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Labor Backflip – Country Gas Promises Hang In The BalanceThe Bracks Government’s dumping of Avoca from its natural gas program has raised concerns other country Victorian towns could suffer the same fate, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria, Philip Davis said today. By Philip Davis - 26th April 2005 - Back to News Labor’s State and Regional Development Minister, John Brumby visited many country Victorian towns in the lead up to the 2002 State Election, promising natural gas connections left, right and centre.
This week John Brumby backflipped on his promise to Avoca, which was one of the many towns he promised natural gas connections to, during his pre-election visit.
"John Brumby has now left the towns of Heywood, Terang, Smythesdale, Myrtleford, Bright, Beechworth, Nathalia, Yea, Bonnie Doon, Alexandra and Wandong in limbo – they have no idea whether they will be next to have their promised projects axed," Mr Davis said.
"I asked Labor’s Energy and Resources Minister, Theo Theophanous in Parliament yesterday if he could shed any light on the fate of these towns that were promised natural gas prior to the 2002 election.
"Theo Theophanous was unable to give me an answer except to say that ‘not all towns in the tender process, including Avoca, attracted bids from gas distributors’.
"If that is the case, Theo Theophanous and John Brumby should name those towns.
"The Bracks Government has been ducking and weaving on this issue all week, because quite frankly, there is nothing they can say to make up for the fact they have broken a pre-election promise to connect Avoca to natural gas.
"I just hope, for the sake of country Victoria, that we don’t see similar backflips in the coming weeks or months announcing that other communities have also been duped by the Minister for State and Regional Development and the Bracks Government." he said.
Mr Davis said the Bracks Government was out of touch with country Victoria and obviously didn’t realise the importance of these natural gas connections to the future of these communities.
"The Bracks Government has treated rural and regional Victoria with contempt and has stifled development throughout country Victoria through its inability to manage this natural gas project.
"If Heywood, Terang, Smythesdale, Myrtleford, Bright, Beechworth, Nathalia, Yea, Bonnie Doon, Alexandra and Wandong do not receive the promised natural gas, it will be John Brumby’s responsibility." Mr Davis said.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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