McCurdy: Regional Victoria deserves it's fair share

The Nationals' Member for Ovens Valley, Tim McCurdy, said regional Victoria had been overlooked for far too long, with communities across the Ovens Valley continually missing out on critical infrastructure investment while Melbourne receives the lion’s share of government spending.

Mr McCurdy said a future National's and Liberals Government would restore fairness through a new Fair Share Guarantee, ensuring regional Victoria receives 25 per cent of all new government infrastructure spending, reflecting the fact that one in four Victorians live in regional communities.

“For years, Labor has treated regional Victoria as an afterthought,” Mr McCurdy said.

“Regional families pay their taxes just like everyone else, yet our roads, hospitals, schools and community infrastructure continue to be neglected while billions are poured into Melbourne projects.”

Under the Fair Share Guarantee, 25 per cent of all new Victorian Government infrastructure expenditure would be directed towards regional projects including roads, schools, hospitals, emergency services, mental health facilities and other essential community infrastructure.

Independent Parliamentary Budget Office analysis found that less than 12 per cent of infrastructure spending in the 2025-26 State Budget was allocated to regional Victoria.

Mr McCurdy said communities throughout the Ovens Valley understood the consequences of being shortchanged.

“Our region contributes enormously to Victoria through agriculture, tourism and small business, yet we continue to miss out on the investment we deserve,” he said.

“This is not a promise, it is a guarantee that regional Victoria will finally get its fair share, and I want to make sure the Ovens Valley gets the infrastructure, investment and support our communities need and deserve after years of being overlooked by the Labor Government."