After being short-changed by the Morrison Liberal Government on GST and crucial infrastructure funding, Victorians want a leader who will stand up for the Victoria – and the Leader of the Opposition has today failed that test.
Matthew Guy has refused to call out the Commonwealth for turning its back on Victorians, proving that while he is from Victoria, he isn’t for Victoria – refusing to call for a fairer share of funding for his home state.
This outrageous position sharply contrasts with one of his own frontbench colleagues, former Shadow Treasurer Louise Staley, who told Parliament on 23 March this year that: “Victoria has been dudded on GST receipts for many years.”
Instead of backing Victoria, her boss – the Leader of the Opposition – has told the Victorian Government to “grow the hell up” for fighting for what Victorians deserve: our fair share of funding for critical infrastructure that will connect communities and create jobs.
The Victorian Parliament’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee released a bipartisan report into Commonwealth funding of Victoria this month, which noted: “in 2020–21, Victoria received 18.3% of total Commonwealth infrastructure payments to the states despite its population share of 25.9%, (a gap equal to) $745 million in infrastructure funding”.
It’s clear that tomorrow’s Federal Budget duds Victoria again – it’s time the Morrison Government gave Victorians their fair share of funding, and it’s time Matthew Guy got out of bed with Canberra and started fighting for his state.
Quotes attributable to Acting Premier James Merlino
“Matthew Guy is always a Liberal first and a Victorian second – he should be ashamed for not standing up for our state, and Victorians will remember his refusal to fight for our fair share for a long time.”
“Even his own frontbench knows that the Leader of the Opposition is making the wrong choice - backing Scott Morrison and the Federal Liberals as they continue to short-change Victorians.”
Reviewed 28 March 2022