THE Liberals have pounced on the Victorian Labor Government's failure to fund a new Mildura hospital.
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell says the Budget "is yet another example of the Andrews Labor Government’s failure to invest in priority projects in the Mildura electorate", and also took a swipe at Independent Member for Mildura Ali Cupper by suggesting her advocacy for the facility had been ineffective.
“The lack of support for important Mildura infrastructure projects in the 2022-23 State Budget, particularly a new hospital, is further proof the independent member has failed to deliver the investment the Mildura electorate needs," Ms Lovell said.
“Major Sunraysia infrastructure and service delivery projects have been ignored by Daniel Andrews, providing further proof of both the ineffectiveness of independent members to secure funding for vital projects and the low priority Labor place on the region.
“The failure of Daniel Andrews and Martin Foley to commit funding to build the new Mildura Base Public Hospital is inexcusable.
"After (Opposition leader) Matthew Guy visited Mildura last month and announced a funding commitment of $750 million to build a new hospital and academic health precinct, it is now clear that only a Matthew Guy Liberal Government will deliver the world-class health care the Sunraysia community needs and deserves."
Ms Lovell was also critical of Mildura being left out of Commonwealth Games infrastructure funding.
“The lack of funding to Mildura for infrastructure relating to the 2026 Victorian Commonwealth Games confirms Daniel Andrews’ total disregard for the entire Sunraysia region, deliberately excluding the Northwest in favour of Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong and Latrobe," she said.
She listed other local projects ignored in the budget as:
• funding to complete the Murray Basin Rail Project,
• funding for the upgrade of Mildura Airport,
• the establishment of an Early Parenting Centre,
• funding to increase kindergarten capacity, and
• funding for Stage 1 of the Mildura Motorsport and Community Precinct.
