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Community facilities Education | May 03, 2017

Budget delivers more to rorting MP than to Warracknabeal

Warracknabeal has received no new funding from the 2017-18 State Budget yet a $76,000 leave pass was handed to rorting Labor MP Don Nardella.

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Emma Kealy MP said Daniel Andrews had forgiven the Labor MP’s debt, allowing him to repay just half of the money he rorted after he listed an address in a caravan park as his primary residence and claimed $174,000 of taxpayers money.

“Labor MP Don Nardella got $76,000 from this Budget which is more than what Warracknabeal and the entire Yarriambiack region received,” Ms Kealy said.

“A new police station for Warracknabeal was announced last year, so there is no new funding for Warracknabeal.

“Daniel Andrews and his city centric Labor Government has again failed to provide funding for Stage 2 of the Warracknabeal Education Precinct project, with spending on schools across rural and regional Victoria slashed by $87 million.

“All young people deserve quality learning environments, whether they live in the city or the country, but the Andrews Government is failing to offer them the support they need.

“This is a Melbourne budget, not a Victorian budget. While Daniel Andrews hikes our taxes, we are getting less in return.

“The Country Roads and Bridges Program still hasn’t been restored despite the appalling state of our country roads and many of our country schools again miss out on desperately needed upgrade funding.

“Labor has poured $10.5 billion into Melbourne Metro and are bragging about a surplus, but refuse to spend a single extra dollar on public transport in the Wimmera.

“Daniel Andrews is no stranger to broken promises and Labor have now introduced ten new taxes, despite Daniel Andrews’ promise he wouldn’t add any new taxes.

“While Don Nardella pockets $76,000 in taxpayer’s money, we will pay more for stamp duty, motor vehicle registration and council rates.

“Country Victorians are sick of being treated like second-class citizens. 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.

“For a Government flush with cash after the sale of the Port of Melbourne lease, the lack of new State-funded initiatives for regional Victoria is truly disappointing,” she said.