Geelong Labor, Libs, Greens have their say on state budget

Local Labor MPs have defended yesterday’s state budget which has been slammed by leaders, with an opposition MP calling it a ‘stitch up.’

Jaclyn Symes handed down her maiden budget on Tuesday. Picture: NewsWire/ David Crosling

Geelong’s state Labor MPs have lauded Tuesday’s state budget surplus which has been lashed by local leaders, while an opposition member has labelled it a “stitch up”.

Treasurer Jaclyn Symes’ maiden budget was met with initial disappointment from local leaders due to a lack of specific funding for projects in the region.

Geelong’s trio of state Labor lower house MPs, Ella George, Christine Couzens and Alison Marchant, as well as member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney, praised the budget’s contribution to the region.

“This budget delivers much-needed cost of living help, with real and practical support to ease the financial burden for Geelong families,” Ms Couzens said.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens backed the budget. Picture: Mark Wilson

“We’re focused on what matters most to families across our state’s west - investing in local schools, making healthcare easier and delivering record cost of living relief for our community,” Ms Tierney added.

Those across the aisle weren’t as welcoming.

Following expressions of disappointment from the City of Greater Geelong, G21 and the Committee for Geelong, Polwarth MP Richard Riordan said the taxes featured in budget would rip money out of the regions to pay for projects in Melbourne.

“Everything’s been cancelled for Geelong,” Mr Riordan said.

“Every promise they’ve taken to the last couple of elections have all been abandoned.

Member for Polwarth Richard Riordan said the budget would suck money from the regions. Picture: Brad Fleet

“Geelong has got nothing except sending money in the form of cash to Melbourne to pay for Melbourne projects.

“It’s a complete stitch up.”

Opposition spokeswoman for education Jess Wilson also savaged the government’s funding announcement for an $11m upgrade at Belmont High School.

The upgrade for the school was originally announced ahead of the 2022 election with a November 2026 completion date.

It will now be finished by June 2027.

Member for Western Victoria Sarah Mansfield, of the Greens, said it was pleasing to see the funding for the school, which she had advocated for.

But, she criticised the billions spent on “prisons and luxury facilities for the F1 Grand Prix”.

Greens MP Sarah Mansfield welcomed funding for Belmont High School, but was critical of other components of the budget. Picture: Mark Wilson

“Despite yesterday’s budget claiming to focus on ‘what matters’, it fails to meet the urgency of the climate and housing crisis, and continues to leave public school woefully underfunded,” Ms Mansfield said.

“This budget has not provided any uplift to social or public housing investment across the Geelong region.

“We know that pockets of our region experience unacceptable levels of homelessness and disadvantage, and that waitlists for public housing are at breaking point, with over 6,000 Geelong households waiting for public housing as of December last year.”

Ms Mansfield applauded funding provided to Ngarrimili Geelong, an organisation that supports Indigenous business, but said there should have been more investment in housing, public education, energy transition and public transportation.

Originally published as Geelong Labor, Libs, Greens have their say on state budget