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Labor Forces Market Move, But With No Melbourne Market Authority tenants will receive no compensation from the Bracks Government to assist in their forced relocation from Footscray to Epping. By Philip Davis - 13th May 2005 - Back to News Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said Agriculture Minister Bob Cameron had kept stakeholders in the dark over the issue of compensation, but today the cat was let out of the bag.
"I was extremely disappointed that today under questioning at the Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearings on the State Budget, the Minister for Agriculture Bob Cameron confirmed that no financial consideration for the Melbourne Market’s existing tenants will be offered," Mr Davis said.
"These tenants have no choice whether to move, they are being forced and will receive no compensation.
"It was made clear in the State Budget papers that the forced relocation to the proposed new market site at Epping is to make way for the Port of Melbourne development."
Mr Davis said it was now obvious why there was only minimal information about the relocation in the State Budget papers.
"Market tenants have made clear their preference to stay at Footscray," he said.
"The president of the Victorian Vegetable Growers Association, Luis Gazzola has estimated it would cost between $60 million and $100 million for the current tenants to relocate to the new site.
"Today Bob Cameron failed to demonstrate any sympathy for the small family businesses who trade out of the Footscray market and who have individually invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in infrastructure.
"How are these businesses expected to come up with the money needed for such a huge relocation?
"Today’s revelation will devastate growers, wholesalers, retailers and transport operators who have done nothing but fully co-operate with the Bracks Government during this process.
"It is now obvious that their co-operation has been rewarded by the Bracks Government with secrecy and deception."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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