Regional blueprint on track
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
JON FAINE: What policies are you offering by way of alternative, in particular then, to regional Victorians through the coalition arrangement that you think will make the difference?
TED BAILLIEU: We've made a string of policy announcements already, particularly in regard to suspended sentences, the abolition of home detention, safety on public transport and all those issues reach into country Victoria, reach into regional and rural Victoria.
Source: Mornings with Jon Faine, ABC Radio Melbourne, Tuesday 2 February, 2010
The Liberal National Opposition has signalled it will continue to treat regional and rural Victoria as an afterthought by having no clear plan or policy to cater for the state's regional future.
Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said lazy Opposition leader Ted Baillieu could only parrot his city-centric ideas when asked on ABC Radio this morning what his policy was for regional Victoria.
"Ted Baillieu has failed regional and rural Victorians by having no plan for jobs, growth, families or the future, proving the Liberals would return to the dark days of the Kennett era and resume treating the regions as the ‘toenails' of the state," she said.
"Only the Brumby Labor Government has done the hard work of consulting with communities to develop the Blueprint for Regional Growth which is on track to be released in 2010 as stated in the discussion paper and last year's Statement of Government Intentions (page 60)."
Ms Allan questioned Nationals leader Peter Ryan's commitment to the regions.
"Peter Ryan has spent his summer in the city serving as Ted Baillieu's lapdog so he doesn't understand that creating a plan for the future requires time and hard work to consult with communities, councils and other key stakeholders to ensure the best possible outcome for families in regional Victoria," she said.
"This lack of interest in regional Victoria was further evident when they failed to make a submission to the blueprint's discussion paper.
"The only indication regional and rural Victoria has of the Nationals' intentions is its shameful track record when Peter Ryan voted with the former Kennett Liberal government 1150 times to shut down country schools, hospitals, train lines and vital services."
Ms Allan said the Brumby Labor Government had so far committed more than $500 million through its Regional Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to new infrastructure projects worth more than $1.33 billion in regional and rural Victoria.
"RIDF has helped secure the lifestyles that regional and rural Victorians enjoy so much," she said.
"The Opposition attempted to vote down the fund, and now it has forgotten regional and rural Victorians by leaving it too late to develop a comprehensive plan for the future."
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