LABOR/GREENS ALIANCE A THREAT TO NORTH EAST VICTORIA

01-September-2010

Sophie Mirabella – Federal Member for Indi has warned that the formal Coalition between the Labor Party and the Greens is a potential disaster for North East Victoria and regional Australia.
“The people of Indi have every right to be concerned about this deal between Labor and the Greens,” said Mrs Mirabella.
“We are now looking at a choice between a Liberal/National Coalition who are committed to regional Australia and a Labor/Greens coalition who are committed to a carbon tax, an increased mining tax and the destruction of the irrigation and agricultural industry as we know it.
“What we have seen today is the Greens taking control of Labor policy. They have already scrapped Labor’s environmental policy and we know that they want to impose a huge carbon tax which will directly damage our local agricultural industry. The Greens want to end fishing in many marine areas, they want to impose death duties, they want an open door policy on boat arrivals and they want to stop irrigation in the Murray Darling Basin.
Mrs Mirabella also pointed to the lack of regional representation in the Labor Party.
“As it currently stands, the Liberal/National Coalition is the only party that truly represents regional areas. The Coalition’s shadow cabinet has strong representation from regional electorates including myself, Labor’s cabinet has none.
“To make matters worse, Labor cut $1 billion from regional programs in its first budget.
“The Labor/Greens Coalition may make some inner city dwellers feel warm and fuzzy, but their investments are at risk, as is the long term viability of rural and regional Australia,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.