Thursday 30 November 2017
Background
The Premier and Agriculture Minister today continued to refuse to answer questions in Parliament on Labor’s reported Northcote by-election preference deal with the Animal Justice Party.
AJP Northcote candidate Nina Lenk has said AJP preferenced Labor ahead of the Greens in Northcote “because they were offering us a Victorian welfare group for animals” and “$500 000 for animal organisations and community organisations”.
AJP’s policies include ending livestock farming for a “long-term total transition to plant-based agriculture” and urge the withdrawal of Government support for animal product industries.
Jaala Pulford continues to evade questions on her decision to announce a new public sector group Animal Welfare Victoria and $500 000 of grants on the same day early voting opened for the Northcote by-election.
The Liberal Nationals’ questions have gone unanswered in Parliament this week including:
- What stakeholders did she consult with before making the decision to form Animal Welfare Victoria?
- Why didn’t she consult the Victorian Farmers Federation the Australian Veterinary Association or even the RSPCA?
- Was the Minister aware that her decision to form Animal Welfare Victoria and commit $500 000 worth of grants would result in the Animal Justice Party preferencing Labor ahead of The Greens at the Northcote by-election?
- Why didn’t the Minister inform the Livestock Industry Consultative Committee of her decision to form Animal Welfare Victoria which met with Chief Veterinary Officer Charles Milne four days before AWV was announced?
Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh
Daniel Andrews and Jaala Pulford have serious questions to answer on this alleged cash for votes deal with the AJP ahead of the Northcote by-election.
Daniel Andrews is proving time and time again he is the Premier for Melbourne and will sell out regional Victorians at any cost.