The Nationals Member for Rodney Paul Weller is continuing to exert pressure on the Brumby Labor Government to reintroduce critical drought support measures for rural Victorian communities.
In State Parliament yesterday Mr Weller said communities in the Rodney electorate and right across Northern Victoria were experiencing the worst drought in living memory.
He said a major crisis was unfolding, yet the Brumby Government was sitting on its hands.
“The drought which the Brumby Government told us was over when it brought down the budget in May continues on with a record dry.
“The irrigation allocations are at unprecedented lows with zero percent on the Campaspe system, a measly nine percent on the Goulburn and just 13 percent on the Murray.
“Things are very, very tough and the Brumby Government must act now to help alleviate the situation by re-instating shire rate subsidies, fixed water charge rebates on water not delivered and by committing to fund drought counsellors on an ongoing basis.”
Mr Weller said he had hand delivered letters to the Health Minister and Mental Health & Community Services Minister today on behalf of the Campaspe Community Social Recovery Committee, expressing the urgent need for government support.
He said the committee described the situation in the Campaspe Shire as a ‘crisis that was unparalleled’.
“The people who sit on this committee work very closely with farmers on the ground and they have confirmed that the financial situation on farms is severe.
“Like me, they are disappointed with this government’s stop-start approach to drought support funding, and they are calling for it to be reinstated immediately.
Mr Weller said given the continuing drought, it was blatantly obvious to everyone in Australia that the north-south pipeline should be abandoned.
“That is, everyone except the Brumby Labor Government,” he said.
“Brumby and his Labor cronies are continuing to march over the top of innocent people in their desire to make the once famous food bowl of Australia a dust bowl.”
Media contact: Leonie Canham (03) 5482 2039
