14th September 2016
Member’s Statement – Dairy industry
Mr WALSH (Murray Plains) – The Andrews government is blatantly discriminating against dairy farming families in my electorate of Murray Plains who choose to send their children to their nearest denominational school of choice in this case Moama Anglican Grammar School. These families are eligible for the Victorian school bus program to go to Moama Anglican Grammar but they are being excluded from the dairy farming excursions grant program.
The effects that the huge drop in milk prices had on dairy farming families is well documented. Part of the Victorian government support package for dairy farming families is a school camp and excursion grant of $375 for students from dairy farming families enrolled at the start of term 3 2016 in government and non-government schools. Any reasonable person would think that all dairy farming families in my electorate would qualify but they do not because as I said dairy farming families from my electorate who choose to send their children to Moama Anglican Grammar are excluded. If they went to St Joseph’s College or River City Christian College on the Victorian side of the Murray they would qualify but because Moama Anglican Grammar is on the New South Wales side of the border they are discriminated against. I call on the Premier to end this blatant discrimination against some dairy farming families in my electorate.