Gippsland › Latest news › Melina Bath MP
Victorian Greens party oppose farm protection laws making their support for Gippsland farmers insincere
Melina Bath criticises Greens MPs for their motion on supermarket price gouging, alleging insincere concern for Victorian farmers and blaming Labor for rising living costs exacerbated by the Greens' policies.
The Nationals MP, Melina Bath has lambasted upper house Greens MPs for their motion on supermarket price gouging, accusing them of falsely feigning concern for Victorian farmers. "Victorian farmers work long hours to bring food from paddock to plate - they are an essential industry," said Ms Bath.
Ms Bath says that the Greens consistently oppose policies benefiting farmers, such as tougher penalties for farm trespassing, recently rejected by them in parliament
Greens' anti-farmer stance
Ms Bath said, "The Greens have demonstrated time and again they are no friends of our primary producers - choosing to back extreme activists trespassing on livestock farms. It was only last sitting week that the Greens opposed legislation in state parliament to strengthen penalties for breaching biosecurity laws to better protect farmers, a policy of The Nationals."
"For the Greens to sympathise with the plight of farmers on this issue is disingenuous. Enabled by the Greens, the Allan Labor government has been the architect of the cost of living crunch in Victoria."
"Labor's agenda has put a huge strain on household budgets introducing 53 new or increased taxes in government, meanwhile ABS data shows there has been a rise of nine percent in food costs and 25 percent for electricity in the last year," she said.
Opposition to price fixing
Ms Bath said that while supermarket price gouging was a serious issue with potentially significant impacts on Australian farmers and consumers, the Greens motion to price fix groceries in two supermarket chains was not the answer.
"Price gouging was reported two years ago, yet only this month federal Labor called in the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) to investigate and establish whether supermarkets are unfairly selling products at inflated margins.
"The reality is federal Labor has been tardy, ignoring the increasing price disparity between the farmgate and the supermarket checkout. So many families are doing it tough, struggling to afford their grocery bill each week and Labor hand in hand with the Greens have continued to drive up the cost of food," Ms Bath concluded.
Pictures from Melina Bath MP Facebook page.
Source: http://gippsland.com/
Published by: news@gippsland.com
Latest News
Community input wanted on Bass Coast Shire Integrated Transport Strategy for safer and sustainable transportation by 31 August 2024Darren Chester promotes Mobile Service Centres that offer essential government services like Centrelink and Medicare across Gippsland
Gippsland Water adds customer care pop-ups for in-person payment support in Sale, Drouin, Warragul for July and Moe in August 2024
Latrobe River Bridge at Tyers had completion delayed to August 2024 frustrating residents with safety concerns
Baw Baw Shire attends 2024 Australian Local Government Association National General Assembly in Canberra advocating peri urban areas
Enjoy free chicken parma while listening to inspiring story of Warren Davies South Gippsland Farmer on 22 July 2024 at Mirboo North Hotel
Join Latrobe City Council and Planet Ark for National Tree Day 2024 at W H Burrage Reserve in Newborough on 28 July 2024
Latrobe City Council requests Planning Panel for Amendment C144 for Traralgon West Precinct on 9 September 2024
Latrobe Valley clubs excelled at 2024 Community Clubs Victoria awards with Morwell and Moe clubs earning top honours
Warragul Leisure Centre $11M expansion of community sports facilities opens 28 July 2024