Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe yesterday slammed the Government in Parliament over it’s out of touch attitude towards the Gippsland community and making false and misleading claims.
Mr Northe addressed the Brumby Government’s incompetence due to recent misleading information which was given to the public in regards to Public Housing and Transport.
“In a media release dated 17 February from the Minister for Housing; the Minister confidently claimed that Gippsland had experienced a 5 percent reduction in its public housing waiting list in December 2009 compared to that of September 2009.
“However, the Minister’s claims were totally inaccurate with the figure actually increasing by 5 percent.
“In September 2009, 1,377 people languished on public housing waiting lists in Gippsland and this figure has escalated to 1,446 people in December 2009.
“In fact, this has increased by 23 percent since December 2006 when 961 people were waiting for public housing.
“This reporting of so called ‘facts’ is just one example of the current Government’s mindset about regional communities.
“Similarly, for those within Latrobe City who are eligible for the public transport Sunday Pass there are a number of issues regarding access to free Sunday travel.
“As it stands eligible seniors, disability support pensioners and unpaid carers cannot access Sunday inter-town bus services in the townships on Moe, Morwell, Traralgon and Churchill for free.
“The Brumby Government, however, continues to mislead the Gippsland community by stating that certain zones within Latrobe City can be accessed for free on Sundays.
“One only has to view the Metlink website which also falsely claims Sunday Pass holders can access free bus services in Latrobe City on Sundays to realise that this Government has completely lost touch with the Gippsland Community.
Member for Eastern Victoria, Peter Hall had previously raised the issue in Parliament, and is still awaiting a response from the new Minister for Transport.
“We have been lobbying the Brumby Government for three years on this unfair and inequitable situation and it now appears the Government are either making up statements to appease the community or are completely unaware of the facts,” Mr Northe said.
“I don’t see how this Government can claim to support the Gippsland community when they can’t even get their facts right,” Mr Northe concluded.
Media contact: Russell Northe (03) 5133 9088
