By Parker McKenzie
Both federal and state Labor leadership have criticised the 2022 budget, with a lack of infrastructure funding for Victorian projects rasing the ire of the Deputy Premier.
Monbulk MP and Deputy Premier James Merlino said the Federal Government should support the Suburban Rail Loop project by “giving Victorian their fair share of funding.”
“The Budget papers show that Victoria will get less than 6 per cent of new infrastructure spending and nothing at all from the new $7.1 billion regional investment fund, and that’s a disgrace.”
“On infrastructure, that’s $208 million versus $1.1 billion for Western Australia, $1.3 billion for New South Wales and $446 million for Queensland.”
The Suburban Rail Loop is a proposed 90km rail line linking Melbourne’s suburbs with each other due to commence this year, projected to cost between $50 and $100 billion. The first portion of the loop proposed to be built runs between Southland station on the Frankston line and Box Hill station on the Lilydale line, which will take at least 25 years to complete.
The State Government requested $11.5 billion over the next decade for the project, which was rejected by the Federal Government.
The Victorian Parliament’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee report into Commonwealth Funding for Victoria, released earlier this month, noted in 2020-21 the state received 18.3 per cent of Commonwealth Infrastructure payments despite making up 25.9 per cent of the population.
In the 2022 budget, Victoria was allocated a 20.4 per cent of infrastructure funding over the next five years.
Federal Shadow Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the budget doesn’t make up for a decade of attacks on wages, job security and Medicare that have hurt communities like Casey.
“It’s a ploy for an election, not the plan for a better future Casey needs and deserve,” he said.
“The Budget confirms pay still won’t keep up with prices, and almost nothing to show for a trillion dollars in debt.”
Mr Chalmers said after the challenges and sacrifices made during the pandemic and natural disaster, Australians needed a better budget for a better future.
“Even these billions of dollars sprayed around on the eve of an election won’t go near topping up the $3,600 local families are already out of pocket last year because of skyrocketing costs of living,” he said.
“Scott Morrison is only pretending to care about the costs of living because he has to call an election in the next fortnight, and he’s running out of time.”
