MEMBER for Murray Plains Peter Walsh claims the Victorian Government has “raided the pockets” of country families, farmers and small businesses to cover its “botched” economy.
The Victorian Nationals leader was scathing of last week’s state budget that he said robbed rural and regional Victorians.
He said close to $285 million was slashed from regional development – and a further $61.3 million from the agriculture budget.
“Cuts to biosecurity, no new money to fix our crumbling regional roads, and millions of dollars plundered from regional public transport to pay for trains in Melbourne is all we got from this completely metrocentric budget,” Mr Walsh said.
But Minister for Regional Development and Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas said the government was backing rural and regional Victorians with investments in schools, hospitals, roads and rail.
Locally, the budget inked the previous commitment of $18.7 million for construction of a new emergency department at Swan Hill District Health.
Under the mental health portfolio, the government will invest in Swan Hill through its statewide $17.4 million sub-regional follow-up care.
“Delivering care after a hospitalisation, these services will help make sure regional Victorians are no longer falling through the cracks,” the government said.
Ms Thomas said the budget provided almost $3.7 billion for regional initiatives.
“Some $129 million in regional development and agriculture investments will deliver local solutions to local problems, and advance a 10–year plan to strengthen agriculture in Victoria and the 77,000 jobs that it supports,” she said.
“We’re helping create jobs for people who experience barriers to employment while investing in local leadership to support recovery with $2 million for the successful community leadership program and $3 million in the Growing Regional Opportunities for Work (GROW) program.
“Regional Partnerships continue to play a critical role in helping develop opportunities and overcome challenges in our local communities.
“An investment of $5.1 million will further strengthen Regional Partnerships so they can continue to elevate regional voices, insights and issues.”
The Victorian Rural Women’s Network will also receive $1.4 million to continue to find “new and innovative ways to grow and improve their communities”.
The Rural Financial Counselling Service has also been bolstered with a $5.8 million investment.
