RESIDENTS have been told by the Prime Minister to pressure the state government to fix Wyndham’s worsening infrastructure problems.
Visiting her electorate last Friday, Lalor MP Julia Gillard spoke out at what she said was the state’s “neglect” of the region’s needs in its budget.
She accused the state government of shirking responsibility for funding critical roads and public transport upgrades.
“It’s always easy to point the finger at someone else. What’s harder is managing your own budget and getting the important things done.”
Her comments follow state Planning Minister Matthew Guy’s request for more than $20million to fund half the cost of an interchange joining Sneydes Road and the Princes Freeway.
Mr Guy said the interchange would benefit existing and future residents of Point Cook.
“I urge the federal government to support this key infrastructure project that will not only help Point Cook residents, but also help to create thousands of new local jobs at the Werribee Employment Precinct,” he said.
But Ms Gillard said suburban roads were the responsibility of state and local governments.
“We as a federal government do not do road funding for every road around the country.
“We are the level of government that steps in to do the big infrastructure projects, and so, for other things, people need to look to the state government and if it’s not doing the right thing, make their views known to their state government representatives.”
Ms Gillard said the state government had to prove the project would boost productivity and was of national importance.
“If the state government is serious as opposed to trying just to generate some media coverage, then it will be putting together a compelling case to go to Infrastructure Australia.
“If it hasn’t done that, then I think people are entitled to conclude this is just a bit of political argy-bargy, rather than them being serious about this infrastructure project.”
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury said the state government was “more than entitled” to apply for federal government funding for roads.
“We’ve put on the table our commitment for Sneydes Road and all we ask is that the PM supports her local community and that the funds hopefully be considered and delivered,” Mr Elsbury said.
