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Bracks Plays Catch-Up 12 Months From Election

The 12 month count-down to the 2006 State Election has begun and the Bracks Government is playing catch-up in an attempt to save face with country Victorians.

By Philip Davis - 28th November 2005 - Back to News

The 12 month count-down to the 2006 State Election has begun and the Bracks Government is playing catch-up in an attempt to save face with country Victorians.

Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said that the Bracks Government is now desperately trying to rekindle its relationship with country Victoria because it has realised it has some serious ground to make up after six years of mismanagement and broken promises.

"It is no coincidence that this month the Bracks Government released its provincial statement throwing a wad of cash at country Victoria," he said.

"Although the Liberal Party welcomes this funding which will go towards some worthwhile projects, it’s a shame it has taken Steve Bracks two terms in government to recognise this.

"If that wasn’t enough, the Bracks Government has launched a taxpayer funded $9 million advertising campaign, blatantly promoting itself to country Victorians."

Mr Davis said that Labor’s Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron, or the ‘Phantom’ as he is known to farmers, had also come out of hiding last week as the 12 month election campaign began.

"The Phantom Minister has found a renewed enthusiasm for his portfolio, issuing eight media releases in just one week," Mr Davis said.

"Compare this to the same time last year, when Bob Cameron only made 10 announcements for the entire month of November."

Mr Davis said that the people of country Victoria remember Steve Bracks’ broken promises and won’t be fooled by this strategic renewed enthusiasm.

"No matter how many media releases are issued or how much taxpayers’ money is wasted by the Bracks Government on propaganda, country Victorians will not forget how Labor has neglected their needs for the past six years," he said.

"At the 2006 State Election, country Victorians will remember the toxic waste scourge the Bracks Government placed on Dutson Downs, Pittong, Violet Town, Ouyen and now Mildura; the unwanted wind farms blighting the landscape; the mountain cattlemen dumped from the High Country; decimated timber communities; the "Farce Rail"; feral animals and weeds plaguing Crown Land and the never-ending red-tape the Bracks Government has wrapped around primary producers.

"Announcing a Clayton’s aerial baiting trial three years after wild dogs started decimating the sheep industry will not fool anyone.

"Country Victorians have long memories – 12 months of propaganda will not erase six years of Bracks Government damage."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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