Daniel Andrews owes regional Victoria $723 Million and an apology.
When the lease of the Port of Melbourne was negotiated, the Liberal Nationals fought to have 10 per cent of the proceeds allocated to new infrastructure projects in Regional Victoria.
At yesterday’s Public Accounts and Estimates Committee (PAEC) hearings, Department of Treasury and Finance Secretary David Martin admitted the budget acquittal for this money was wrong.
Rather than being spend on new projects $288 million has been used for “periodic maintenance” of the existing rail network. A further $435 million has been spent elsewhere because the Federal Liberal National Government stepped in and provided this amount for regional rail in Victoria.
Quotes Attributable to Roma Britnell MP – Member for South West Coast
“Daniel Andrews agreed with the Liberal Nationals that 10 per cent of the money from the Port of Melbourne lease should be spent on new infrastructure in regional Victoria – Yesterday we learnt he lied.
“The success of the Port of Melbourne lease deal was built on the back of huge volumes of produce from regional Victoria, particularly dairy and meat from the great south coast region – the state’s most productive and second most productive in the country.
“Daniel Andrews has shown again he is the Premier for Melbourne and has no respect of the important role rural and regional Victoria has to boost the state economy.”
