Growing up in regional Victoria, you learn firsthand how much a government’s investments – or lack of investments – really matter.
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That the further from the city you are, the more school, hospitals, road and public transport really make a difference.
It’s why, back in 1999, regional Victorians had had enough.
After years of cuts and closures from the Kennett Liberal government, people living in regional communities were sick and tired of being treated as second-class citizens, as Victoria’s “toenails”.
The result was a win for us at that election, with big swings in regional seats.
But it wasn’t just that voters said no to the Liberals and Nationals.
They also said yes to Labor’s positive plan for regional Victoria.
We saw the same again in 2014. Cuts and closures – and a Liberal National government that still hadn’t learnt its lesson.
Because under the previous government’s watch, $1 billion was cut from our schools.
They ripped away funding for regional hospitals and ambulances.
They slashed police staff and support for V/Line and VicRoads.
They shut down regional TAFE campuses in Glenormiston, Kyneton and Yarram.
And they closed regional government offices in Birchip, Camperdown, Cobram, Kyneton, Ouyen and St Arnaud.
That was their legacy in regional Victoria.
And yet again it showed: when it comes to meeting the needs of regional people, the Liberals just don’t get it.
In contrast, the Andrews government has taken real action, and made real investments.
In just four years of government, Labor has invested a record $13.6 billion in regional Victoria (compared to just $7.2 billion under the previous Liberal government).
It’s a big number – but more importantly, it’s delivering the big projects that regional communities need.
That includes building a total of six new regional schools, and improvements to more than 440.
It’s also constructed new tech schools in our regional centres – and soon, upgrades to TAFE facilities in Bendigo, Morwell and Sale.
In health, the Andrews government’s record is just as strong.
Labor has funded the rebuild of Ballarat Base Hospital, an expansion of Wonthaggi Hospital, a new critical care unit and emergency department for Wangaratta, the redevelopment of Shepparton Hospital, a new community health hub for Ararat Hospital … the list goes on.
Labor has also recognised the critical need for mental health and rehab services in regional Victoria, investing in facilities for Geelong, Gippsland and Ballarat.
There are also big investments in road and rail. In fact, this Labor Government has more than doubled investment in road maintenance.
That includes investing in a new dedicated regional roads authority to manage and maintain regional roads, as well as upgrades to every single regional passenger line in the state.
There are countless other projects: new GovHubs, new police stations, new footy ovals and new kinders.
It’s a long list of achievements.
But what matters most, is these investments are ensuring people living in regional Victoria have the same access and opportunity as those living in Melbourne.
Once again, it’s Labor’s positive plan that’s really delivering for regional Victoria.
