Daniel Andrews has turned his back on bushfire-affected farmers and the Victorians who generously transported hay to feed hungry livestock in East Gippsland and north east Victoria.
Under questioning in State Parliament today, Andrews failed to explain why his Labor Government has failed to allocate enough money to its promised fodder transport subsidy.
But Andrews did tell Parliament he will ensure “anyone who is owed any amount of money is paid”. The Premier will be held to account.
Community groups that generously delivered dozens of truckloads of hay to bushfire-affected farmers are now hundreds of thousands of dollars out of pocket.
The Heyfield Lions Club is owed $140,000 in transport subsidies, while the Timboon Lions Club was told they’re unlikely to see $300,000 for delivering 83 loads of hay to Corryong reimbursed.
It comes at a time when the Andrews Labor Government is searching for $4 billion in budget cuts.
Comment attributable to Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh
The bushfires destroyed pastures and without these fodder donations, farmers who managed to save their livestock instead would have watched them starve.
Community groups who generously donated time and trucks to take hay to farmers in north east Victoria and East Gippsland were promised government support.
Andrews must not turn his back on our farmers and the volunteers who supported them when they needed it most.
The Andrews Labor Government owes it to these community groups to properly fund this subsidy so our generous community groups aren’t left out of pocket.
