MEMBERS of the State Opposition\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Member for Western Victoria, Joe McCracken hosted the group which included Victoria\u2019s Liberal Party leader John Pesutto as well as shadow ministers Georgie Crozier, David Southwick, and Matthew Bach.<\/p>\n
Mr Pesutto said there needs to be a greater focus on Ballarat from the State Government.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe people of Ballarat really need more support from the Andrews Government,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had a great opportunity\u2026 to talk to business leaders, community leaders about the challenges Ballarat faces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here to say we\u2019ll be strong advocates whether it\u2019s local community groups\u2026 to multicultural leaders who try to help new settlers to the area and those businesses that want to invest and keep their workforces.\u201d<\/p>\n
The tour included a trip to the Ballarat Saleyards, set to be overhauled into the the 2026 Commonwealth Games athlete\u2019s village, as well as a presentation from Mr Pesutto at Federation University\u2019s Technology Park on Lydiard Street.<\/p>\n
Mr McCracken said the team\u2019s discussions with community and industry representatives covered a range of topics.<\/p>\n
\u201c[We\u2019ve] listened to locals talk about local issues like Comm Games, education, health, tax, housing crisis,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also said the pace of progress in readying the saleyards for the Comm Games was a major cause for concern.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this is going to be ready in three years\u2019 time, there\u2019s not a shovel been put in the ground,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m very concerned that the site\u2019s got to be decontaminated, it\u2019s got to be levelled off, there\u2019s got to be construction there. When\u2019s it going to happen?\u201d<\/p>\n
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 \u201chit-list\u201d of 110 chosen schools public.<\/p>\n
Georgie Crozier, the Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services said Ballarat\u2019s healthcare workers would feel the impact of the State Government\u2019s $100 million cut to Victoria\u2019s healthcare sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat just demonstrates how significant the budget blowouts are and the dire situation Victoria\u2019s budgeting is in when the Andrews Government cuts the budget of this vital sector,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MEMBERS of the State Opposition\u2019s 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\u2019s Liberal Party leader John Pesutto as well as shadow ministers Georgie Crozier, […]<\/p>\n