The restaurant and catering, retail and tourism industries are major employers of young people, but many small businesses can’t afford to pay them on weekends because of penalty rates.

Businesses other than sole traders that restrict trading hours are closing off job opportunities.

Penalty rates got the name because they penalise businesses that open on weekends and holidays. But the people who suffer most are the unemployed.

We no longer live in the world that existed when penalty rates were introduced – when pubs used to shut at 6pm and shops closed at noon on Saturday. Today’s world operates 24/7. It is time for us to drop penalty rates.

I have introduced a Bill to the Senate that would remove the obligation of small businesses to pay penalty rates on weekends.

If passed, it would create jobs and boost your local economy.

I urge people in your community to debate this measure and encourage your representatives to support this Bill.

David Leyonhjelm, Liberal Democrats Senator for NSW, Drummoyne

A hallmark of the first year of the Andrews government has been following through on our election promises.

Prior to the 2014 State Election Labor promised half-priced vehicle registration for apprentices whose vehicle is essential to their work.

We have delivered this promise, putting a little bit more back in the pockets of these hard working young men and women as they learn a trade.

I’m pleased to report that over 260 eligible apprentices have taken up the scheme since it commenced on January 1 2016, saving them at least $330 each.

I encourage all eligible apprentices to take advantage of this scheme.

To find out more please visit the Vicroads website at www.vicroads.vic.gov.au

Gayle Tierney, Member for Western Victoria

In 2016, the state government will need to decide whether to make the current moratorium on onshore gas drilling a permanent ban. This would be supported by many in the community – 70 Victorian communities have declared themselves gasfield free (including 29 in western Victoria), and all political parties know that gas drilling will be strongly resisted in regional Victoria.

The gas industry is trying to tell us that gas produced through 'fracking' (dangerous underground drilling) will keep costs down for consumers. The truth is that gas produced through fracking will probably be expensive to produce because it will be difficult to extract from coal and rock seams. 

Because the federal government has pursued plans to export huge volumes of gas from Queensland, Victorian consumers will also be competing on a global market.

This can only mean that domestic gas prices will rise. This month exports of gas have started from Gladstone in Queensland, and already Victorian gas is starting to flow north due to demand. This is the same industry that assures us that gas drilling is safe. Meanwhile, in California, the Governor has declared a State of Emergency after more than 2000 people were evacuated from their homes because of a massive methane leak from a rupture in an underground injection pipe in a gas field.

In NSW it has just been announced that one of Santos' four waste-water holding ponds near Narrabri leaked briefly during its commissioning phase.

Here in Victoria, Origin will be investigated because of pollution from their onshore gas operations.

With the continued failure of the onshore gas industry to operate safely, the logical solution must be a permanent or long term ban on all gas drilling.

If matched with an ambitious renewable energy target, Victoria will be well placed to start the transition to a clean energy future. 

Cam Walker, Friends of the Earth, Castlemaine

The tragic deaths of a 24-year-old electrician and a 21-year-old dairy farmer at work this week are a horrible reminder to all Victorians why workplace safety needs to be everyone’s priority.

This is a truly devastating start to 2016 and the thoughts of all WorkSafe staff are with the families of these two young men during this difficult time.

In a terrible coincidence, both men were electrocuted – the third and fourth workers to have been electrocuted in Victoria in the past nine weeks.

Electrocution is one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities but there are simple steps that can be taken to ensure this type of tragedy does not happen again.

Ensure that the power is disconnected or the power supply is isolated before starting work. Make sure that you always test that the power is in fact disconnected before doing repair or maintenance work. Do not rely on safety switches to protect you.

Regular maintenance of electrical equipment is also a vital part of workplace safety.

Death at work is never acceptable. Everyone has a part to play in making the workplace safe, and every single worker has the right to return home safe at the end of the day.

No family should go through the suffering that two Victorian families are now going through today. So make workplace safety your priority in 2016.

Marnie Williams, WorkSafe Victoria executive director of health and safety