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Cameron Rewards Himself With Farmer Funded JunketAfter a year of totally ignoring Victorian farmers and burying his head in the sand on important issues, Labor’s Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron is rewarding himself with an overseas junket. By Philip Davis - 12th December 2005 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said Bob Cameron’s upcoming 10 day trip to South-East Asia was a slap in the face for all taxpayers, but especially farmers, who were funding his trip.
"Bob Cameron will take an adviser with him to Malaysia, Bangkok and Thailand thanks to the public purse," Mr Davis said.
"Victorian farmers have every right to be irate about this junket, especially since Bob Cameron has taken no interest in his agriculture portfolio for the past three years.
"Farmers have been banging their heads against a brick wall trying to get through to Bob Cameron that they are battling serious issues affecting their livelihoods, but he has refused to listen.
"It beggars belief that Steve Bracks would approve such a junket for a Minister who is so inactive in his portfolio that he has become commonly known among farmers as the ‘Phantom’.
"Steve Bracks is effectively rewarding Bob Cameron’s contempt of farmers.
"The Bracks Government is renowned for wasting taxpayers’ money on junkets and self-promotional advertising but Victorians never see the benefits or results."
Mr Davis said while Bob Cameron was jet-setting at their expense, he could rest assured Victorian farmers would continue battling the locust plagues, losing stock in wild dog attacks, battle on through drought conditions and protect their livelihoods from pest animals. In other words, life would go on as usual.
"I hope Bob Cameron’s tax-payer funded holiday will re-charge his batteries and give him a renewed enthusiasm for his portfolio," Mr Davis said.
"Farmers are sick of Bob Cameron ignoring agricultural issues affecting Victoria.
"It is time he took a genuine interest in his portfolio or got out."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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