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Gippsland ‘short changed’ by ‘tricky’ National Party road promise; Rowe Jane Rowe ALP candidate for Gippsland Labor Candidate for Gippsland, Jane Rowe has slammed the Federal Member for Gippsland, Peter McGauran for what she describes as "short changing the people of Gippsland and Victorian taxpayers". By Jane Rowe - 28th October 2007 - Back to News Gippsland ‘short changed’ by ‘tricky’ National Party road promise; Rowe
"VicRoads says the Coalition will need to provide a further $150 million to the second stage of the Princes Highway duplication between Sale and Traralgon in south-east Victoria.
Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile visited Gippsland on Friday to announce $250 million to build a dual carriageway between the two towns.
Brian Negus from the RACV says the project is reliant on State Government funding of $100 million.
"The normal deal for regional projects of this nature on the highway network is 80 to 20 [federal-state] and projects which are in metropolitan areas like the western ring road in Victoria, that would normally be 50-50," he said." ABC Gippsland 23/10/07
Labor Candidate for Gippsland, Jane Rowe has slammed the Federal Member for Gippsland, Peter McGauran for what she describes as "short changing the people of Gippsland and Victorian taxpayers".
Ms Rowe said that the funding promise made by the local National Party Member was ‘way below odds’ for contribution arrangements for such road projects in regional areas. Ms Rowe referred to the comments made by RACV spokesman and VicRoads Management who questioned both the apportionment and the level of funding announced last week,
"This ‘so called promise’ of the National Party is outrageous" said Ms Rowe,
"First of all it is at least $100m less than the figure required to make the promise a real commitment. Further it short changes the Victorian and Gippsland taxpayer by asking for a far bigger proportion from the State Government than is the norm."
Ms Rowe said this was on top of the fact that Victorian tax payers were already being short changed by having only a fraction of their petrol taxes returned by the Federal Government in road funding.
Ms Rowe, who has spent a great deal of time as the leader of the region’s local government network lobbying the Federal and State governments for funding of Gippsland’s roads said that she had thought the figure quoted by Mr McGauran was ‘a bit sus’ when the scope of works was announced.
"But the comments by the RACV and VicRoads have confirmed what many of my colleagues in local Government already knew. Mr McGauran and his National leader, Mark Vaille are simply ‘trying tho pull a swiftie’ on the people of Gippsland and particularly those who require a real commitment to fund the Sale – Traralgon duplication. This is typical National Party trickery" Ms Rowe said.
Ms Rowe said that Federal Labor had been in discussions with their State counterparts to ensure that Labor’s commitment to the duplication of the Princes Highway would be funded to a level to ‘get the job done’ under Federal Labor’s ‘Auslink 2’ road transport policy.
She demanded Mr McGauran ‘find’ the missing Federal government money or come clean to the people of Gippsland that the National Party promise was under funded.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: howardw@aapt.net.au
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Shadow Minister Darren Chester is urging the federal government to restore national wild dog funding, warning of $302 million annual agricultural losses and significant impacts on farmers, wildlife and regional communities. - Coalition urges Labor to block foreign-backed Cobungra Station sale and protect productive farmland from carbon projects
The Coalition has urged Treasurer Jim Chalmers and FIRB to reject the proposed foreign-backed purchase of Cobungra Station, warning productive farmland should remain dedicated to food production, not carbon projects. - Melina Bath accused Labor of ignoring bird flu advice and delaying vaccinations for Victoria's vulnerable little penguin colonies
The Victorian government is accused of ignoring expert advice to proactively vaccinate little penguins against H5N1, delaying action until after infection was detected, potentially leaving colonies vulnerable. - Bass Coast Shire Council seeks community feedback to shape safer roads through New Road Safety Strategy Plan until 10 September 2026
Bass Coast Shire Council is inviting residents to help shape its new Road Safety Strategy through community workshops and an online survey, aiming to reduce crashes and improve safety for all road users across the shire. - Danny O'Brien says bushfire inquiry exposes Labor neglect, leaving CFA volunteers under-resourced for escalating firefighting challenges
Danny O'Brien says a parliamentary bushfire inquiry confirms CFA volunteers face declining numbers, ageing equipment and inadequate support, urging Labor to implement recommendations before the next fire season. - Latrobe City Council schedules 40 kilometres of road upgrades across municipality
Latrobe City Council will resurface 40 kilometres of local roads during 2026/27, including resealing and asphalt works across six communities to improve safety, extend road life and prevent potholes. - New drinking fountains improve free water access across Sale's popular recreation facilities
Sale's major recreation facilities now offer improved free drinking water access, with new fountains at Aqua Energy, Port of Sale and Gippsland Regional Sports Complex, supporting hydration and reusable bottle use. - Visa delays threaten regional harvest workforce as farmers and tourism employers demand urgent federal government action before summer
Farmers, tourism operators and regional employers warn visa delays could cause critical workforce shortages during summer harvest and tourism periods, urging the Federal government to restore timely visa processing. - Surf Parade shared path moves forward as Bass Coast Shire Council investigates two-way road and carparking design in Inverloch
Bass Coast Shire Council will soon begin construction of the Surf Parade Shared Path in Inverloch, with completion expected by Christmas, while investigating costs and community support for two-way road and carparking. - Regional ambulance response times deteriorate across Eastern Victoria under Labor, Melina Bath demands answers from Carroll government
Melina Bath has criticised deteriorating ambulance response times across eastern Victoria, saying every local government area is worse than 12 years ago and calling on Labor to restore timely emergency care.
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