AS the State Budget approaches, Member for Shepparton District Kim O’Keeffe has called for the government to act on key needs: housing, healthcare, cost of living, roads and infrastructure.
“We are experiencing a housing crisis with over 2,239 on the social housing waitlist alone, and that figure continues to grow. We need a commitment to address our current housing crisis,” O’Keeffe said, adding, “The recent announcement of increased land tax does not help our situation.”
O’Keeffe said that as rent costs surge due to economic pressures, many are struggling to keep a roof over their heads. Without government support to manage living costs, she said more individuals could be forced into homelessness as landlords pass these tax hikes onto tenants.
She is also calling for Stage Two of GV Health to complete the hospital redevelopment and a funding boost for health services.
“Our hospital is incomplete, and this is a matter of urgency. The government must fulfil its commitment and provide the people in my electorate with the healthcare facilities and services they urgently need,” she said.
Urging for investment into roads, O’Keeffe highlighted that since 2020, the road maintenance budget has been cut by 45 per cent. She said that with regional Victoria making up 25 per cent of the state’s population, 25 per cent of capital funding should be spent on initiatives and projects outside of Melbourne.
“It is expected to be a horror budget due to this government’s financial mismanagement, and Victorians are paying the price,” said O’Keeffe, highlighting that state’s debt which she said is now higher than New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania combined, with interest alone costing Victorians over $15M daily.
“That money should have been spent on housing, hospitals, roads or a new sports stadium,” O’Keeffe said.
