Member for Western Victoria, Gayle Tierney is continuing to apply pressure on the Baillieu Government to immediately reinstate funding for the National Centre for Farmer Health.
In response to the Minister’s answer provided in the last Parliament sitting week Ms Tierney accused the Baillieu Government of passing the funding buck to the Federal Government.
“The Minister chose to be opportunistic by hanging the State Government’s hat on the word ‘national’ in the Centre’s title as an excuse for not funding this incredibly important Victorian rural initiative.
“The Minister’s answer demonstrated a clear lack of understanding of the work the centre does in Victoria with Victorian farming families,” Ms Tierney said.
“It’s clear that the Baillieu Government has no regard for the health and well-being of farmers, and no regard for the critical research and field work undertaken by the Centre
“Each and every member of the Baillieu Government who claims to care even a little bit about our farmers and our regions should hang their head in shame.
“For this government to claim it represents the best interests of rural and regional Victorians whilst cutting funding to the centre is an absolute disgrace,” Ms Tierney said.
A full transcript of the speech can be found on the Victorian Hansard website by visiting http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/hansard