Thursday, 2 May 2019

Western Victoria Region

In reply to Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (20 March 2019)

Ms PULFORD (Western Victoria—Minister for Roads, Minister for Road Safety and the TAC, Minister for Fishing and Boating):

We won’t be lectured by the Opposition on infrastructure funding when it’s their federal mates ensuring that Victoria doesn’t receive its fair share.

The Victorian Government has strongly advocated for the Commonwealth Government to invest more funds in Victoria’s transport network.

At the moment Victoria only receives 11.8 per cent of Commonwealth transport funds which is significantly less than Victoria’s population representing 26 per cent of the nation.

Victoria’s south west has a large and growing freight task to support the region’s agriculture, dairy, timber and renewable energy sectors, and the Victorian Government is investing record amounts in country roads.

The Victorian Government is awaiting details of the Commonwealth’s media announcement; in particular, confirmation of this funding in the Federal Budget and the Commonwealth’s Forward Estimates to ensure that the Commonwealth genuinely stands ready to meet its obligations to south west Victoria.