The latest state budget has sparked controversy.
State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe was among those to raise concerns after it was unveiled on May 7.
She said the budget fell short of addressing the critical funding needs of Shepparton and regional Victoria
“This government has prioritised wasting money on city-centric projects like the Suburban Rail Loop, which has blown out by more than $170 billion over its original budget, over the real and pressing needs of regional Victorian communities,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“The budget contains no relief for public housing waiting lists or rental stress. Instead, households will be hit with a fire service property levy, and the municipal waste charge is expected to double.
“Victorians are already struggling to pay their bills, yet we see more strain placed on family budgets.”
Since the Labor Party took over, Victoria’s debt has increased from $21.8 billion in 2014 to an expected $187.8 billion by 2028. Tax income also rose from $17.8 billion to an expected $45 billion.
Ms O’Keeffe criticised the Allan Labor Government for what she perceived to be “financial mismanagement”.
“We are seeing the real impacts of this debt play out across our communities, resulting in underfunded and under-resourced education, health, housing and transport services,” she said.
The interest payments on the state’s debt have reached $15 million per day and are projected to rise to over $25 million by 2028.
Ms O’Keeffe notes that with just about a day’s worth of these interest payments, the government could fully fund its share of the $60 million required for the Shepparton Sports Stadium refurbishment or ensure the completion of stage two of the GV Health redevelopment.
Funding for road maintenance in the 2024-25 budget has been reduced by 16 per cent compared to five years ago, with delays in planning for the Shepparton bypass. Of the $7.64 million allocated for this project, $3.8 million is projected to be spent over the next financial year, following an expenditure of $2.2 million expected by mid-year:
“We must see immediate attention paid to our unsafe crumbling roads, and the quality of road maintenance must be improved,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“There’s also still an incredible amount of uncertainty around the Shepparton bypass.
“Yet again, we’re seeing more delays in the planning stages, with a revised completion date of the end of the year.
“There’s still $1.6 million of unallocated funds despite the government claiming planning will be complete by the end of this year.
“I’ve been a passionate advocate for the Shepparton bypass alongside others in our community. We need certainty about the future of this project and action to progress this crucial infrastructure for our region.
“This is a vital project that is well overdue and is essential for our region’s productivity, safety and economic growth.
“The Allan Labor Government can’t manage money, can’t manage projects, and regional Victorians are continuing to pay the price.”