Wyndham council and Lalor MP Joanne Ryan have slammed the federal government’s budget for 2018-19.
Wyndham deputy mayor Walter Villagonzalo, said Melbourne’s west – particularly Wyndham – had been “neglected” in the budget, which was released last week.
“The Turnbull government has made a big deal of its intention to spend $7.8 billion on roads and railway lines in Victoria, but not one cent of this will be invested in Wyndham,” he said.
He said Wyndham required funding for a western interstate freight terminal, planning for new Regional Rail Link stations, a feasibility study for the Outer Metropolitan Ring Road and modernised water supply for Werribee South farmers.
Ms Ryan told Parliament of her disappointment in “a $270 million cut to TAFE” and a lack of plans to improve housing affordability. She said that the budget failed “dramatically on infrastructure for Victoria”.
“Despite the $5 billion promised for the airport-to-city rail link, there is only $250 million to be spent in the next four years,” she said.
The federal government claims the 2018-19 budget will create more jobs, provide tax relief and guarantee essential services. In a statement, the government said its $75 billion 10-year infrastructure plan would “help bust congestion in our cities”.
