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Labor’S Own Begins Country RevoltThe Bracks Labor Government has abandoned country Victoria, according to a former Labor Member of Parliament. By Phillip Davis - 29th August 2006 - Back to News Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Philip Davis today acknowledged the honest comments from former Labor MP for Benalla Denise Allen about the skewed priorities and failings of the Bracks Labor Government in country Victoria.
In particular, Ms Allen berated the Bracks Government about its decision to pre-select city-based candidates for country Upper House seats.
"Country people will be very insulted that Labor have put up a city person to represent country issues." – Denise Allen, The Age, 29 August 2006
"In the Upper House seat of Northern Victoria, the Labor Party has pre-selected Housing Minister Candy Broad for the number one position on the ticket," Mr Davis said.
"Candy Broad currently represents the Upper House city seat of Melbourne North, and lives in Brunswick.
"Number two on the ticket is Kaye Darveniza who lives in trendy Williamstown."
Mr Davis said Ms Allen was also rightly critical of her former party’s performance in country Victoria, adding:
"The fast train project is a joke, transport in general is second rate, and there is a feeling that the country is not being well represented. Labor…has abandoned its grassroots…"
– Denise Allen, The Age, 29 August 2006
Mr Davis said with just 13 weeks until the state election, country Victorians and even former Labor Party stalwarts were beginning to revolt.
"Country Victorians know they have been treated poorly by the Bracks Labor Government, but it would also seem that members of their own party were now beginning to tell the truth about Labor’s appalling neglect of country Victoria," he said.
"The Liberal Party is committed to providing effective representation of country Victoria by Members of Parliament who are part of their local communities.
"The Liberal Party has made substantial commitments to country Victorians and will fiercely represent them."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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