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Terang - Latest Country Community To Lose Out On Labor GasThe Bracks Government has devastated yet another country Victorian community, breaking its commitment to deliver reticulated natural gas to Terang. By Philip Davis - 29th July 2005 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said the residents of Terang were promised prior to the 2002 Election that the Bracks Government would connect them to natural gas.
But during a visit to the region this week, Labor’s Minister for State and Regional Development John Brumby, who announced Terang’s natural gas promise back in 2002, broke the news the Bracks Government has backflipped on its promise.
"John Brumby delivered the bad news to the Terang community this week, stating the gas program had been committed and that it did not include Terang," Mr Davis said.
"John Brumby’s assurances that Terang may be a future candidate is cold comfort for families currently paying exorbitant prices to heat their homes through LPG and electricity this winter.
"It is now obvious his promise was full of hot air and merely a pre-election publicity stunt."
Mr Davis said John Brumby travelled throughout country Victoria in the lead-up to the 2002 Election, promising reticulated natural gas to small communities if the Bracks Government won the election.
"He was promising gas left, right and centre," he said.
"But now, we have been able to gauge the real value of the Labor’s promises, because three towns have this year been informed they will not receive their promised gas.
"This program was supposed to involve $70 million spent over four years to connect country Victoria to natural gas, but three years down the track, not one town has been connected and no new gas is flowing."
Mr Davis said John Brumby’s comment to the Warrnambool Standard this week that the "program is essentially committed" was also of concern. (26/07/05 p.5)
"Does this mean those communities who have heard nothing about their natural gas connection since it was promised in 2002 can also kiss the Bracks Government’s commitment goodbye?" he said.
"Country Victorians deserve better than John Brumby’s empty promises and inaction."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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