Residents of Northern Victoria would finally get their fair share of state government funding under The Nationals plan, launched in Bendigo this week.
The Nationals’ Fair Share Guarantee would lock in at least 25 per cent of all new government infrastructure investment for regional Victoria.
The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad said regional Victorians would no longer be the poor cousins to big city projects.
“This plan would level up investment in the regions, which currently receive less than 12 per cent of new infrastructure funding despite being home to a quarter of the state’s population,” Ms Broad said.
“The Nationals are committed to fighting for rural and regional Victorians, who have suffered under almost 12 years of Labor.
“I consistently hear from locals that life is getting harder on a whole range of fronts,” Ms Broad said.
“The Nationals in government will focus on the things that matter to regional Victorians. We will reduce crime, lower costs, build better roads and improve healthcare.”
Key points of the plan include:
· $5 billion to repair and rebuild Victoria’s roads, eliminate one million potholes and establish a proper system of preventative road maintenance.
· 3000 additional police and reopening more than 40 police stations that are currently closed or operating on reduced hours.
· Scrapping the Labor Government’s emergency services tax
· Abolishing stamp duty for first home buyers on properties up to $1 million and restoring the $300,000 land tax-free threshold
· Upgrading regional hospitals and attracting more health workers to the region, and
· A detailed strategy to manage the economy and bring down cost of living.
“The Fair Share for Regional Victoria plan was launched in Bendigo, where candidates Andrew Lethlean for Bendigo East, and David Hutchings for Bendigo West, are running to win two seats in the heart of regional Victoria and make regional communities a priority of the next Victorian Government.”
