Burden on country communities grows alarmingly, writes Gaelle Broad
REGIONAL Victorians are proud, resilient and community-minded. We work hard, look out for each other, and contribute enormously to the state’s economy. 
But right now, our communities are being treated as second-class citizens by a Melbourne-centric Labor Government.
Over recent months, the list of burdens placed on country communities has grown alarmingly.
The new VicGrid Bill is just the latest example. Under this legislation, farmers can be fined for refusing access to their own properties for transmission projects. This is an outrageous attack on property rights and a slap in the face to the people who grow our food, fibre and fuel. It’s clear that instead of working with landholders, Labor would rather strong-arm them.
From July 1, Labor also introduced its new Emergency Services Levy, hitting household and business budgets already under stress. While no one disputes the importance of funding our emergency services, slugging families and small businesses with yet another tax during a cost-of-living crisis is the wrong approach. Regional Victorians are already paying more than our fair share, and we should not be treated as Labor’s cash cow.
Meanwhile, state debt is spiralling out of control. Victoria now owes more than any other state in Australia, with debt forecast to hit record highs of over $194 billion by 2029. The interest payments alone will cost Victorians $1.2 million every hour.
Every dollar wasted on cost blowouts and poorly managed city projects is a dollar that’s not being spent on fixing our roads, funding regional hospitals, or improving local schools. 
In the energy sector, more than 1180 gas customers across 10 towns have been told their supply will be cut off by the end of next year. That’s 1150 households and 34 small businesses facing the uncertainty and cost of finding alternative energy sources. Labor’s anti-gas agenda will hit regional communities hardest, driving up costs and limiting choice.
Community safety is another growing concern.
The most recent figures from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) show that total offences have risen 24 per cent in the Loddon Shire in the 12 months to March 2025, while stealing from a motor vehicle is up 157 per cent.
Farm crime is on the rise, with recent reports of livestock theft leaving farmers out of pocket and feeling unsafe.
At the same time, Victoria is currently short around 1,100 police officers, with many rural stations struggling to fill rosters. This means slower response times and less visible policing in country areas.
The Liberals and Nationals are committed to turning this around with initiatives like our Break Bail, Face Jail policy — making it clear that if you break bail, you go straight to jail. This will send a strong message to repeat offenders and help restore confidence in the justice system.
Our roads are also in a shocking state. Across regional Victoria, potholes and crumbling surfaces have become the norm, not the exception. Poor maintenance is costing motorists in tyre and suspension repairs, increasing accident risks, and slowing down the movement of goods and services. While Labor pours billions into Melbourne infrastructure, our regional road network is literally falling apart.
Then there’s drought support. Farmers and regional businesses expected genuine help during difficult seasons, but what Labor delivered was poorly thought out and disconnected from the reality of life on the land, including fodder and transport..
The Victorian Liberals and Nationals have a different vision.
If elected next year, we will:
Protect farmers’ property rights and scrap Labor’s heavy-handed VicGrid access laws.
Abolish Labor’s new Emergency Services Levy and fund emergency services properly without new taxes.
Scrap other taxes including the GP Health tax; Air BnB tax; schools tax; and stamp duty on homes up to $1 million for first home buyers.
Legislate a Charter of Budget Honesty and audit the books.
Crack down on crime by delivering Break Bail, Face Jail.
Regional Victoria is the engine room of our state — we grow the food, provide the energy and underpin the economy. We deserve respect, fair treatment and policies that work for us, not just for Melbourne.
It’s time to put the regions back at the heart of decision-making in Victoria. The Liberals and Nationals will do just that.
Gaelle Broad is a member for Northern Victoria Region