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Agricultural Education - Bracks Latest Victim

Agricultural education is the latest victim of the Bracks Government’s campaign against country Victoria, Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said today.

By Philip Davis - 8th June 2005 - Back to News

Education Minister Lynne Kosky and Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron’s failure to take action to secure the future of agricultural education at Melbourne University’s rural campuses was just another kick in the guts for country Victoria.

Mr Davis said the Bracks Government decided instead to sit on their hands and watch yet another country institution disappear.

He said the imminent closure of the McMillan, Glenormiston and Longrenong campuses of Melbourne University and the transfer of courses to other service providers was devastating for Victoria’s primary industries.

"Agriculture is the engine room of this state’s economy and the life blood of country towns – our 37,000 farmers produce $15 billion of food and fibre every year," Mr Davis said.

"For the Bracks Government to sit back and watch this vital education and training structure disappear without a fight is pathetic.

"The Education Minister was given more than six months to secure the future of Melbourne University’s rural campuses in country Victoria and as for the Agriculture Minister – his silence has been deafening."

Mr Davis said country Victoria was completely fed up with the Bracks Government’s hateful campaign against country Victoria.

"The Bracks Government has ripped the heart and soul out of country Victoria during the past couple of years," he said.

"We have had the 170 year heritage of the mountain cattlemen destroyed, wind farms and toxic waste dumps have been approved in communities who do not want them and more than 20 country towns are still waiting to be connected to reticulated natural gas.

"Victoria’s timber industry has been desecrated, farmers and small businesses have been strangled in red tape and regulations and public land has been over-run with weeds and feral animals.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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