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Peri Urban Councils Victoria welcomes recommendation for state funding to support rapidly growing communities

Peri Urban Councils Victoria welcomes a parliamentary inquiry recommendation for state funding to support rapidly growing communities, addressing infrastructure needs and housing demands in peri urban areas facing financial challenges.

By news@gippsland - 29th November 2024 - Back to News

Labor has failed to prioritise the cost-of-living crisis and supermarket prices, hurting both families and farmers on the final sitting day of Parliament, by ramming through its supermarket legislation in a bungled Bill. Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said Labor's bad Bill wasn't in isolation of just supermarkets. "Labor has treated our families and farmers with disdain and contempt," Mr Littleproud said.

A parliamentary inquiry recommends the state government establish funds to support fast-growing peri-urban communities facing financial challenges due to rapid population growth

Labor's price farce

Mr Littleproud said."Labor hasn't given the critical issue of supermarket price gouging and its impact on families and farmers the respect it deserves. Labor is out of touch and has shoved the legislation in with a bunch of other issues and acted as if it is simply business as usual. It will not do one thing to fix supermarket prices."

The Treasury Laws Amendment (Fairer for Families and Farmers and Other Measures) Bill 2024 states it is 'A Bill for an act to amend the law relating to the cessation of the registries modernisation program, information and safety standards, Housing Australia, industry codes, taxation, corporations, financial services and foreign acquisition and takeovers, and for other purposes'.

"Labor didn't consult with farmers and didn't make fair supermarket prices for families and farmers a priority. This Bill is messy and incompetent. Labor has made a mess of the single most important issue in Australia right now. It is a complete farce and incredibly disappointing for families in the lead-up to Christmas," he said.

Labor fails farmers

Mr Littleproud added, "The Coalition called for the Code to be made mandatory with significant penalties in late 2022 and then for a price inquiry into the disparities between farmgate and retail pricing at Australia's major supermarkets. If Labor had taken our advice when the Coalition began calling for changes, families could have seen action earlier."

"Labor ignored the urgency and then took 100 days to appoint Reviewer Craig Emerson, after a review into the Food and Grocery Code of Conduct was meant to begin. Labor's infringement notice penalties are just $187,700 and most penalties will be just over $1 million. Labor has failed families and failed farmers on the day it mattered most," he concluded.

Pictures from Peri Urban Councils Victoria Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com