Today’s Labor State Budget has astonishingly cut a further 25.5 per cent from roads maintenance funding, ignoring their current dire state.

Gippsland East National MP, Tim Bull, said it was a horror budget for country Victoria as it also announced the end of the native timber industry would be brought forward six years to December 31.

“It’s a decision that will impact thousands of workers and families as well as remove our frontline fire-fighting response.”

Mr Bull said it was the same old story of country regions being punished for this Labor Government’s incompetency and metro cost over runs.

“At a time when our roads are falling apart and in great need of major investment, we have the roads maintenance allocation now at a lower level than 2014/15 and down 45 per cent on what it was in 2020.

“If this trend continues, we will soon be driving on gravel roads again.

“This announcement comes on the back of a letter I received this week from a 25-year RACV serviceman who said he has not seen the roads worse in a quarter of a century, falling well behind NSW and raising genuine concern their condition will claim lives.

“Agriculture funding is down 24 per cent since 2020 and Regional Development basically no longer exists - down a whopping 80 per cent on 2020.

“All this while we watch the cost over runs on metro projects tick past $30 billion and our interest repayments rise to a gobsmacking $10 million a day – what a mess they have created, far worse than any other state.

“Disappointingly, there is no mention of the Bairnsdale Hospital, Metung or Lakes Entrance fire stations, Orbost and Maffra police stations or the Lakes indoor sports stadium, although I hope some will come from overarching grant streams.

“The only projects that have been announced were for a Gippsland Lakes oyster trial and Maffra aged care, both announced over 12 months ago.

“All up, it is not only a disappointing Budget, it’s one that doesn’t just ignore us, it hurts us and puts us at risk,” Mr Bull said.

Tuesday, 23 May 2023