By DAVID BRAITHWAITE
LAST month marked a decade since the Labor Party regained government in Victoria.
Daniel Andrews replaced Denis Napthine as state premier after leading Labor to victory in the 2014 election. Labor has had two comfortable victories in the two subsequent elections, with Jacinta Allen taking over the leadership last year following Mr Andrews’ retirement.
The next election is due in November 2026.
In a statement to the Latrobe Valley Express’ sister paper the Gippsland Times, Premier Jacinta Allen said the government has worked hard for and with regional communities just like those across every corner of Gippsland.
“Every dollar we invest in regional Victoria is a dollar well spent – and we’ve invested more than $45 billion over the last decade,” she said.
“Of course, our work is far from over. I’ll keep working every single day to achieve a Victoria that is better, fairer and kinder.”
Leader of the Nationals and Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien said Gippsland has been sent backwards in the last 10 years.
“After 10 years under a Labor state government, Gippslanders are left paying the price through record debt, record taxes, falling standards of living, and billions of dollars in cost blowouts across major projects,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Victoria now has a record net debt that is on track to reach $187.8 billion by 2027/28 after increasing by a staggering $80.4 million a day over the last quarter.
“We are paying more than ever before, but what are regional areas like Gippsland South getting in return?”
Mr O’Brien said he believed Gippslanders were footing the bill for a city-centric state government that continued to fail regional communities.
“We have watched on in disbelief as the Labor state government has wasted billions of dollars to cover major project cost blowouts of over $40 billion on city-based mega projects, including $21.2 billion on the North East Link, $4.7 billion on the West Gate Tunnel and $4.87 billon on the Metro Tunnel. Meanwhile our local roads are riddled with potholes and subject to speed reductions after funding cuts to the road maintenance budget,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Under Labor we have seen local voices silenced in the rush for new renewable energy projects while at the same time energy prices are soaring with electricity costs up 21.5 per cent and ideological bans on gas.
“Power stations have been shut down after the tripling of coal taxes and our sustainable native timber industry has been axed by a government more concerned about Green votes than timber towns.”
Mr O’Brien said the list of failures under Labor would be comical if it was not so devastating.
“Labor made big promises to Gippsland ahead of the last election including a promise of economic stimulus and increased social housing by bringing the 2026 Commonwealth Games to regional Victoria,” he said.
“All this from a government that went on to pay $380 million to not host the Commonwealth Games.
“In fact, despite being in the midst of a housing crisis, Gippsland South now has less social housing stock than it did 10 years ago.
“Indeed, after 10 years of Labor the only thing regional communities like Gippsland are seeing more of is crime.”
Mr O’Brien was referring to data released in September 2024 which showed that crime has risen 93.3 per cent in South Gippsland Shire, almost double since Labor came to power in 2014.
The government told the Gippsland Times it has has invested close to $1.5 billion in road maintenance funding in Gippsland since 2014.
As part of this government’s $219 million investment in up to 200 additional weekend V/Line services (a 2022 election commitment), trains are running every 40 minutes on the Traralgon line from 8am to 9pm on weekends.
Since the state government introduced the regional fare cap, passengers have saved more than $100 million in train fares including those using the Gippsland line.
The state government has also invested $228 million into social housing for the Gippsland community. There will be 540 new homes with nearly half of those already complete.
The state government also claimed to have delivered better facilities and more healthcare workers for all Victorians, backed by a record more than $21 billion investment in this year alone.
Some health investments benefiting or set to benefit Gippsland locals include the works at the Latrobe Regional Hospital ($223.5 million for Stage 3A and $73 million for Stage 2), Urgent Care Clinics in Moe and Warragul, multiple new ambulance branches, and public sector residential aged care facilities in Bairnsdale, Maffra, Sale, Leongatha, Traralgon, Orbost, Omeo and Warragul.
Almost $37 million has been provided to build or upgrade 22 police stations in Gippsland, while the government pointed to the delivery of more than 160 new police members and specialist family violence officers to the region and 205 crime prevention initiatives.
Offshore wind projects will also support thousands of jobs in Gippsland and help power homes and businesses across Australia with renewable energy, the government also highlighted.
The government has invested $16.9 billion over the past decade to build new schools and deliver more than 2200 school upgrades, including more than $325 million on 172 upgrade projects in Gippsland.
Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing said it had been a privilege and a joy to represent the Eastern Victoria region in Parliament, and to advocate for the ambitions and opportunities Gippslanders told her were most important.
“Gippsland is strong and proud with a history of resilience and innovation and a future that’s full of potential, and I’m determined to do all that I can to support it,” she said.
Fellow Labor Member for Eastern Victoria, Tom McIntosh said the government was investing in Gippsland’s future, with sustainable industries, resilient communities, as well as transport, health, and education infrastructure.
“We are supporting workers and businesses to ensure they are part of a thriving future for the region,” he said.
