The state budget delivered yesterday offers precious little for the Latrobe Valley and regional Victoria, while taxpayers will continue to foot the bill for Labor’s soaring debt, according to The Nationals Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron.
With net debt forecast to hit an eye-watering $188 billion by 2027/28, taxpayers will soon be paying $25 million per day on interest alone.
Mr Cameron said brutal cuts to roads, health and policing underscored a bad news budget for regional Victoria.
“Despite the dire state of our roads, maintenance funding remains at a lower level than it was in 2020,” Mr Cameron said.
“Cruel cuts have been made to hospitals that are in desperate need of more funding, and we are bracing for the amalgamation of several health services which will undoubtedly place immense pressure on an already struggling system.
“And at a time when crime is out of control in the Valley and spiralling state-wide, community crime prevention has been cut by 46 per cent.
The Latrobe Valley Authority, which was meant to assist the region with economic transition, will be funded for another six months to the tune of $6.3 million.
“All the LVA has delivered is a $300 million glossy brochure or ‘transition plan’ that is based on ideology and doesn’t contain a single tangible action,” Mr Cameron said.
“The government says the LVA will be absorbed by Regional Development Victoria, so we can safely assume that means it will cease to exist altogether and Valley will be abandoned again.
“There’s also nothing in the budget for desperately needed local infrastructure projects for the Traralgon Recreation Reserve, Hazelwood CFA, Tyers CFA, Latrobe Youth Space or Lifeline Gippsland.
“This budget again proves that Labor can’t manage money and it’s Victorians who are paying the price.”
