Victoria has reached a point where many families feel they are working harder but falling further behind, paying more and new taxes and feeling increasingly unsafe in their own homes and communities.
They are sadly correct and many are asking “how did we get here”?
The answer is simple. For too long, the State Labor Government has spent beyond their means, tolerated waste and allowed poor decisions to become accepted practice and now we are paying the price.
This government has spent all its own money and is coming after more of yours, while cutting the programs and jobs we need – elder abuse programs, health services, roads funding, regional development budgets and right down to jobs like fisheries officers – all revealed in its own budget papers.
State debt is forecast to hit almost $200 billion and interest repayments alone are approaching $28 million every single day. That is $28 million a day before a dollar is spent on a nurse, a teacher, a police officer or a country road – and money is not off the debt itself – that is just servicing the interest on the debt.
The Victorian Nationals’ believe the state can be turned around, but it requires a return to common sense and disciplined government.
Firstly, we must stimulate the economy by allowing Victorians to keep more of their own money. That means scrapping the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (tax), removing the GP surcharge and abolishing stamp duty for first-home buyers purchasing homes up to $1 million. These are practical measures that will make a real difference to household budgets.
How do we pay for this? Ending the cost blow outs and corruption.
The recent revelation of $15 billion in corruption on CFMEU building sites is just the tip of the iceberg. Other cost over runs on metro projects have run into the tens of billions of dollars. We will also halt the Box Hill to Cheltenham rail line (Suburban Rail Loop) something very few want and we cannot afford.
Secondly, we must restore law and order.
Communities deserve to feel safe again. Our police force is under enormous pressure, with more than 2,000 vacancies across Victoria and more than 40 police stations either closed or operating on reduced hours, including Lakes Entrance.
The Victorian Nationals’ will recruit 3000 additional police officers, introduce ‘Break Bail, Face Jail’, implement ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ and properly fund youth diversion programs to address offending before behaviours become entrenched.
In addition to being tough on crime, pathways must be provided to assist those who want to get their lives back on track.
Thirdly, we must stop the waste and end the culture of corruption.
Victorians deserve to know where their money is going. Every dollar lost through waste, cost blowouts and poor oversight is a dollar that cannot be spent on hospitals, roads and essential services.
The Victorian Nationals’ have committed to greater transparency and stronger anti-corruption measures to ensure taxpayers can see where every dollar is spent.
Government should focus on delivering essential services, keeping communities safe and above all – living within its means.
Victoria has always been a strong state with hardworking people. There is no reason we cannot be strong again.
But that will only happen if we stop accepting endless debt, higher taxes and declining services as the new normal.
The Victorian Nationals’ have a simple objective: get Victoria back on track by repairing the finances, easing cost-of-living pressures, restoring community safety and ending the waste that has become far too common.
Victorians deserve a government that treats every taxpayer dollar as if it were their own, because ultimately, it is and this November there is a chance to elect a new government, one made up of those with the experience to run the state properly.
