Media Releases

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty welcomed the State budget presented by the Treasurer.   This budget sets out a clear plan to meet these challenges and to position Victoria to take full advantage of current and future opportunities.  It is about rebuilding the state’s finances.

“The state of Victoria was left in a financial mess thanks to Labor’s legacy.  The previous Labor Government wasted billions of dollars during its 11 year reign – we have seen massive losses on the MYKI project, the North South Pipeline, and the Desalination Plant now costing $1.2 m per day.”

“We as a government are also dealing with significant revenue write-downs.  Much of this is due to slower consumption growth, and some is due to the reduction in Victoria’s share of the GST.  The revenue estimates from GST and Stamp Duty have been reduced by $7.6 billion over the four years.”

“A state budget is like a household budget – we need to live within our means,” Mr Delahunty said.

“Our budget is about investing in state infrastructure such as a $3 million water treatment facility for Jeparit, enhancing front line services, taking new measures to protect the most vulnerable Victorians and meeting the community needs in health, education and community safety.”

“The Coalition is spending $336m on child protection services and the Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development announced a new capital funding round for early childhood services across Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said.

 “The Coalition Government is engaged in a range of activities to promote the fantastic opportunities that exist in rural and regional Victoria and part of this is the $1 billion Regional Growth Fund which is spearheading innovative and creative investment in regional and rural communities that is supporting jobs, growth and a better quality of life.  For example $500,000 towards a $1.6 million project to develop the Horsham Enterprise Estate to secure new industries for Horsham.”

The 2012-13 budget will fund new rolling stock for the regional rail network, a further $172 million will be spent on regional rail maintenance and $42 million will construct a further duplication of the Western Highway between Beaufort and Buangor.

To improve Victoria’s competitive position WorkCover premiums will be reduced by 3% from 1st July this year.  The budget also injects $61 million into the new agriculture and food industry plan to help maximise the opportunities from improved prices and better climatic conditions.

“I am acutely aware of the pressures on western Victorian families, but our government spending priorities focus on driving economic growth, generating jobs, improving front line service deliveries and protecting the state’s most vulnerable citizens.  Victorian families know that in challenging times you have to act responsibly and eliminate waste.  Our government will improve efficiency to deliver better services and build a stronger foundation for the future,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is disappointed that the Brumby Government has not been more forthcoming in this year’s budget.

“Having spent many hours trawling through the budget papers in an attempt to find anything for the Lowan electorate all I have found is rehashed promises from previous budgets and a lot of rhetoric about how the Brumby government is looking after country Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said.

 
“In the Lowan electorate I have found there has been money provided for the Rainbow school, SES equipment at Dimboola, Nhill and Horsham and for a new hospital at Coleraine, which we are thankful for, however this budget has not gone far enough,” Mr Delahunty said.

 
“The Horsham Special School, the Horsham College and Baimbridge College Hamilton have been waiting for funds to upgrade their schools and these communities will be bitterly disappointed that the Brumby Government has again turned its back to them.”

 
Mr Delahunty said that the increase for first home buyers could provide a boost to local economies.

 
“This encouragement for first home buyers to build in rural and regional areas is most welcome; however the Brumby Government also needs to provide funding for job creating infrastructure projects in these communities.

Our health system is under-funded and over-burdened and support is needed to attract and retain doctors and allied health staff.  It is disappointing that in this year’s budget the Edenhope Hospital has again missed out on funding.

 
“The Lowan electorate has a strong reliance on the agriculture sector which has been snubbed by this Budget with grain growers suffering from the locust plague sweeping north west Victoria and there is very little money provided for locust, weed and pest control.

 
“Rural Victoria had been deprived of new roads funding in this years budget.  If you fix country roads you save country lives and again the Brumby Government has overlooked funding for improvements to roads in the Lowan electorate.”

“Rural and regional communities are the main driver of Victoria’s economy but are not receiving their fair share from a Brumby Government desperate to buy votes in metropolitan electorates.  After 11 year of Labor Government’s waste and mismanagement all we see is a blow out of our debt to $31.7 billion and an interest bill of $3.2 billion annually, what a legacy for future generations!

 
“Just think what benefits this money could bring to health, education, transport and police,” Mr Delahunty said.

 
“Despite the spin from Spring Street the reality is that there is very little in this year’s budget for western Victoria.  Victoria is bigger than Melbourne and again the Brumby Government has shunned this part of the state when we are still feeling the affects of drought, our health system is struggling and our road network continues to deteriorate.  Overall the Lowan Electorate has missed out on its fair share,” Mr Delahunty said.