By Bonny Burrows
The Federal Finance Minister has slammed State Government claims that its 2017/18 budget is a “disaster” for Victorians.
During a Federal Budget community forum in Beaconsfield on 17 May, Senator Mathias Cormann blasted comments made by a spokesperson for Transport Minister Jacinta Allan on 12 May.
Ms Allan’s spokesperson told the Gazette that “the Federal Budget was a disaster for Victoria and passengers on the Gippsland corridor were one of its biggest victims” and argued that the Commonwealth’s rail investment wouldn’t allow a single extra service to run on the line.
But Senator Mathias said there was plenty of investment targeting south-east Melbourne.
“Obviously people across south-east Melbourne want to see they’ve got the best possible opportunity to get ahead.
“And our financial investment in infrastructure, including our $500 million investment for the Monash Freeway, I think that’s something people in south-east Melbourne are very interested in,” Mr Cormann said.
He called for the State Government to “get off its backside” and start to work.
“The Victorian Government is one of the most … unconstructive governments that I’ve come across,” he said.
“They are letting Victorians down; they’re not engaging constructively with the Federal Government.
“We are standing ready to work with them to deliver outcomes, positive outcomes for Victoria, and instead of playing politics they should actually start working constructively with the Australian Government.”
It is understood that Ms Allan and Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester met on 19 May to discuss Victoria’s regional rail network.
