Senator Jane Hume has stepped up her attacks against Indi's MP, saying Helen Haines "failed" to deliver funding for infrastructure and energy projects in Tuesday's budget.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The comments came the day another Liberal attack advertisement was placed in The Border Mail, which also claimed Dr Haines and Labor have no plans for jobs or the local economy.
"Constructive engagement with government should be the highest priority for an independent - not once has Helen Haines reached out to me or my office to discuss funding for Indi," Senator Hume said.
"It is clear tonight the Morrison government will not be drawn into funding Helen Haines' backward looking and narrow climate and energy policy."
Dr Haines responded on Wednesday, saying it was "most surprising and quite odd" the Senator's comments focused on her.
"It's really surprising that the day after a budget such as what we had delivered (Tuesday) night, which brings us into $213 billion dollars worth of debt, that a government minister is spending their time putting attack ads in regional papers," she said.
"If things aren't delivered in regional electorates such as mine, the government needs to ask itself the question: why are you not delivering these projects?"
MORE BUDGET COVERAGE:
The comments and advertisements from Senator Hume, who is the government's Assistant Minister for Superannuation, Financial Services and Financial Technology, come a week after a similar advertisement targeting Dr Haines' voting record in Parliament.
"Indi has seen these kinds of personalised attack ads before and the people of Indi have rejected that," Dr Haines said.
"I've had many messages from people saying this is taking us right back to the days of 2013 and before (when Cathy McGowan was first elected in Indi) when there was this kind of attack coming from a government person.
"I think it's unfortunate."
Dr Haines this week questioned if the additional $104 million in the budget for the McKoy Street intersection of the Hume Freeway was necessary to complete the project, arguing that although the upgrade was important, the extra money could have been spent in other areas.
Senator Hume claimed that this showed the MP did not support the intersection upgrade at all.
"Helen Haines does not support the 500-plus jobs that this project will bring about. If you live in West Wodonga and want safer access to the Freeway, or are one of the 200 truck drivers that attempt to navigate that intersection every day, Helen Haines does not support you getting home sooner and safer," she said.
