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Health Agriculture | May 02, 2017

Labor shuns Western Victoria

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP says the Andrews Labor Government is taxing Western Victorians more and giving them less.

“Labor is bragging about a surplus and pouring billions into Melbourne, but has completely ignored our region again,” Ms Kealy said.

“There is no new capital investment for any of the 17 hospitals across Lowan, and there is no sign of the extra funding needed for the Wimmera Cancer Centre project.

“Too many of our schools have missed out on the vital upgrade funding they deserve, with the Labor Government cutting spending on rural and regional schools by $87 million this year.

“The food and fibre industries are major contributors to our region, but the Andrews Labor Government has dropped the Agriculture Department’s budget by $32 million this year which will come as a shock to our farmers.

“Labor has also again ignored calls from local government and road users to bring back the $160 million Country Roads and Bridges program.

“Even when Labor tries to spend the Federal Government’s money, they won’t allocate one cent to the Wimmera and Western Districts – our area was completely ignored in Labor’s so-called “Regional Rail Revival” announcement.

“People living in the Lowan electorate are sick of being treated like second-class citizens by Daniel Andrews’ Labor Government.

“It's time for Daniel Andrews’ city-centric Labor Government to go so that Western Victoria can start to move forward and we can build a better future for our region,” she said.