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Pretty Streets Instead Of Drought Help From BracksThe Bracks Government’s announcement of more streetscape works for drought affected communities is a complete cop-out to those doing it tough on the land, Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said today. By news@gippsland - 8th July 2005 - Back to News Mr Davis accused Steve Bracks and his Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron of being opportunistic and avoiding the real problems with drought in Victoria by offering to beautify the streets in the Mildura, Buloke, West Wimmera and Swan Hill communities.
"They have their priorities all wrong," Mr Davis said.
"Making country towns look pretty will have no affect on desperate farmers who do not even live in the towns.
"Drought affected farmers need the Bracks Government to re-instate the state based drought assistance package it axed after the 2002 election."
Mr Davis said it was imperative for the survival of country communities that farmers receive cash grants.
"Rate subsidies are no substitute for cash grants," he said.
"It should be up to the farmers themselves to sort out which bill is more important to pay.
"Direct help for the farms will benefit the wider communities indirectly.
"Local businesses are suffering because farmers are suffering.
"Without this assistance, farmers and their communities will disappear completely."
Mr Davis said the Bracks Government had the mechanism to deliver direct cash grants, but was simply refusing to do so.
"The Bracks Government introduced a state based drought assistance cash grants program prior to the 2002 election, but wasted no time in axing it straight after the election," he said.
"The program was cancelled so quickly that less than 10 per cent of Victoria’s drought affected farmers qualified and received the assistance.
"The process is already in place to re-instate this cash grants scheme."
Mr Davis said it was time the Bracks Government stopped avoiding its responsibility to country Victoria.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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