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Letter to the Editor

Peter Walsh on State Budget

By Portal Admin - 16th June 2019 - Back to News

Dear Editor,

Victoria’s strong population growth is a great opportunity for Regional Victoria – if only we had a State Government that has a plan and vision to grow all of our state, not just Melbourne.

The May State Budget showed again that Daniel Andrews’ Labor Government lacks both.

The Regional Growth Fund, which delivered a $1 billion boost to country communities and encouraged businesses – and jobs – to relocate out of Melbourne, has been axed.

There was also a $130 million cut to Regional Development Victoria’s funding, $220 million cut from country roads, and nearly $50 million ripped from Victoria’s agriculture budget.

There’s no funding to replace the slow, old, unreliable VLine trains for passengers on the Warrnambool, Swan Hill and Bairnsdale lines, or to expand rail services for the people of Mildura, Horsham and Hamilton.

And too many schools and hospitals in country Victoria have missed out on funding for desperately-needed upgrades.

The Regional Development Minister told State Parliament last week she was "very proud" of Labor’s State Budget, despite all these regional cuts and the Melbourne-centric focus.

Regional Victoria needs less Ministerial spin and more dollars invested into the infrastructure and services important to regional communities – like roads and rail, hospitals and schools.

After yet another disappointing State Budget from the Andrews Labor Government, it’s a relief to know that at least we do have a re-elected Liberal Nationals Federal Government that does care about regional people and which does have an exciting plan for investing and growing all of Regional Victoria.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com