Labor Shortchanges Regional Vic, Adds New Tax
Labor short changes regional Victoria, slugs us with new tax
The Allan Labor Government’s State Budget has delivered another heartless blow to hardworking regional Victorians.
On the day thousands protested a callous new emergency services tax that hits regional communities the hardest, Labor unleashed further blows on regional Victorians already reeling from a cost-of-living crisis.
Agriculture funding has been cut by $77.6 million – almost 13 per cent – amid a crippling drought in many areas of the state.
Labor has pledged to spend $537.2 million supporting agriculture – down from the $614.8 million it spent last financial year.
Regional development funding has also taken a hit a 17 per cent hit – Labor slashing it from $296.7 million to $245.6 million.
Labor has again cut its road maintenance spend in real terms as our roads continue to deteriorate.
Leader of The Nationals, Danny O’Brien, said the budget ignored the cost-of-living crisis and inflicted further pain on regional Victorians.
“Labor is whacking us with a great big new emergency services tax that the budget now shows will cost us all an extra $3 billion in coming years,” Mr O’Brien said.
“The Nationals and Liberals will scrap this tax if elected next year to ease the burden on regional Victorians.
“Debt gets worse and we will be paying $28.9 million per day in interest – money that could be going to boosting regional hospitals, investing in schools and fixing our roads.
“This budget yet again shows that Labor can’t manage money and regional Victorians are paying the price.”
https://vic.liberal.org.au/article/2025-05-20-obrien-labor-short-changes-regional-victoria-slugs-us-with-new-tax