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Danny O'Brien highlights 10 years of Labor government have set Gippsland back, resulting in rising debt, taxes, and crime

Danny O'Brien criticised 10 years of Labor governance for rising debt, taxes, cost blowouts, failing regional communities, deteriorating infrastructure, increased crime, and broken promises, leaving Gippslanders paying the price.

By news@gippsland - 5th December 2024 - Back to News

The Nationals Member for Gippsland South, Danny O'Brien says 10 years of a Labor state government has sent Gippsland backwards. Mr O'Brien was commenting on the 10-year anniversary of the election of Labor and the mid-way point to the next state election in November 2026. "After 10 years under a Labor state government, Gippslanders are left paying the price through record debt, record taxes, falling standards of living, and billions of dollars in cost blowouts across major projects," Mr O'Brien said.

After 10 years of Labor rule, Gippslanders face record debt, taxes, falling living standards, and major project cost blowouts, says Danny O'Brien

Gippsland's rising costs

Mr O'Brien said, "Victoria now has a record net debt that is on track to reach $187.8 billion by 2027-28 after increasing by a staggering $80.4 million a day over the last quarter. "We are paying more than ever before, but what are regional areas like Gippsland South getting in return?"

Mr O'Brien said he believes Gippslanders are footing the bill for a city-centric state government that continues to fail regional communities. "We have watched on in disbelief as the Labor state government has wasted billions of dollars to cover major project cost blowouts of over $40 billion on city-based mega projects, including $21.2 billion on the North East Link, $4.7 billion on the West Gate Tunnel and $4.87 billon on the Metro Tunnel."

"Meanwhile our local roads are riddled with potholes and subject to speed reductions after funding cuts to the road maintenance budget. Under Labor we have seen local voices silenced in the rush for new renewable energy projects while at the same time energy prices are soaring with electricity costs up 21.5 per cent and ideological bans on gas," said Mr O'Brien.

Labor's Gippsland failures

Mr O'Brien also said, "Power stations have been shut down after the tripling of coal taxes and our sustainable native timber industry has been axed by a government more concerned about Green votes than timber towns." Mr O'Brien said the list of failures under Labor would be comical if it was not so devastating.

"Labor made big promises to Gippsland ahead of the last election including a promise of economic stimulus and increased social housing by bringing the 2026 Commonwealth Games to regional Victoria. All this from a government that went on to pay $380 million to not host the Commonwealth Games," he said.

Gippsland housing crisis

Mr O'Brien added, "In fact, despite being in the midst of a housing crisis, Gippsland South now has less social housing stock than it did 10 years ago. Indeed, after 10 years of Labor the only thing regional communities like Gippsland are seeing more of is crime," he said.

Mr O'Brien was referring to data released in September 2024 which showed that crime has risen a whopping 93.3 per cent in South Gippsland Shire, almost double, since Labor came to power in 2014. "Labor can't manage money or large projects, and Gippslanders are paying the price."

Pictures from Danny O'Brien MP Instagram page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com