MILDURA MP Jade Benham says she’s expecting little for her electorate in the Victorian State Budget on Tuesday and that “if you don’t have expectations, then you are never as disappointed”.
It will be the first State Budget the Member for Mildura will witness as an MP, and she’s “not hugely confident” and “not overly optimistic” her electorate will receive what it needs.
“Our interest repayments at the moment are $10 million a day, there is no money to fix our public health system, there’s no money to fix the roads,” she told Sunraysia Daily.
“It will be important to see exactly how they (the Andrews government) are going to present this budget.”
Working from opposition, Ms Benham has raised more than 20 issues in the parliamentary chamber since she was elected late last year.
Repeated requests have been made for “big ticket items” including Mildura Base Public Hospital funding, the release of the hospital’s masterplan, and ongoing maintenance of five major roads in her electorate.
“These are the things (the public are) making me aware of,” Ms Benham said.
She said for the government to pass the litmus test in Mildura during this budget, serious investment was needed in health, roads, and addressing youth crime and youth justice issues.
However, she said she’s “not expecting much”.
“The Premier’s already told us it’s going to be a tough budget. He’s told us they’re going to cut public service jobs,” she said.
“I expect those public service jobs will be out in the regions where he will feel them less, so I’m prepared.”
Alongside the big ticket items she is seeking, Ms Benham said she’d welcome investment in the local racing industry, and in education.
She said the impacts of this budget would affect everyone.
“Over the next three years, and this is probably a conservative figure, Labor’s tax rate will increase by 14 per cent,” she said.
“We’ve never been taxed more in our lives. Victorians have never been paying more and getting less value for money and in the regions we are getting completely ripped off.
“It’s my job now to hold them (the Government) to account and to ask questions when the budget comes out on Tuesday.”
Things Member for Mildura Jade Benham has asked the government for*:
· Rural and regional road improvements times 4.
· The release of the Mildura Base Public Hospital masterplan times two. **
· Upgrades for Mildura Base Public Hospital’s emergency department times two. **
· A timeline for the delivery of the Mallee Multidisciplinary Centre times two.
· A return of surgical and specialist services at Mildura Public Base Hospital.
· A guarantee that public health services in Mildura, Ouyen and Robinvale maintain independent boards and governance, and not be merged.
· No loss of childcare and aged care services in Ouyen.
· Expansion of SuniTAFE Mildura to allow for more health and automotive offerings.
· Five-year’s worth of funding for the Northern Mallee Leaders Program.
· Investment in Timmis Speedway.
· The Department of Health to visit Mildura and discuss the $36 million Alcohol and Other Drug Rehab Facility rollout.
· The release of the Sea Lake Mallee Rally conservation management plan.
· An All-Wheel Drive Ambulance vehicle for Murrayville (funding has since been approved for the coming financial year).
· Firewood collection arrangements.
· Visits to Mildura from the Health Minister and Youth Justice Minister.
* Issues mentioned via Questions on Notice, Questions without Notice, Adjournment Debates, Constituency Questions, Matters of Public Importance and Members’ Statements
** These issues were asked as part of the same question
