19 February 2015 Daniel Andrews’ announcement today in no way replaces the Coalition’s Country Roads and Bridges Program and will still leave country councils $40 million short every year.
By calling them “country” programs Daniel Andrews is trying to hide the fact that the $85 million will actually be spread across all of regional Victoria – not provided to genuine country communities.
This compares to the $11 billion Daniel Andrews plans to spend on the Melbourne Metro Rail project the $8 billion he’ll spend removing Melbourne level crossings and the $100 million he’s allocated for the Flinders Street Station upgrade.
Daniel Andrews must put an end to these desperate stunts and actually deliver for country Victorians.
Background:
- The Coalition’s $160 million Country Roads and Bridges Program provided on average $1 million to each of Victoria’s 40 country councils every year for four years.
- That money was spent on roads and bridges that the local councils identified as their priorities.
- The Coalition committed to continuing the program during the election campaign.
- The Country Roads and Bridges Program was on top of the VicRoads budget which funds major regional roads and bridges.