NEXT month’s State Budget must deliver regional Victoria “our fair share”, including new hospitals, according to Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh.
Mr Walsh said the regions were demanding a fair share of the state’s spend on hospitals, schools, infrastructure and mental health in the lead-up to the May 3 Budget.
“Restoring the funding that Labor axed from regional development and agriculture in the past few years will also be crucial to ensure farmers and country communities aren’t left behind,” he said.
“While every Victorian taxpayer is wearing the cost of Labor’s $24 billion of blowouts on mismanaged major projects, regional Victorians are even worse off because city-centric Labor is denying us our fair share.
“Last year’s $191 million cut to road asset maintenance is putting lives at risk on dangerously rough roads, while upgrades and new services promised for regional public transport are still off in the never-never.
“Victorians are paying more with 40 new or increased taxes since Daniel Andrews was elected in 2014, but getting less, under Labor’s cruel cuts to regional development and agriculture.”
Mr Walsh said the 2022-23 Budget must deliver investment in rebuilding the mental health workforce; funds to upgrade schools and hospitals; the $5 million needed for planning work to fix the stalled Murray Basin Rail Project; funds to reverse cuts to community grants for biosecurity initiatives, and; new residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation beds for rural and regional communities.
“Creating new career opportunities that entice young people to stay and raise their family in regional Victoria will also be crucial to help the state recover and rebuild,” Mr Walsh said.
“Proper investment that delivers a fair share to communities outside of Melbourne will ensure all of Victoria thrives.”
Member for Mildura Ali Cupper, who represents Piangil, Robinvale, Manangatang, Sea Lake and Wycheproof constituents, said it was about capitalising on momentum after putting the electorate “back on the map after decades of neglect by the major parties”.
“The size of my electorate and the fact we’ve been ignored for so many years means that I have a much, much longer list of projects,” she said.
Ms Cupper said she wanted to build on her achievements in health, education and roads, but believes there’s also more investment required in rail, housing, farming, small business, community sport and recreation, tourism, and connectivity.
“I’ve brought stakeholders from across the electorate to the table with ministers and government representatives,” she said.
“The government has worked constructively with us across the board, so I hope the state budget reflects that engagement and understanding.”
