Budget 2023–24
Kim WELLS (Rowville) (09:47): As a local MP for Rowville I am aware of the critical importance that each budget has for the community. With the budget due to be released within the coming weeks I think it is important to remind those opposite of the obligations they owe to all Victorians. Recent media coverage has labelled this upcoming budget as one of hard choices owing in no small way to the projected $165 billion of debt that the Andrews government has created. This Labor government ought to be seriously considering what they are planning to cut in order to get their huge debt under control. Project cost overruns are robbing our state of critical investments, such as improving local schools, repairing dangerous roads and supporting community groups. In the electorate of Rowville we are in desperate need of additional funding towards our schools. At the last election the Labor candidate made election commitments in excess of $15 million. When will we see this money? The Andrews government ought to stop mismanaging large-scale projects that inevitably end up going over budget and ruining the chance of an average Victorian getting a fair share of the budget. It is my hope that the Treasurer heeds his own words when he said we should be sharing resources to ‘ensure that every Victorian gets a fair deal from their government’.