Staley calls for port apology

Member for Ripon Louise Staley has called on Premier Daniel Andrews to give regional Victoria an apology in claims that the State Government has ripped it off to the tune of $723-million.

Ms Staley said during the negotiation of the Port of Melbourne sale in 2016, Mr Andrews promised to spend 10 percent of a $9.7-billion profit on new transport infrastructure projects in regional Victoria.

“Under questioning in a Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearing, Secretary of the Department of Treasury and Finance David Martine admitted the last budget acquittal for the Port of Melbourne lease proceeds was wrong,” she said.

“$288-million of the proceeds have instead been used on ‘periodic maintenance’ of exist- ing regional rail – not new projects – while a further $435-million has been spent elsewhere because the Federal Government stepped in to deliver this amount for regional rail in Victoria instead.

“Daniel Andrews has been busted ripping off regional and rural Victoria.

“He owes regional Victorians an explanation and an apology.”

Ms Staley said the funding was clearly set aside for new transport projects in regional Victoria and this was a slap in the face to all regional Victorians.

“Daniel Andrews is shamelessly ripping away $723-million from regional Victoria to cover his funding problems in Melbourne,” she said.