Lobby group seeks commitment from Canberra

THE region’s key lobby group, G21 Regional Alliance, heads to Canberra today, armed with a detailed wish list for funding infrastructure and community development projects.

The G21 board will meet with Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to push for improved transport links throughout the region and to Melbourne along with securing the National Disability Insurance Scheme’s headquarters.

G21 chief executive Elaine Carbines said the mission was specifically timed to deliver messages to politicians ahead of the Federal Budget and September’s election.

‘‘We have certainly been able to get some key meetings which we are very pleased about and it gives us the opportunity to be able to articulate our priority projects,’’ Ms Carbines said.

The board will attend 14 meetings during two days to promote the region.

The meeting agenda is heavily weighted towards the Coalition.

It will include eight meetings with Coalition MPs, a clear indication that G21, like the opinion polls, is forecasting a change of government in September.

The only federal ministers who will meet the group are Jenny Macklin and Greg Combet, as well as Parliamentary Secretary f or Disabilities and Carers Jan McLucas.

Government advisers and chiefs-of-staff to Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson will also meet delegates.

Lined up behind Mr Abbott to speak with the Geelong delegation are senior Coalition members Bob Baldwin, Mitch Fifield, Greg Hunt, Barnaby Joyce, Sophie Mirabella, Andrew Robb and Nationals leader Warren Truss.

G21 will also meet with Australian Greens Leader, Christine Milne.

‘‘We have always sought to have meetings with both the government of the day and the opposition but this delegation has been able to secure many more meetings than we have in the past, particularly with a number of Coalition MPs,’’ Ms Carbines said.

‘‘They are keen to meet with our board and we are very grateful for that opportunity.’’

The lobby representing the region’s employers, the Committee for Geelong, has also been banging on Canberra’s door, with new executive director Rebecca Casson meeting government advisers last week and the full committee delegation meeting many of them last September.