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Theophanous’ Promise To Connect 34 Towns Is A Real GasEnergy Minister Theo Theophanous’ commitment in Parliament to connect 34 Victorian towns to natural gas in the next 466 days is destined to become yet another Labor broken promise, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said today. By Philip Davis - 22nd August 2005 - Back to News The Minister’s commitment was in reaction to Mr Davis’ question in Parliament yesterday as to whether the latest 34 towns promised natural gas by the Bracks Government would have gas connected to their homes before the deadline of 27 November 2006.
Mr Davis asked Theo Theophanous in Parliament: "I refer to the Energy for the Future – Labor’s Plan for Energy and Minerals, which was posted on the Labor website on 22 November 2002."
"The policy states … the Bracks Government will provide $70 million over the next four years to expand the reticulation of natural gas to regional and rural Victoria.
"With 994 days having elapsed since the policy was published and with 466 days remaining to honour the promise, which of the 34 towns that have been recently promised gas connections will in fact be connected in the remaining 466 days?" (Hansard, 18 August 2005)
Mr Davis said despite Theo Theophanous’ comment that "all 34 towns will be delivered," this was simply unbelievable.
He said the people of Victoria would not be lured in to believing the Bracks Government was capable of connecting 34 towns to the gas pipeline in just 466 days, given they have done nothing about their commitment for nearly three years.
"This Government has wasted almost 1000 days talking about connecting Victorian homes to natural gas, what makes the Minister think that Victorians would be stupid enough to believe 34 towns will be connected in just over a year?" Mr Davis said.
"The Liberal Party will hold the Minister to account for his commitment, but I’m sure the communities of Avoca, Wandong and Terang will attest to the fact that Bracks Government commitments are worthless.
"As the clock ticks away, it is an unfortunate reality that we will watch more and more communities throughout Victoria disappointed that the Bracks Government was cocky enough to commit to more than it could handle.
"Others will come to the realisation that their natural gas promises were mere electioneering and there was no basis for them at all."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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