The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has slammed the Allan Labor Government’s latest Budget as “deceitful, reckless and irresponsible,” warning it will leave Victorian families worse off, critical services underfunded, and the state buried in debt.
Victoria’s net debt is forecast to hit $194 billion by 2028/29, with interest repayments reaching $28.9 million per day, or $1.2 million per hour, by mid-2029.
It is astonishing to think that the interest alone will be costing Victorians $28.9 million every single day. This money should be spent on the needs of communities. Because of this government’s appalling financial mismanagement we are missing out on the things that we desperately need.
Regional Development funding has taken a hit once again, this time 17 per cent, with Labor slashing it from $296.7 million to $245.6 million. Regional Victoria makes up 25% of the States population and we deserve our fair share of funding including 25% of infrastructure spending.
It is pleasing to see that Shepparton Foodshare will be provided with increased support with more and more people in need of food relief.
St Georges Road Primary School will receive $450,000, for an upgrade, and the newly built Shepparton Youth Prevention and Recovery Centre will receive funding for operational costs.
While the Budget pours billions into major city infrastructure projects to cover cost blow outs, regional Victoria is being deliberately left behind.
This government is failing when it comes to providing adequate housing. We have over 2000 people waiting for public housing, and many that are homeless. We have a rental shortage and a cost-of-living crisis. People are struggling to put food on the table and this Budget does very little to help people who are struggling.
It is appalling that Agriculture funding has been cut by $77.6 million – almost 13 per cent – amid a crippling drought in many areas of the state.
Labor has pledged to spend $537.2 million supporting agriculture – down from the $614.8 million it spent last financial year.
“This Budget is shining example that the Allan Labor Government is a government that borrows more, spends more and achieves less,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“This is a government that has its priorities all wrong – addicted to debt, reckless spending and completely without substance.
“Because of this we are missing out on critical funding for our hospital completion, housing, an upgraded road network and our transport needs.
“Shepparton and Mooroopna desperately need a second river crossing to accommodate for the increasing traffic of the region and a matter of safety.
“The $976 million for regional roads needs to be prioritised on the most unsafe and damaged roads in our region as a matter of priority and urgency.
“Money must be spent on quality road repairs and road maintenance, not the poor short-term fixes that continually need to be redone.
“We’re heading toward $200 billion of debt and yet there’s very little to show for it.
“They’ve totally lost control of the debt and it’s hardworking Victorians who are paying the price with reduced services and investment deserts across regional Victoria.”
Locally, several projects face uncertainty and delays:
- No timeline for the Shepparton Line Upgrade completion
- No funding for a long-awaited local bus review
- Further delays to the Shepparton Bypass intersection upgrades
- A six-month delay for the Wilmot Road Early Parenting Centre
- No funding for the Shepparton Sports Stadium or the remainder of GV Health’s redevelopment
“Our community shouldn’t have to pay the price of Labor’s financial mismanagement and reckless city spending,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“The Allan Labor Government has wasted tens of billions of infrastructure blowouts in the city but won’t put just a fraction of this into the regions.
“A much-needed bus review is a small ask, this government should be ashamed of the impact that their decisions are having on regional and rural communities.
“They could fund their share of the Shepparton Sports Stadium and the GV Health redevelopment with the interest they’re paying on debt in just five days.
“This government is totally inept and rather than investing in infrastructure that will benefit communities, they’re throwing billions down the drain for no return.
“They just keep adding more taxes that are crippling Victorians, and this appalling Budget is reflection of the very dismal financial position of this state.
“Labor can’t manage money, and every single Victorian is paying the price.”
