Dear Sir,
I write in response to an article ‘Call for an update on the Shepparton By-pass’ by journalist Steve Hutcheson as published in The Adviser on Wednesday 4 August 2021.
This article was written as a result of a media release issued from my office on Wednesday 28 July 2021 which was critical of the State Government for walking away from responsibility for the project based on a response, I received from Minister Jacinta Allan that failed to commit to any funding or acknowledge the State’s critical role in delivering this project. I am extremely disappointed with the construction of the article by Mr Hutcheson, which gives the impression that my criticism was aimed at the Federal Government.
Nothing could be further from the truth. As I made clear in my original media release, the Federal Government has already demonstrated its commitment to the project by allocating $208 million towards the Shepparton Bypass project. My anger is with Victorian Government Minister, Jacinta Allan, who has frustrated progression of the project at every turn by delaying the business case for over two years and has continuously refused to provide any funding towards its construction.
Mr Hutcheson goes on to blame the change of the Federal ministerial portfolio for the delay, whilst giving State Minister for Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan a free pass for her inaction.
The Shepparton community has been waiting decades for the Shepparton Bypass project to become a reality and the truth is we will continue to wait whilst Labor hold government in Victoria.
Wendy Lovell MP
Member for Northern Victoria Region
