Federal Labor pledges $153 million for Geelong

THE federal Labor Party has put the money on the table for Geelong’s City Deal (or City Partnership), promising $153 million if their party wins the next federal election.

The collaboration between three levels of government on projects and initiatives in the Geelong region is not yet done, despite predictions that the deal would be finished by either this month or October.

Last week, Labor announced that, if elected, it would commit $153 million to a City Partnership for the Geelong Convention and Exhibition Centre, the Shipwreck Coast Master Plan, the revitalisation of central Geelong and the Geelong Waterfront Safe Harbour.

“’We live in a growing region and investment in local jobs is more crucial than ever in ensuring that local families are able to secure stable local jobs,” Labor candidate for Corangamite Libby Coker said.

“The Geelong City Partnership will be of huge benefit to people living on both the Surf Coast and the Bellarine Peninsula by increasing tourism and promoting longer visitor stays and economic development in the region.

“Unlike Sarah Henderson and the Liberals, Labor is committed to getting on with delivering local jobs for the people of Corangamite and putting working people front and centre.”

The federal Labor pledge matches the $153 million in Labor’s 2018/19 state budget towards the City Deal.

The Coalition remains tight-lipped about what will and will not be part of the final arrangement, and is yet to commit explicit funding to the deal.

However, a document was leaked earlier this month that earmarked $150 million for Geelong’s City Deal as part of $7.6 billion of federal funding towards projects in marginal seats.

This week, Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson said she was her government “will be making some very positive announcements about the City Deal” but that she was “shocked that federal Labor would endorse a City Deal which excludes funding any projects in Corangamite”.

She said the funding commitments were for projects in the neighbouring electorates of Corio and Wannon.

“Ms Coker could not fight her way out of a wet paper bag. That she allowed this to happen on her watch shows she is incapable of being an effective federal MP.”