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The nineteen Labor members of the Legislative Council, including Gavin Jennings, Bob Smith and Adem Somyurek who represent Cranbourne in the Upper House, have voted against the establishment of a multi-million fund for Brookland Greens residents and an open and independent public enquiry.

In a close vote in the Victorian Parliament, the Legislative Council voted 21-19 to accept the Notice of Motion presented by Inga Peulich MLC.

Inga Peulich, State Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Communities, slammed the Labor Party for voting against the motion at the detriment of affected Brookland Greens residents.

“This Notice of Motion was a grand opportunity for the government to provide the Brookland Greens residents with what their government has to say on this issue that has turned their lives upside down,” Ms Peulich told State Parliament.

“They had the opportunity to hear from the key ministers, from the Treasurer, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change, who also represents the South Eastern Metropolitan Region and the Minister for Planning. They failed to speak.”

“If indeed the Brumby Brigade were in the military they would be court marshalled for being AWOL from their jobs and their duties,” Ms Peulich said.

“This government knows that the Ombudsman enquiry which is not obliged to be tabled in State Parliament, which is not obliged to be made public and of which there will be no public hearings of which transcripts will be made public, is inadequate for the purpose of this crisis,” Ms Peulich told State Parliament.

“The Brumby Government have gone to ground whilst trying to blame others and they have prayed to god that the issue will just simply disappear.”

“The Slater and Gordon class action is likely to take 12 months to 2 years or more and so affected residents will be waiting a long time for any compensation unless the Brumby Labor Government finds a political back bone to actually support this motion.”

Speaking after the vote Ms Peulich said that it was very sad that local Labor MLCs have voted against the establishment or a regime to respond to this man made disaster and to provide the appropriate level of support and certainly for affected residents.

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