By Aaron Violi
The Albanese Labor Governments upcoming May budget is a chance for the government.
A chance to admit their mistakes, reinstate vital funding for local projects and amend their broken promises – with the Roads for Community road sealing funding high on our wish list.
My office has been inundated with calls, emails and letters from concerned residents living on dirt roads across our community, and I share those concerns.
I know how badly we want to end the days of dust, potholes and mud. That’s why the former Liberal government committed $150 million to seal our roads – only for Labor to scrap that funding when they got into government.
Our commitment to sealing roads was once in a lifetime, and without that funding, road sealing is projected to take another 80-100 years. I’ve been fighting hard on this, having called on the government to reinstate the funding at every opportunity in Canberra.
The road sealing funding was axed by Labor as part of almost $1 billion in infrastructure cuts – which included scrapping the funding for the notoriously dangerous Wellington Road.
This budget will be a test on how much Labor has listened to our community – not just on our local road upgrades, but also on struggling Australian families and businesses.
Many are feeling the pinch from the rising cost of living. Inflationary spending in the budget will only make things harder.
Labor must deliver a responsible budget that addresses rising costs and does not add to the pain families are currently feeling at the checkout and in their energy bills.
But families and business owners aren’t the only ones doing it tough. So are our young people.
The loss of the Lilydale Youth Hub is being felt right across our community. I’m a strong advocate for youth mental health, which is why I committed $3.5 million during the election campaign to keep the Youth Hub open.
With Labor forming government, they refused to match this commitment, forcing the hub to close its doors.
I’ve continued to advocate for funding for the Lilydale Youth Hub. Labor has a chance in this budget to reinstate this vital service that is so important for youth mental wellbeing and belonging.
May will also be a test for state Labor as the Andrews Labor Government hands down the Victorian budget.
Killara Road in Coldstream remains a dangerous and congested intersection despite the former federal Liberal government handing state Labor $20 million for upgrades almost four years ago.
It’s time they get on with the job.
Both Labor’s state and federal budgets must reinstate funding to local infrastructure projects and deliver real outcomes for our community.
