Victorian communities are set to suffer even more pain and hardship with the divisive and destructive Water Amendment Bill passing the House of Representatives in Canberra.
In a Federal vote, Labor, Greens and a regional independentvoted to support the Albanese Government's destructive buyback bill.
The vote threatens to increase the price of groceries and destroy regional communities.
The bill passed the House with the support of 22Labor Victorian MPs, oneGreens, and three independents. It is now one step closer to becoming law, with a Senate vote looming.
Shadow Minister for Water, Tim McCurdy, said that it was clear Labor, Greens and Independent Victorian MPs are more interested in toeing the party line and appeasing inner city environmentalists than supporting regional communities.
"This bill will destroy regional communities regardless of where buybacks come from," Mr McCurdy said.
"Federal Labor has ripped up the old basin agreement and completely ignored the social and economic neutrality test, something put in place to protect communities.
"The Victorian Labor Government opposes them, yet Labor's Federal MPs are teaming up with the Greens and independents to stab hard working Victorian communities in the back."
Mr McCurdy found it perplexing that some MPs spoke about the harm of buybacks and then supported them in the vote.
"You can't claim to support these communities and then turn around and show a disgraceful lack of respect to them when it really matters," Mr McCurdy said.
"The Liberals and Nationals oppose these buybacks, and value the input of our communities, which is whyIwill be going to the impacted communities and hearing directly from them.
"Unlike the MPs who betrayed our regional communities I can guarantee I will listen and fight for you when it matters the most."
