Premier Ben Carroll and key Labor ministers won’t attend a panel and debate with small businesses on Wednesday about the state’s horrifying firebombings and retail crime wave, leaving no current government representative open to questions.
Four Labor ministers have refused to appear at a political panel and debate to discuss the state’s disastrous retail crime wave.
Almost 200 small business owners will on Wednesday gather in Melbourne to express their growing concerns over the rise of retail theft, armed robberies and firebombings.
The event, which has been locked in for months, was set to be presented as a panel and discussion between traders and the Labor and Liberal governments.
But four senior Labor ministers have declined to participate in the debate, leaving no current government representative open to questions.
Small business owners have now accused Labor of abandoning them.
“We’re extremely disappointed,” Piedimonte’s IGA owner, Joseph, told the Herald Sun.
“I was keen to listen to both sides and to hear what their policies are going to be.”
Foodworks owner Travis Price said it showed a lack of “respect”.
“It’s always good to have support of either side, for them to listen to the voice of retailers and hear what’s going on,” he said.
“When you don’t have that respect shown … is probably pretty disappointing.”
Master Grocers Australia (MGA), who are hosting the forum to allow their members to engage with leaders of the state, first invited Premier Ben Carroll on August 19 but he is unavailable.
MGA chief executive Martin Stirling said his members were travelling from all parts of the state to speak to the current government.
“They would feel like it’s a slap in the face,” he said.
“They’ll be spending hours of travel time to get to Melbourne, and the government has been unable to find a minister that can attend for one hour.
“They are going to be profoundly disappointed.”
