Labor, Greens vote against increased roads funding
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Labor, Greens vote against increased roads funding

A move by the Greens and Labor to block millions of dollars in extra funding for country roads has been condemned by Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull.
 
In State Parliament last week, the Liberal Nationals proposed amendments during debate of the Transport Legislation Amendment Bill 2018 that would see more funding put into maintaining roads in country Victoria.
 
Mr Bull said the amendment would have made sure 40 per cent of revenue collected from speeding fines and traffic camera offences went directly to regional and rural road maintenance, with a further 40 per cent to maintain roads in outer suburban interface areas.
 
“Despite spending billions on the rushed blanket rollout of the wire rope barrier project after little consultation and infrastructure projects in Melbourne, country roads are getting worse,” Mr Bull said. 
 
“But still the Greens and the Andrews Labor Government have teamed up to block our efforts to increase maintenance funding,” he said.
 
“This is the same government that cut roads funding when coming to government and also abolished the successful $160 million Country Roads and Bridges Program, which provided funds directly to Wellington and East Gippsland Shires for projects they identified.
 
“Having recently announced we would reinstate this program if elected in November, I have already been made aware of a number of bridges and road projects this could be used for, given the positive feedback we received from the local councils when in government last.
 
“Regional and rural areas are missing out under the Premier for Melbourne, who was caught using country roads and bridges funding in his city electorate of Mulgrave.
 
“Labor and the Greens have shown they don’t care about regional communities or the industries that support us, like forestry and agriculture.
 
“There’s a very real risk a Labor-Greens government could be elected in November, which would be an absolute disaster for country communities like East Gippsland,” Mr Bull said.
 
Caption: Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, says more funding needs to be directed towards upgrading country roads.
 
Tuesday, September 11, 2018