TRUSS TO TOUR GIPPSLAND AND LATROBE VALLEY
June 16, 2010
Federal Leader of The Nationals Warren Truss will meet with industry and community leaders during a two day tour of Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley next week.
Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has invited Mr Truss to visit Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Maffra and Sale in the lead up to the Federal election.
While in the Latrobe Valley, Mr Truss will meet with representatives from the power industry and inspect facilities at Australian Paper’s Maryvale Mill. In Bairnsdale and Sale he will meet with local small business people, followed by a tour of the Macalister Irrigation District to discuss opportunities to support future investment in irrigation infrastructure for the dairy industry.
“It’s a great opportunity for Warren to meet with local community representatives and gain a local perspective on key issues such as the Rudd-Gillard Government’s proposed Emissions Trading Scheme,” Mr Chester said.
“Under Warren’s leadership, The Nationals led the opposition against the scheme because it would be a job killer in regional areas like the Latrobe Valley.”
Mr Chester said he was also keen to drive the Princes Highway with Mr Truss to highlight the need for future Federal Government funding.
“As Shadow Minister for Transport, Warren has been a strong supporter of my efforts to secure additional funding for upgrades to the Princes Highway,” Mr Chester said.
“The Coalition made the first commitment of funding for duplication works between Traralgon and Sale which are currently under way.
“I’m supporting a community campaign for further works to begin between Sale and the New South Wales border. I will be personally highlighting the areas of concern while The Nationals leader is in our region.”
Mr Truss recently announced The Nationals support for a $600 million bridge funding program which was well received in Gippsland.
“Under the program we announced, local councils would have access to a specified pool of funding to upgrade bridges in Gippsland,” Mr Chester said.
“It is something that local shires have been campaigning for in recent years and if the Coalition is successful at the Federal election, I will be fighting to make sure that Gippsland gets its fair share of the funding.”
