The Liberal-National Government’s fund for regional Victorians has been further cut, with new documents released today revealing that sport and recreation clubs will be forced to apply to the Regional Growth Fund for support.
Shadow Minister for Regional and Rural Development, Jacinta Allan said the Liberal-National Government’s ill-thought plan to scrap the Regional Infrastructure Development Fund in favour of a flawed Regional Growth Fund was unravelling by the day.
“Documents released under Freedom of Information have only now revealed the Liberal-National Government’s true intention to again dip into this fund, this time to support sport and recreation amenities,” Ms Allan said.
“Last week it was revealed the Liberal-National Government had already spent 70 per cent of their Fund on election commitments, leaving just $152 million for community projects, health and education projects over the next four years.
“Now when you add in the $31 million of Liberal-National Government election commitments on sports facilities in regional Victoria that are to be included, it will reduce the fund to $121 million for the next four years.”
Ms Allan said the Regional and Rural Development Minister, Peter Ryan, needed to explain to Victorians why he never revealed that the Fund would cover sport and recreational facilities.
“Sporting facilities is such an important part of the community in regional Victoria. That is why Labor always had a dedicated Sport and Recreation Fund in Government and why we committed $112 million to it during the election,” she said.
“The Liberal-National Government has chosen to cut funding to communities by further diluting their Fund rather than having a dedicated funding source for recreational amenities.
“Mr Ryan knew that including sport and recreational facilities would further dilute the Fund, which he has already admitted will include ‘core services such as education and
health’.”
Ms Allan said Mr Ryan’s claim it was a $1 billion fund was nothing more than spin.
“The Regional Growth Fund is a con on regional and rural communities.
“In the past four years, more than $1.6 billion has been provided to regional health, education and other infrastructure – more than three times the $500 million the Baillieu Government intends to invest in the next four years.”