Mond

Sunday, 22 October 2006

BRACKS’ DROUGHT SUPPORT IN PERSPECTIVE

Trimming $30 million of ‘bureaucratic fat’ with the proceeds to go to drought affected communities has been cautiously welcomed by Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.

Dr Sykes said, “Let’s put this $30 million in perspective. The Bracks Government gets $100 million per day in taxes; it is spending $170 million on self promotional advertising and it recently allocated $70 million to pipe water to Ballarat - water stolen from drought stricken farmers in Northern Victoria.

“Goulburn Valley irrigators and others are paying $35 million for the water they won’t receive and the cost of decommissioning Lake Mokoan has blown out to over $100 million with the Government failing to honour its core promise of maintaining current level of security of water at an acceptable cost.”

Dr Sykes continued, “It’s interesting that Mr Bracks has just identified $30 million of ‘bureaucratic fat’. For the past four years The Nationals have been highlighting hundreds of millions of dollars of Government excesses and incompetent financial management and over 18 months ago the Government’s own enquiry identified massive inefficiencies and excessive red tape.

“Mr Bracks needs to immediately put funding into projects such as:

• $20,000 cash grants to affected primary producers and other businesses directly impacted by the drought;

 • increasing financial services and welfare support in all affected communities;

 • creating new employment opportunities in affected areas by allocating a minimum of $1 – 2 million per Local Government area from GST revenue.”

Dr Sykes concluded, “The Bracks Government is still in ‘knee jerk reaction’ mode rather than implementing a considered massive injection of funds and support into drought affected areas.

“The Nationals are ready, willing and able to help develop and implement sound support programs.”

Media contact: Bill Sykes (03) 5762 2100 or 0427 624 989