No promise for WGAC

Member for McMillan Russell Broadbent said he would continue to work towards funding for the West Gippsland Arts Centre redevelopment but it would not be an election promise.

Mr Broadbent said Baw Baw Shire Council had sought $4.9 million federal funding through the National Stronger Region’s Fund and pursuing a commitment through that program was the correct process.

A re-elected federal Coalition government announced on Thursday it would commit $10 million to the $30 million project to build Latrobe Performing Arts Centre in Traralgon.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester made the election promise, which also will see equal contributions from the state government and Latrobe City Council.

Mr Chester said the community’s “Get It Built” campaign had worked productively with all three levels of government to make this project a reality.

Baw Baw has made the arts centre project its major priority for attracting funds and fears the $13.9 million project will not proceed without federal funding.

Cr Joe Gauci last month called on the federal government to seal the deal with council and the state government already committed to matching $4 million grants.

But Mr Broadbent said there was a process and he would continue to work through that process. He said Thursday’s announcement showed that seats did not have to be marginal to attract funding or election promises.

“It does make a mockery of the make McMillan marginal slogan. Darren Chester’s seat is not marginal,” he said.

Mr Broadbent said Baw Baw’s priorities had been different over the years and they had worked through those priorities.

“I am working towards this being funded through the National Stronger Region’s Fund which is the right way of doing it,” he said.

Shire chief executive officer Helen Anstis earlier this month used her Twitter account to encourage people to make McMillan marginal in order to attract funding.

Ms Anstis’ messages stated making McMillan marginal was “maybe the only way that our voices can be heard” and it was the “best way to get the West Gippsland Arts Centre Federal funding of $4.9 million.”

ALP candidate for McMillan Chris Buckingham has been using the make McMillan marginal as his political slogan. On Friday he again said it was time for change and safe seats were not productive for the people.

When challenged that Mr Chester’s Gippsland electorate was not marginal but had attracted $10 million, he said that was because of the “very simple reason the member is in cabinet.”