MP hits back at Senator’s slam

FEDERAL Member for Bendigo, Lisa Chesters, has responded to Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson’s claims on a lack of delivery of major infrastructure projects during her current term in office. 

Ms Henderson made the claim during the recent announcement that current City of Greater Bendigo deputy-mayor Matthew Evans is the Liberal’s pre-selected candidate for the Federal seat of Bendigo. 

While Ms Chesters said she intends to run for re-election, with a national vote potentially more than a year away, she said her current focus is on assisting locals with their immediate needs.  

“The role is more than just big infrastructure projects, and that seems to be all the Liberals care about,” she said.  

“It’s the day-to-day, it’s representing people who may have missed their Centrelink payments, may have had a problem with their NDIS plan, that is a big part of the job.” 

One of the big commitments of the Federal budget was to build more homes and provide funding for social and community housing. 

“That takes time to build and whilst it’s being built, we have to help those who are struggling to pay rent or who are homeless,” said Ms Chesters. 

In June this year, the Federal Government pledged $2 billion through its Social Housing Accelerator program with the aim of increasing the volume of social housing by thousands. 

This to be completed across the nation by 30 June 2025, presumably after the next election. 

However, Ms Chesters said there are a number of local projects she has helped secure funding for.  

Examples include Ulumbarra Theatre, Bendigo Airport, Bendigo and District RSL Soldiers’ Institute, Bendigo Regional Tennis Centre, and Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre. 

“Since I’ve been the Federal member, I’ve been a strong advocate for lots of projects that have been built here in Bendigo,” said Ms Chesters.  

“Part of that period we were in opposition, so I worked with the Government of the day.” 

Ms Chesters also spoke of the tripling of the Medicare incentive for some patients earlier this year, increasing childcare subsidies, payments to people on fixed incomes like those on Jobseeker, and youth allowance and single parent pension increases. 

Ms Chesters said she hopes Mr Evans will continue to focus on his role as a councillor and deputy-mayor for the City throughout his campaign. 

“There’s roads that need to be fixed, there’s sporting clubs that need desperately to be upgraded,” she said.