Shadow cabinet looks for answers

MEMBERS of the State Opposition’s shadow cabinet visited Ballarat earlier this week as part of a two-day tour to see how the city could be better served by the State Government.

Member for Western Victoria, Joe McCracken hosted the group which included Victoria’s Liberal Party leader John Pesutto as well as shadow ministers Georgie Crozier, David Southwick, and Matthew Bach.

Mr Pesutto said there needs to be a greater focus on Ballarat from the State Government.

“The people of Ballarat really need more support from the Andrews Government,” he said.

“I’ve had a great opportunity… to talk to business leaders, community leaders about the challenges Ballarat faces.

“We’re here to say we’ll be strong advocates whether it’s local community groups… to multicultural leaders who try to help new settlers to the area and those businesses that want to invest and keep their workforces.”

The tour included a trip to the Ballarat Saleyards, set to be overhauled into the the 2026 Commonwealth Games athlete’s village, as well as a presentation from Mr Pesutto at Federation University’s Technology Park on Lydiard Street.

Mr McCracken said the team’s discussions with community and industry representatives covered a range of topics.

“[We’ve] listened to locals talk about local issues like Comm Games, education, health, tax, housing crisis,” he said.

He also said the pace of progress in readying the saleyards for the Comm Games was a major cause for concern.

“If this is going to be ready in three years’ time, there’s not a shovel been put in the ground,” he said.

“I’m very concerned that the site’s got to be decontaminated, it’s got to be levelled off, there’s got to be construction there. When’s it going to happen?”

As the Shadow Minister for Education and Child Protection, Mr Bach criticised a proposed tax on independently-funded schools, requesting for the State Government to make the “hit-list” of 110 chosen schools public.

Georgie Crozier, the Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services said Ballarat’s healthcare workers would feel the impact of the State Government’s $100 million cut to Victoria’s healthcare sector.

“That just demonstrates how significant the budget blowouts are and the dire situation Victoria’s budgeting is in when the Andrews Government cuts the budget of this vital sector,” she said.