Rudd abolishes connection between Canberra and North-East Victoria

07-March-2009

The Rudd Labor Government’s snap decision to shut down its network of regional development agencies by June 30 2009 will have major consequences for local rural and regional communities such as the North-East, Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Liberal member for Indi said today.

“Labor’s plan to close the Federal Government’s Area Consultative committee (ACC) means the Rudd Government will longer have a direct role in regional development. Mr Rudd is essentially throwing away his ties with rural regions like North-East Victoria.”

“This is another example of Labor’s disinterest in matters beyond the suburbs of capital cities. City centric Labor State Government’s have proven this time and time again with neglect of farmers, infrastructure and services in the bush and their plan to rob the North-East of our vital water resources,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“What is alarming is that under Kevin Rudd’s plan the replacement bodies to ACCs will now be controlled by State Government agencies. Federal Labor is just giving their State Labor mates more power to neglect the bush.”

“The Coalition’s ACCs and the Liberal Government’s Regional Partnerships Program provided a strong link and significant funds to North-East Victoria. They identified worthy local projects that required additional Federal Government assistance which would benefit rural communities and rural infrastructure,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“The onus is now on the Victorian Labor Government to follow the lead of their NSW counterparts. Labor must provide job security for local ACC staff who time and time again have demonstrated their strong commitment to regional Victoria.”

“Staff were told there would be a transition to the new system. There has been no transition and no discussion and no thanks for the job they’ve done. We need their years of experience to stay within the system,” Mrs Mirabella said.

“Kevin Rudd has been calling on the private sector to maintain their staff throughout the uncertain economic times, and now his own Government is preparing to axe important position in rural and regional Australia. It is just unfair Labor hypocrisy.”

“It’s also a shame that all those community volunteers who chaired the ACCs and their volunteer boards have not been thanked or acknowledged. This embarrassing thoughtlessness illustrates what Federal Labor Ministers think of us,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.