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Labor Bows To Liberal Pressure On Pipeline ProjectThe Bracks Government has bowed to pressure from the Liberal Party to fund its share of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline project. By Philip Davis - 28th November 2005 - Back to News The Bracks Government has bowed to pressure from the Liberal Party to fund its share of the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline project.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said he was pleased the Bracks Government had finally seen the error of its ways and reaffirmed its commitment to the project – after pressure from the Liberal Party.
"The Bracks Government has changed its mind so many times on whether it would fund a third of the project, that it was becoming tedious," Mr Davis said.
"Labor’s attempts this week to include money already spent at Cannie Ridge and Patchewollock sections of the pipeline in its $167 million share of the project was simply ridiculous.
"While it is embarrassing for the Bracks Government to be forced into this back down, the move is welcome as the Liberal Party recognises that politics needs to be put aside and the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline project completed."
Mr Davis said Premier Steve Bracks’ habit of changing his mind about funding allocations was jeopardising the Commonwealth Government’s funding commitment.
"Meanwhile, millions of litres of water are being lost through the current inefficient water system," Mr Davis said.
"I hope this latest Bracks-flip will be the last. Country Victorians are sick of Labor’s inability to manage projects and continual list of broken promises.
"Quite frankly, the Wimmera-Mallee community has had a gut-full of the Bracks Government and its ongoing failure to give this project its full support.
"It is also a strange coincidence that Labor’s Environment Minister John Thwaites announced this backflip exactly 12 months out from the 2006 Election.
"I just hope this is not another commitment that the Bracks Government doesn’t plan on keeping.
"So far, Labor’s promises to country Victoria have not been worth the paper they were written on.
"The Wimmera-Mallee community has been battling this issue for too long.
"They deserve to have this issue resolved and work on the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline to begin immediately."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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