Labor’s Minister for Regional and Rural Development Jacinta Allan has failed to secure regional Victorians an invite to John Brumby’s roundtable discussions on Labor’s unfair liquor licensing fee increases, Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development and Leader of The Nationals Peter Ryan said today.
“Our pubs and clubs are a big part of the small business sector in country Victoria but the Minister is oblivious to their plight,” Mr Ryan said.
“Many pubs and clubs in regional Victoria are hurting because of John Brumby’s unfair liquor licensing fees.
“Now John Brumby has invited stakeholders representing inner-city venues to a meeting with Labor ministers this Wednesday, but regional publicans appear to have been overlooked.
“Jacinta Allan and her city-centric Brumby Labor Government clearly don’t care about the disastrous effect of its liquor licensing fee hike in regional Victoria.
“It is inexcusable that regional publicans are not part of upcoming liquor licensing discussions with the Brumby Government.”
Mr Ryan said there was growing resentment in Victoria about Labor’s massive fee hike and that angry and frustrated publicans and local communities had rejected outright Labor’s tax grab, which was more focused on raising revenue than dealing with alcohol-related violence.
“Regional publicans, general stores and businesses are bearing the brunt of Labor’s incompetence in liquor licensing which in some cases has seen fees rise by more than 1,000 per cent,” Mr Ryan said.
“Since Labor first signalled its unjustifiable fee hike, Jacinta Allan and John Brumby have ignored pleas by country pubs and clubs to rethink its new laws.
Mr Ryan said Labor was letting down regional Victorians time and time again.
“Just last week, it was revealed Labor has still not delivered its Blueprint for Regional Growth, despite it being promised for 2009,” Mr Ryan said.
“The Minister for Regional and Rural Development should start standing up for regional Victorians to ensure their needs are a priority.”
Media contact: Sonia Heath (03) 9651 8526
