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Country Victoria Must Be Looked After In BudgetCountry Victoria missed out in the Labor Government’s transport policy released last week and is at risk of losing out in this year’s budget, Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said today. By Phillip Davis - 25th May 2006 - Back to News Mr Davis urged the Labor Government to take a closer look at the issues affecting country Victoria before handing down its budget on Tuesday.
He said the Labor Government was city-centric and had seriously neglected country Victoria in previous budgets.
"There are so many issues affecting country Victoria that the Labor Government has not acknowledged through the state budget," Mr Davis said.
"I sincerely hope that some of these issues will be addressed in Tuesday’s budget, because country Victorians are tired of being the poor cousins."
Mr Davis said issues such as ageing country road infrastructure, health and education were major concerns.
"Country schools need the funds to carry out urgent building repairs, some of which have been waiting for several years," he said.
"Country hospitals have been squeezed by a city-based Minister and bureaucracy – surgery waiting lists have blown out and some hospitals have been forced to close specialist wards such as obstetrics.
"The Labor Government has continually failed to meet the needs of dental health, with waiting lists in country Victoria are now a minimum of two years.
"Public transport services in country Victoria are abysmal, with the ‘farce rail’ fiasco drying up funding for other worthwhile rural projects.
"The Liberal Party certainly hopes that the Labor Government pays more attention in this budget to country policing, and addresses the severe shortfalls in staffing and equipment."
Mr Davis said the Labor Government notoriously ignored the needs of country road and bridge infrastructure, but he hoped these issues would not be neglected again this budget.
"I urge the Labor Government to adopt the Liberal Party’s policy and commit funds to improve country roads and bridges," Mr Davis said.
"Country councils are struggling with the burden of dilapidated roads and bridges, some of which are in such a state of disrepair that they are dangerous and must be closed until funding becomes available.
"A Liberal Government will support country councils and allocate funds where needed to repair country roads and bridges."
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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