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Brumby Full Of Hot Air On Gippsland Gas Promise

By Philip Davis - 9th August 2005 - Back to News

Today’s announcement by Labor’s State and Regional Development Minister John Brumby, that he will connect towns in South Gippsland to reticulated natural gas by 2010, is not credible, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said.

"In a classic case of déjà vu, John Brumby announced $50 million to country Victoria and promised natural gas to Leongatha, Wonthaggi, Inverlock, Lang Lang and Korumburra," Mr Davis said.

"John Brumby is using smoke and mirrors and not disclosing the amount of the Bracks Government’s contribution to this project.

"In the lead up the 2002 State Election, John Brumby visited many towns in country Victoria, promising natural gas connections left, right and centre. This was supposed to involve $70 million over four years, but three years down the track, not one town has been connected.

"Today’s announcement is a slap in the face to the communities who were promised gas connections prior to 2002, and who are still waiting.

"How can the people of South Gippsland believe a word John Brumby said today, when he has left so many towns in regional Victoria out in the cold this winter?

"Since coming to office, the Bracks Government has treated country Victorians with contempt and taken them for granted. Steve Bracks seems to have forgotten that it was country Victoria that put him in that office in the first place.

"John Brumby must stop making empty promises and deliver reticulated natural gas to every town he promised it to, prior to the last State Election.

"Only when Heywood, Terang, Smythesdale, Myrtleford, Bright, Beechworth, Nathalia, Yea, Bonnie Doon, Alexandra, Avoca and Wandong are connected to natural gas, will the people of South Gippsland take John Brumby’s promise to them today, seriously."

Mr Davis said that the Bracks Government is completely out of touch with country Victoria and obviously doesn’t realise the importance of natural gas connections to the future of these communities.

"I just hope, for the sake of the residents of Leongatha, Wonthaggi, Inverloch, Lang Lang and Korumburra that we don’t see another Labor backflip in the coming months announcing that these communities have also been duped by John Brumby and the Bracks Government," Mr Davis said.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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