Politics & Council
29 May, 2024
Opinion: What a difference $25 million would make
By CHRIS EARL BUDGETS have been delivered by the Federal and State Governments ... times are tough, (our) money in short supply and the bottom line still blowing out with massive daily interest repayments in Victoria alone of $25 million. That...
By CHRIS EARL
BUDGETS have been delivered by the Federal and State Governments ... times are tough, (our) money in short supply and the bottom line still blowing out with massive daily interest repayments in Victoria alone of $25 million.
That figure alone, for one day, would make a massive difference if available for Loddon Shire Council to maintain roads. The same would be said for the other 38 rural council’s in Victoria.
Round it up, that’s two month’s worth of interest bills no longer available to fix country roads.
Then, have a look at rural hospitals. The speculation, the early reports, still say that mega health services will be imposed on country Victoria, perhaps by stealth, with the tightening of the health budget - across the north of the state being rolled into Bendigo Health that has already started talking about “sub-regional” health services.
Imagine another two months’ worth of interest bill money being made available for hospitals? Our country towns and districts could keep their identity.
Why is Victoria’s debt and interest bill so high?
The Government says it’s a symptom of the COVID-era. Yes perhaps, but every other state faced the same challenges and came through without such a big red line.
And, perhaps, its the constant cost blowouts on major projects dubbed the Big Build in Melbourne - roads and tunnels that will act as a fertiliser for further population growth in the metropolis.
What the Budgets at state and national level have again lacked, like so many over the past 40 years, is investment in country areas that foster growth and make towns like those in the Loddon Shire attractive and practical in the eyes of people driving north and seeing the Keilor Hills as a distant memory in the rear-vision mirror.
Politics is the art of appealing to people and gaining the most votes (and seats) to win an election. Once victory is achieved, government should be about strengthening the frameworks inherited and planning with vision.
It could be argued that there has not been real visionary leadership in Victoria for more than 20 years.
The vision today, from the current State Government, pretty much on funding social policy implementation - tackling the problem instead of eradicating or reducing the cause.
Few of the Government’s pet social project pets have seen cuts in funding.
Should not government get back to making sure the basics are right first? Loddon Shire Council has recently adopted a policy that says here, on the ground, it will only wade into areas where it has responsibility. Wise use of time and resources!
Sadly, however, our state and national leaders are yet to have that Epiphany. The spine bends to the loudest and takes attention and focus away from the core role of government.
The rabble, some would say, with their demands in Melbourne, are denying the investment needed in country Victoria to allow our communities to keep their identity, grow and actually help address the problems that proliferate around the Big Smoke.
Whether COVID, cost blowouts, pandering to minorities or poor fiscal management, combined it means that our part of the world alone is missing out.
* Chris Earl is managing editor of the Loddon Herald