Liberal and National MPs should call on the Premier to create a jobs plan for regional Victoria, Shadow Minister for Regional Victoria, Jacinta Allan said today.
“The Baillieu Government has failed all regional Victorians with its inaction over the closure of SPC Ardmona’s Mooroopna plant and the loss of 150 jobs,” Ms Allan said.
“What’s more, it’s outrageous that National and Liberal Party MPs have refused to stand up for families in regional Victoria by demanding Mr Baillieu put together a plan to protect and create regional jobs.
“The announcement by SPC Ardmona had been coming for weeks. Why haven't local members and Baillieu Government Ministers, Wendy Lovell and Jeanette Powell been banging down the Premier’s door demanding he provides a jobs plan for their community?
"The regional Liberal and National MPs have been missing in action at a time when they should be standing front and centre fighting for regional jobs and families.
"These MPs should be demanding that the Baillieu Government stop dithering on job creation for regional Victoria. This is much needed in towns like Shepparton which is reeling from the latest blow with SPC Ardmona’s Mooroopna plant closure.”
Ms Allan said workers needed to know where the new jobs would be coming from but unfortunately they don’t because of the dithering Baillieu Government.
“It is very clear regional Liberal and National party’s members have become city-centric and have lost touch with the importance of creating jobs for regional Victorian families,” Ms Allan said.
“The fact is the Baillieu Government doesn’t have a jobs plan for Victorian families and he doesn’t have a Minister dedicated to protecting and creating jobs in regional Victoria.
"If it did Mr Baillieu would be telling the community what action they had taken to attract new business to Mooroopna.
Ms Allan said Labor understood the importance of regional Victoria.
“Labor invested billions of dollars in regional Victoria restoring health, education and community services creating thousands of jobs,” she said.
“The Baillieu Liberal National Government prefers to dither and do nothing than produce a jobs plan that provides security for regional Victorian families.”