The Opposition has slammed Victoria’s budget as not doing enough for people in need, especially those in regional areas, while also saying the state is scrambling to find the money to repay its debt from the pandemic.
They’ve also criticised the government for not funding infrastructure projects across the region.
The budget was handed down on Tuesday, May 23, by Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas.
Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe said the budget had left the Shepparton bypass hanging by a finger.
The Ford Rd intersection with the Goulburn Valley Hwy was the only part of the bypass to be listed in the budget, and was listed in last year’s budget with total funding for that intersection at $7.6 million.
No further funding was committed to the project planning or construction in the budget.
“It’s disappointing, especially with the 90-day review happening from the Federal Government we were hoping for a commitment from the state,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
Ms O’Keeffe called it a “horror” budget which cut across the board, which pushed back funding and projects in regional areas, including the $26 million for the cancer centre in Shepparton.
“There hasn’t been much to help with housing and rentals and the day-to-day pain.”
Ms O’Keeffe said there wasn’t enough funding for roads, with the $2.8 billion pledged over the next 10 years “not enough” to fix the issues across the state.
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said the budget showed Victoria was “broke” and life was getting harder.
“Victorians are being punished for the Andrews Government’s incompetence,” she said.
Both she and Ms O’Keeffe said the roads budget had been slashed by 45 per cent since 2020.
“The budget is also another example of the Andrews Labor Government’s failure to invest in priority projects in the Shepparton electorate,” Ms Lovell said.
“Major Shepparton infrastructure and service delivery projects have been ignored by Daniel Andrews, providing further proof of the low priority Labor places on Shepparton and the Goulburn Valley.”
She also said Kialla West Primary School had again been ignored for funding to protect students crossing the highway before and after school.