A regional infrastructure policy that guarantees 25 per cent of all new spending occurs in regional areas has been unveiled as a flagship policy for the Coalition ahead of the Victorian election in November.
Victorian Nationals Leader Peter Walsh unveiled the policy in Shepparton on Saturday, May 28, in a keynote speech at the party’s state conference.
“It’s time for our fair share in regional Victoria,” Mr Walsh said.
The policy would nearly double the infrastructure spend in regional Victoria, which Mr Walsh said was just 13 per cent in the 2022-23 state budget.
“The Andrews Labor Government spends $15,000 per head on infrastructure in Melbourne, just $7000 per head on infrastructure in regional Victoria. Less than half comes to regional Victoria per capita than goes into the city,” Mr Walsh said.
“Regional Victorians have been denied our fair share of state government funding for too long.
“Our guarantee to direct 25 per cent of the government’s new infrastructure spend into regional Victoria will deliver new and upgraded hospitals, schools and sports grounds, and the modern road and rail that we deserve.”
Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said the nation’s first Regional Infrastructure Guarantee would see significant new investment in the first term of a Coalition government.
“Regional Victorians have missed out for too long under city-centric Labor governments,” he said.
“Only a Liberals and Nationals government elected in November will treat our regional communities with respect by guaranteeing a fair share of 25 per cent of new infrastructure investment.”
Mr Walsh told the party faithful the Nationals were targeting seats in larger regional areas at the November election, which he said would be a “ditch Dan campaign”.
“We’ve got a great bunch of candidates that I think can take seats off the independents and off the Labor party at the next election,” he said.