Never in 100 years have people in the bush felt more politically disenchanted than they are now.

With each passing week it becomes clearer that water policy at NSW state and federal level, under the watchful eye of the National party, has crippled food producers in southern NSW and northern Victoria. This is the major issue for our rural communities - the one that counts, and needs to be addressed.

Despite endless efforts to engage and work with the National Party to improve water policy and therefore the vibrancy of rural Australia, all we get in return are words with no action.

As far as I am concerned the National party no longer serves regional Australia, they serve the Liberal Party and corporates. This was confirmed in June when Damian Drum (member for Nicholls) stated the Liberal party is frightened that if it fixes the problems faced by staple food producers, it may upset some South Australians and cost the party votes in Adelaide. The problem we currently have is that the National party is not prepared to stand up to the Liberals and demand water policy changes.

The modern Nationals are suffering an identity crisis, which will only worsen if they do not have strong leadership as the next generation of voters certainly have no alliance to a party which has been complicit in destroying their home towns, yet does not have the political courage to support the solutions which everyone knows exist.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The current coronavirus outbreaks in Melbourne do not surprise many regional Victorian residents.

Infection levels in Melbourne's western and northern local government areas indicate a high degree of failure by residents in these areas to comply with simple infection control procedures.

Often these areas have a wide range of residential cultural groups where English is only a second language. Understanding both government directions and restrictions tends to be confined to specific cultural language interpretations.

Despite government media advertising, it is suspected that the directives and restrictions required to prevent infections of the coronavirus are either not understood or are being ignored by too many residents in these local government areas where cultural groups exist.

The latest data on virus testing undertaken in Melbourne's extensive lockdown area has now indicated a complete failure by the residents tested to comply with the requirement to remain isolated until each test result has been provided.

This lack of compliance with the directive and lack of any responsibility to it now greatly threatens the rest of Victoria's population.

Obviously there is now a direct need for the Victorian government to completely and stringently control and monitor the test results and the people tested.

Having 90 per cent of those tested failing to comply with an immediate isolation after the test has been carried out is an indictment on the total procedure and consequently is a worthless activity.

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