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Peter Ryan – A Champion For Country Victoria

The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria, Danny O�fBrien, has paid tribute to outgoing Nationals Leader, Peter Ryan as a great servant of country Victoria.

By Danny O'Brien - 12th December 2014 - Back to News

Mr O�fBrien, who is set to be re�]elected after Saturday�fs election, said Peter Ryan was the best

Victorian leader The Nationals had ever had and a strong champion of the interests of country

people.

�gI have worked with and for Peter Ryan for many years now and have the utmost respect for his

intellect, passion, integrity and political skill.

�gPeter Ryan took on the leadership of the party in very dark times after the fall of the Kennett

Government and refocussed The Nationals onto our core task of representing the interests of

country people. Despite the many doomsayers, he rebuilt the party into a strong force that

ultimately led to the election of the Coalition Government in 2010 with The Nationals in the

balance of power position.

�gUsing that influence, he delivered the unprecedented $1 billion Regional Growth Fund that has

helped create jobs and developed local infrastructure throughout the country areas of the state.

�gThat is just one of the many positive legacies of The Nationals in Government.�h

Mr O�fBrien said few people would realise that Peter Ryan was far and away the longest serving

current leader of any political party in the country, a testament to his tenacity and leadership

strength.

�gWith Peter at the helm The Nationals delivered for Gippsland and made election commitments

that no other party matched in the region. While it is disappointing to lose government and not

see those new commitments delivered, The Nationals will continue to stand up for country people

and keep the new Labor Government accountable.

�gIn Gippsland we are pleased that Mr Ryan in Gippsland South, Member for Gippsland East, Tim

Bull and Member for Morwell, Russell Northe have all been returned.

�gRussell Northe fought a tough campaign and will be re�]elected on his great record of fighting for

the Latrobe Valley. We never considered Morwell a safe seat for one second and Russell and I will

continue to advocate for the Valley�fs interests. Morwell voters have shown over the years that

they will change their vote �] we are acutely aware of that and will continue to fight on their

behalf.�h

Mr O�fBrien said despite the very disappointing loss of the seat of Shepparton, there were positives

for The Nationals from the election.

danny.o�fbrien@parliament.vic.gov.au

181 Franklin Street, Traralgon VIC 3844 PO Box 1506, Traralgon VIC 3844

ph 03 5174 7066 fax 03 5176 1266

�gWe have had two excellent young women elected in Emma Kealy in Lowan and Steph Ryan who

won a hard�]fought three�]cornered contest in Euroa, while our preferences have elected Coalition

candidates in Ripon and Eildon. Minor party preference swapping has cost us an upper house seat

in Western Victoria, but all other members have been comfortably returned. The Nationals will

continue to fight for the best interests of country Victoria using the same passion and strength that

Peter Ryan has displayed for the past 15 years.�h

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com