Regional Victoria will be guaranteed 25 per cent of all new Victorian Government infrastructure spending under a future Nationals and Liberals Government, ensuring country communities finally receive funding that reflects their share of the state’s population.
The Nationals’ Member for Mildura, Jade Benham, said the Fair Share Guarantee would help address years of underinvestment in regional communities by directing one in every four dollars of new infrastructure expenditure to regional Victoria for roads, hospitals, schools, emergency services and other community infrastructure.
“Regional Victoria is home to around 25 per cent of the state’s population, yet analysis from the Parliamentary Budget Office shows we’re receiving less than 12 per cent of infrastructure spending,” Ms Benham said.
“That gap tells the story. Regional communities are being asked to do more with less while Melbourne continues to receive the overwhelming share of government investment.”
Ms Benham said the Mildura electorate had seen firsthand the impact of governments failing to adequately invest in regional infrastructure.
“Whether it’s roads, health services, community facilities or essential local projects, regional communities are too often left waiting while the government focuses its attention elsewhere.
“The people of north-west Victoria contribute enormously to this state through agriculture, horticulture, freight, tourism and small business, and they deserve to see that contribution recognised through fair investment.
“After years of Labor’s financial mismanagement and billions of dollars squandered on Big Build cost overruns and rorts, regional Victorians deserve confidence that funding will be directed where it is needed most.
“Only the Nationals and Liberals will guarantee regional Victorians its fair share and deliver the quality infrastructure that our regions deserve and need.”
