Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (11:52): My question is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. In the budget the government announced an average of $19.6 billion per year in investment into infrastructure yet only $300 million for regional roads maintenance. Underfunded road and rail infrastructure across my electorate inhibits agricultural productivity, which the region depends on as its primary driver of economic activity. President of the Victorian Farmers Federation, David Jochinke, recently said:

Regional roads continue to crumble and freight trains crawl to port at a huge cost to industry. We see billions flowing to metro and passenger rail projects, yet critical freight corridors continue to be ignored.

My question to the minister is: what is the government doing to lower regional rail and road freight costs for Western Victorian businesses?