Politics & Council
14 July, 2026
Finances are heart of growing rural fears
AS WE head towards the November state election, Victorians have an important choice.
AS WE head towards the November state election, Victorians have an important choice.
This election is about more than politics, it is about whether our state continues down the path of rising debt, higher taxes and declining services, or chooses responsible financial management and a better future.
When I was first elected as The Nationals Member for Northern Victoria in 2022, four years until the next election seemed like a long time away, and now polling booths open in less than 20 weeks.
Over the past three and a half years, I have travelled thousands of kilometres, meeting with residents, businesses, farmers, volunteers and community groups, to listen to their concerns and represent our region in the Victorian Parliament.
As I meet people across our region, the message is remarkably consistent. They’re concerned about the rising cost of living, the condition of our roads, access to health care, community safety and whether regional Victoria is receiving its fair share. At the heart of these concerns is the Allan Labor Government’s financial mismanagement.
The way our state’s finances are managed affects every Victorian. The State Government is responsible for funding the services we rely on like hospitals, schools, police, roads, public transport, housing and emergency services. When government spending becomes unsustainable, every household pays the price.
Under Labor, Victoria’s net debt is forecast to reach almost $200 billion by 2029-2030. Interest repayments alone will exceed $32 million every day, that’s more than $1.3 million every hour! Every dollar spent servicing debt, is one less dollar invested in better roads and hospitals, local schools, more police, transport and the community services we rely on.
Victorians are also paying more through higher taxes and charges. Since coming to office,
Labor has introduced or increased 67 taxes and charges, making Victoria Australia’s highest-taxed state.
Victoria’s financial position has also damaged our credit rating, meaning taxpayers face even higher borrowing costs in the years ahead.
Many people are asking, where has all the money gone? Under Labor’s financial mismanagement, it’s been lost through waste, cost blowouts and failed projects.
Melbourne’s major infrastructure projects have blown out by more than $50 billion. More than $589 million was wasted after the Labor Government abandoned its promise to host the Commonwealth Games.
Serious allegations of corruption linked to the government’s Big Build sites continue to raise concerns, yet calls for a Royal Commission have been ignored.
Regional Victoria has been overlooked. The independent Parliamentary Budget Office found that less than 12 per cent of new infrastructure funding has been allocated to regional Victoria, despite 25 per cent of the population calling it home.
Regional Victoria generates enormous wealth for our state, yet misses out on the investment our communities need.
Victoria needs a fresh start. The Liberals and Nationals have outlined a responsible plan to restore the state’s finances, reduce debt over time and ease cost-of-living pressures.
Our plan includes stronger budget transparency, targeted tax relief, greater support for businesses and measures to ensure government spending is focused on essential services rather than bureaucracy.
We are also committed to restoring integrity and accountability by establishing a Royal Commission into corruption associated with the Big Build, while ending wasteful spending and delivering better value for taxpayers.
We will introduce a Fair Share Guarantee to ensure 25 per cent of new infrastructure spending is invested in regional Victoria. That means more funding for the roads, hospitals, schools, emergency services and infrastructure our communities need.
Victoria has always been a state of opportunity. With responsible financial management, we can restore confidence, strengthen our economy and ensure future generations are not burdened with ever-growing debt.
I am grateful to be standing again to represent our region in the Victorian Parliament. This election is an opportunity to choose a different path and give Victoria a fresh start.
With your support, we can stop the waste, end the corruption and ensure regional Victoria finally receives its fair share.
* Gaelle Broad is the member for Northern Victoria Region
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