Denis Napthine will close a world-renowned facility dedicated to
improving the health of regional Victorians. 

The National Farmer Health Centre needed $1 million a year to stay
open, but Denis Napthine’s Budget abandoned it.

Peter Ryan and the Nationals didn’t stand up for the Centre. They care
more about their seats around the Cabinet table.

The Centre, established by the previous Labor Government, provided vital health services
and training to farmers, rural health and agricultural professionals.

Home to 25 per cent of Victoria’s population, regional Victoria will only receive 4 per cent of funds for major road, rail, school and hospital projects.

Quotes attributable to Ms Pulford: 

“This important health service will close and disgracefully Peter Ryan and the
Nationals did nothing to stop it.”

“The Nationals have once again proven that they only stand up for their own careers,
not their community.”

“You can’t trust the Liberals and Nationals with looking after the health of
regional Victorians.”

Key Facts 

• The National Centre for Farmer Health was set up by the previous Labor Government in 2008 with a $2.4 million grant, alongside $1 million from
  the Helen and Geoff Handbury Trust.
• The National Centre provides agricultural health services and training directly to farmers, and rural health and agricultural professionals.
• The National Centre houses the award winning Sustainable Farm Families program.
• In 2012, the Liberal National Government refused to provide ongoing funding for the National Centre. Since then it has survived on various university and philanthropic grants.
• This year’s budget papers confirm there would be no money to save the National Centre.
  • The Regional and Rural Victoria Budget Paper (p4) highlights that the Napthine Government will be spending just $1.2 billion on regional
    infrastructure out of a purported $27 billion – just 4 per cent.