Moira Shire Council promised $1M by federal government
A million-dollar relief package promised to a drought-ravaged shire has been stripped away from the community less than a month after it was announced by the local MP.
VIC News
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A drought-ravaged shire in the state’s north that was promised $1M as part of a relief package has been left high and dry after a miscommunication between the Water Minister and the local MP.
Member for Nicholls, Nationals MP Damian Drum mistakenly announced the Moira Shire would be granted the funds.
Mr Drum told the Herald Sun he thought the deal was done when he announced it on October 31 but but yesterday conceded there was no deal.
“As of right now, it’s not the case that Moira has been included,” he said.
“We were expecting a little bit of ministerial discretion.
“I had thought it was official.
“I should have kept my mouth shut at the press conference.”
Despite the setback, Mr Drum vowed to keep fighting the money and hoped it could secure it by year’s end.
Mr Drum believed Water Resources Minister David Littleproud — a fellow member of the Nationals — would be able to use ministerial discretion to release funds to Moira, situated on the Murray.
The shire’s agricultural employment rate of 16.9 per cent fell just short of the 17 per cent required.
“I have informed Moira Shire that they are going to be included in this drought assistance package,” he had said at the time.
“There is an opportunity for Minister’s discretion and David (Littleproud) has used that. We have to put this through in a proper way and that is happening right now.”
Mr Littleproud could not be contacted yesterday.
Opposition Regional Development Minister Catherine King said more needed to be done to get the drought funding right.
“Scott Morrison has let the Nationals take control of the so-called drought stimulus package and they have simply not done the work,” she said.
“Australians are rightly asking how can we trust Nationals ministers to administer millions of dollars in so-called drought stimulus when they can’t get the basics right?”
Moira Shire Mayor Libro Mustica remained hopeful the funding would be made available eventually.
“It has been frustrating,” he told the Herald Sun.
“It would be nice to know.
“You can’t announce something and then not do it.
“I’d be very disappointed if it didn’t come our way.”
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The foodbowl community situated on the Murray River had been hard affected by the dry conditions.
“I drive up and down the roads every day and all you see is just arid, dry,” Mr Mustica said.
“It’s brown as far as the eyes can see.”