The Nationals’ Melina Bath has called on Labor to issue an apology to Mr Ben Dennis, owner of Saltwater Phillip Island in state parliament after displaying an appalling lack of respect.
She also called on the Minister for Ports and Freight, Hon Melissa Horne to commit to upgrading and reopening the Newhaven Jetty.
Ms Bath’s request follows the release of a new freedom of information (FOI) document which reveals the Minister’s office instructed Parks Victoria’s CEO Office to “not have any substantive contact” with Mr Dennis, after he wrote to her and the Member for Bass.
“The callous lack of regard and courtesy shown to Mr Dennis is evidence of a government mired in debt, wilfully ignoring its responsibilities.
“After getting the green light from government and investing his life savings to develop a restaurant abutting the jetty – you can understand Mr Dennis’ despair and frustration over its sudden closure.
“The newly released document is further proof Labor doesn’t care about small businesses, tourism or the wider Bass Coast community.”
Ms Bath’s motion went on to condemn the Allan Government for ordering the permanent closure of the Newhaven Jetty after denying a Parks Victoria 2024 budget funding submission for its upgrade.
“Closing the jetty and refusing to discuss a pathway for its reopening, the Minister is content to leave the structure as a sad legacy as in her words ‘because dismantling the pier comes at cost.’
“Labor’s mismanaged billion-dollar infrastructure projects continues to strip money away from the regions – regional Victoria received a mere 13 per cent of the infrastructure spend in the latest state budget under Labor despite being 25 per cent of the population.
“Labor must engage with the community, determine a pathway and reopen the Newhaven Jetty.”
