News

Labor’s bleak budget for Ovens Valley

Tuesday 2 May 2017

Nationals Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said Ovens Valley residents were being taxed more, but getting less in Labor’s 2017/2018 State Budget.

“The Labor Government spruiked a promise now, deliver later, budget that will do nothing to assist regional Victorians,” Mr McCurdy said.

“While Labor is taxing Ovens Valley residents more, we’re getting less.”

The Wangaratta District Specialist School again missed out on funding for its relocation, desperately required due to an increasing enrolment and lack of space for expansion.

In 2017-18, Labor has cut $87 million from schools funding across rural and regional Victoria.

“The students, staff and families of the Wangaratta District Specialist School have been dealt nothing but disappointment and a complete lack of interest in their plight from the Labor Government,” Mr McCurdy said.

“This is a school that is expecting a significant increase in enrolment next year and literally has nowhere to grow.”

Mr McCurdy said he was bitterly disappointed Labor had again failed to invest in desperately needed new rolling stock for the North East rail line in the budget.

“The Labor Government says it cares about North East rail passengers but when it comes to the crunch of actually providing the new rolling stock that’s needed they give nothing,” Mr McCurdy said.

“Daniel Andrews and Jaclyn Symes said they would fix the problems on the North East line but their actions prove the opposite.

“Labor has proudly announced a regional rail revival that doesn’t include anything for North East Victoria and is actually completely unfunded.

“It is nothing more than a wish list, totally reliant on the Federal Government. That’s simply appalling.”

Mr McCurdy said a 25 per cent payroll tax cut for regional businesses would do little to assist local businesses who were reeling from massive increases in gas and electricity
prices, due to the actions of the Labor Government.

He also said an increase in the stamp duty on new cars would encourage buyers to cross the border to NSW to shop around for a vehicle.

“This is a budget that fails to understand the needs of regional Victorians and will no doubt leave Ovens Valley residents feeling cold.”