Labor still failing to consult regional industry

Daniel Andrews has snubbed the views of Victorian farmers by failing to consult with Victoria’s livestock and intensive industries before establishing Animal Welfare Victoria, says Coalition Deputy Leader Peter Walsh.

Animal Welfare Victoria was announced under the cover of darkness, without consultation with Victoria’s peak farmer group, the Victorian Farmers Federation or the Livestock Industry Consultative Committee (LICC).

LICC was established to provide advice to government on livestock industry issues and even though they met days before the announcement, were not consulted.

The VFF described the move as “bowing to an activist agenda”.

The Andrews Government provided little information on how the new body would operate.

Comments from Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh

Daniel Andrews is taking desperate steps to win over greens voters in Northcote, at the expense of our regional industries.

It’s incredibly sloppy of the Government to be surprising major stakeholders like the VFF with announcements like this.

Our farmers and regional communities have had a gutful of Melbourne-centric Labor putting city votes ahead of our regional industries.

Comments from Member for Northern Victoria Luke O’Sullivan

Labor’s trying to out-green The Greens in Northcote, putting our farmers and country communities last in the process.

Our farmers are experts in animal welfare – their livelihoods depend on it.

Animal Welfare Victoria appears to be nothing more than another barnacle clinging to Labor’s bloated public sector with no real benefit to farmers.

Please download this press release as a PDF