Students in my electorate of Werribee will be served up Victorian milk from next year, under a new deal to boost the state’s struggling dairy industry and help support regional jobs.

The Andrews Labor Government has announced that Pactum Dairy Group in Shepparton will exclusively supply milk to the School Breakfast Clubs program from 2017.

School Breakfast Clubs provide a free breakfast to up to 25,000 children in 500 Victorian government primary schools most in need, setting children up to concentrate and learn so they can reach their full potential.

This includes several schools in the Werribee electorate:

• Wyndham Park Primary School
• Manorvale Primary School
• Woodville Primary School
• Warringa Park School
• Westgrove Primary School
• Werribee Primary School
• Thomas Chirnside Primary School
• Manor Lakes P-12 College

The new deal will see dairy farmers in the Murray Goulburn region supply around 400,000 litres of milk a year to the program, benefiting the 130 farms in the district who supply Pactum Dairy.

Mr Merlino also announced that from next year School Breakfast Clubs will also include 80 tonnes of Australian grown baked beans from SPC Ardmona in Shepparton each year, helping support local jobs and industry.

The Labor Government has partnered with Foodbank – the largest welfare food agency in Australia – to establish and lead the state-wide School Breakfast Clubs program, using their existing warehousing, storage and freight network.

The $13.7 million program is another example of the Labor Government building the Education State to ensure every child, regardless of their postcode, has access to a first-rate education.

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee, Tim Pallas

“Not only are students in my electorate of Werribee getting a healthy start to the day through the School Breakfast Clubs Program, we’re also helping support Victorian dairy farmers and local industry.”

“One in seven Victorian children arrive at school on an empty stomach affecting their ability to concentrate and learn.”

“The School Breakfast Clubs in my electorate of Werribee’s schools ensure that every student starts the day on a full stomach so they can concentrate and reach their full potential – by using Victorian dairy and food suppliers we can also help boost jobs and industry.”