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Liberals Support Horseback Rally To Parliament House

The Liberal Party is encouraging all country Victorians to get behind Country Voice and its campaign against the Bracks Government’s decision to ban alpine grazing.

By Philip Davis - 2nd June 2005 - Back to News

Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said Country Voice was formed by the mountain cattlemen and other country groups to fight the latest insult by the Bracks Government.

"Country people have had enough of being treated with contempt by the Bracks Government and the decision last week to abolish the 170 year mountain cattlemen tradition in the high country was the last straw," Mr Davis said.

"Already burdened in unbelievable red tape, unworkable child employment laws and under threat from such things as toxic waste dumps, country Victoria is now yelling enough is enough.

"I urge everyone who believes our Australian heritage should be preserved to support the rally on Thursday, 9 June on the steps of Parliament House.

"Mountain cattlemen and their horses will depart Olympic Park at 11am, making their way through the city to Parliament House.

"The cattlemen will be met at Parliament House by hundreds of farmers from throughout country Victoria and others, who have also been vilified by the city-centric Bracks Government on a number of issues."

Mr Davis said the that the Bracks Government’s grazing ban showed it has no respect for country Victoria or indeed its own promises.

In 2003 Environment Minister John Thwaites promised that alpine grazing licences would continue.

"Alpine grazing is a licensed activity and will continue as a licensed activity."

– John Thwaites, Hansard, 6 November 2003.

"Then, in yet another Bracks Government back-flip, with a mere stroke of a pen, these mountain cattlemen are being sent packing from the land they have grazed and cared for during the past 170 years.

"Country people have been put through the wringer for long enough by the Bracks Government.

"Those who have decided they will not stand for this Bracks bullying any more will be out in full force on 9 June, supporting Country Voice.

"Country Victorians will not be stampeded by the city-focused Bracks Government."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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