28 May 2008

MERCILESS GOVERNMENT CRUSHING COMMUNITY COMMENT

The State Government is showing a disturbing inclination towards silencing the rights of community to protest against Government decisions, according to Eastern Victoria MP, Peter Hall.

The Nationals’ MP, speaking in Parliament this week after the Government decided to pursue legal costs against a group opposed to the Wonthaggi desalination project, said the government wants to intimidate community groups that challenge government planning decisions.

“Local action group ‘Your Water Your Say’ challenged the actions of the state and federal governments in allowing a pilot desalination plant to proceed before any inquiry was held into the environmental effects of that plant,” Mr Hall said. “The court has heard the matter and at this stage ruled against the community group.

“Now, though, the State Government is hell-bent on pursuing costs incurred for the court hearings from the Your Water Your Say group. If successful it will effectively bankrupt that group and in the broader context sends a message to similar groups, ‘don’t you dare voice your opinion’.”

In Parliament, Mr Hall asked the question: “Is the pursuit of costs against community groups to become a common practice by the Brumby government, which seems obsessed in bludgeoning anyone who dares to hold an opposing view?

“By pursuing costs against this group, the government is effectively intimidating every community group that dares to challenge a government planning decision.”

Mr Hall added later that the State ALP was demonstrating total disregard for the rights of country people.

“The desalination plant was imposed on the people of Bass Coast without any warning, let alone prior consultation, and when people decide to take up their right to protest they are pursued by a merciless government. The Your Water Your Say group has taken the fight up to the Government, not least because other levels of government have been effectively silenced as well, and now that community group is facing bankruptcy.

“Is it the role of the Brumby Government to so mercilessly extract its pound of flesh from community opposition? The message is clear; don’t challenge us, or we will use our power and taxpayer funded resources as a Government to crush you. This is a shameful exercise by the State ALP Government.”

Media contact:                  Peter Hall      (03) 5174 7066   or 0427 747 066