General News
29 July, 2026
Independent challenger hopes to shake things up
AN independent candidate will throw her hat in the ring at this year’s State Election, believing both major parties are ignoring the facts which showcase just how far the regions have been left behind.
Geelong’s Aleta Moriaty has signalled her intent to run as an independent candidate for Western Victoria this November, saying she can no longer watch on as rural areas get left in the dust.
Ms Moriaty said growing up in a regional area gave her a first-hand understanding of the disconnect from major cities.
She hopes to bridge the divide between what regional areas are given and what they deserve through data analysis which proves regional Victoria is not receiving its fair share of government investment.
“We see a massive discrepancy in wages and poverty rates between metropolitan and regional and rural areas,” Ms Moriarty said.
“We have a situation where major parties that funnel money into where the votes are and leave these areas behind.”
Ms Moriarty said her candidacy as an independent means she can address the needs of rural areas without walking the party line.
“You’re just a human who’s a voice piece for the community,” she said.
“My platform evolves based on what the community wants because it’s community-driven – it’s about reflecting those local projects the community wants.
“What I would like to see is schools that are fully funded and get their adequate infrastructure spend.
“I would like to see health spending up, more access to general practitioners and a pro-rata infrastructure spend that’s fair to rural areas.”
Ms. Moriaty said even viewing broadly available data, such as the 2021 census data, revealed regional areas have a 27 per cent lower household income and poorer health outcomes than greater Melbourne.
“Regional residents also experience poorer access to health services as distance and workforce shortages increase,” she said.
“Without substantial workforce reform, the Commonwealth’s modelling projects that shortage will rise by 2028.
“Smaller towns feel these shortages most acutely because losing even one doctor can substantially reduce local access to care.”
Ms Moriarty said the regionals represent approximately 23 per cent of the state’s population but her analysis of the 2026/2027 Budget showcased the regions received just a fraction of new funding.
She said her plan for Victoria would involve a comprehensive understanding of where shortcomings are before seeking direct action to balance the scales.
“I would require an annual regional and rural budget statement showing expenditure by region, community, service and infrastructure category,” Ms Moriarty said.
“You cannot fix what you cannot see.
“I would push for substantially greater investment in regional health, education, roads, public transport, housing, digital connectivity and community infrastructure.
“I also think we should introduce a Regional Equity Act which would require every state government, regardless of political party, to assess regional impacts, publish regional funding data and demonstrate how each Budget is reducing geographic inequality.
“I would also like to establish regional funding floors for essential services and infrastructure.”
Ms Moriarty said the south west’s struggles in areas such as workforce shortages, socioeconomic disadvantage, aging population and transportation costs should be considered when it comes to the state’s funding formula.
“Cobden, for example, is a strong and productive community at the centre of an important agricultural region,” Ms Moriarty said.
“It should not have to continually campaign for basic services that metropolitan communities take for granted.
“Cobden, Timboon, Simpson, Port Campbell, Terang, Mortlake, Derrinallum, Lismore, Noorat and Camperdown sit between two worlds.”
Ms Moriarty said the major parties have treated the region as either a safe or unwinnable area, and have spent their investments accordingly.
“People feel like they’re on a treadmill, working harder but going anywhere,” she said.
“That’s a policy failure that’s been compounding for decades.
“You can’t fix a broken system with the same people who broke it.”