that shared the ethos of caring for community that has been the heart and soul of its operation,” Ms King said. Work has already started on a significant facelift for the shop which includes extending the retail space and installing heating and cooling in time for a grand opening in December. Turn to page 15 for more
Fight is on against illicit tobacco trade that is rampant in Victoria...
Violence targeted By Callum Ludwig As Victoria Police continue to work to combat the illicit tobacco trade rampant in Victoria, state politicians are milling about how to legislate change that cracks down on both the trade and associated violence such as firebombing. The Victorian Liberals and Nationals recently attempted to introduce a bill, which the Labor Government did not support in an effort to crack down on firebombing, calling out the average of two firebombings of tobacco shops each week for
the past 18 months. Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence and Eildon MP Cindy McLeish both argued for the Tobacco Amendment (Stamping Out Fire Bombings) Bill 2024 in Parliament on Tuesday 29 October and Ms McLeish said with tobacco stores opening across the Yarra Ranges, locals and business owners want to ensure they and their businesses are safe as firebombing incidents escalate. “Firebombing is very widespread across Victoria, surging well past 100 attacks, making it harder
for surrounding businesses to secure insurance. It is not in just one spot; it is a big issue that also relates to organised crime,” she said. “The Government needs to tackle organised crime and look after the small businesses surrounding tobacco shops and those that own the premises that are firebombed. All of those businesses could have been saved by having a licensing scheme.” The Liberals and Nationals support a number of measures to combat the illicit tobacco trade,
namely; The introduction of a licensing scheme for the sale of tobacco products. The implementation of a fit and proper person test to ensure suitability to hold a tobacco retail licence. Creating search and seizure laws for Victorian Police relating to tobacco products. Penalties for first-time offenders of up to 5000 penalty units – the equivalent of $1 million. Continued page 5
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