Community
12 December, 2024
Roads and cost of living remain a concern, MP says
WANNON MP Dan Tehan was out and about in the community last week, hearing from residents about the issues impacting them most.
Mr Tehan visited Simpson, Timboon, Cobden and Terang last Wednesday as part of his most recent listening post tour.
He said road funding at the state level had continued to be a point of frustration, with underinvestment over the years, reaching a point “people just can’t believe”.
“There is dismay that the state government has cut road maintenance funding by 95 per cent,” he said.
“The feedback they give me is the $2.2 billion that Anthony Albanese has set aside for the Suburban Rail Loop project, they want that to go in to our country roads.
“That’s something, as I go around, people are asking why the Federal Government has that sitting in a contingency when the money could be doing some work.
“That’s especially when, for the first time, we’re starting to see road fatalities pick up again.
“There’s a real need.”
Mr Tehan said cost of living had also remained a point of concern.
“People want to see cost of living and inflation addressed,” he said.
“They want, in particular, to see something that will put downward pressure on electricity and gas bills.
“I had a discussion around aged care and independent living, which was a good discussion, and also heard from people who are deeply concerned with trees going in to prime dairy country.
“People want to see a bit more transparency around that because it’s just crazy to be incentivising carbon trading people to put trees in our prime agricultural land.”
Mr Tehan said there was a good turnout of people.
“It was a beautiful day and people were in a great mood,” he said.
“There was a lot of people out and about, walking past.
“There’s a real sense of a mad rush towards Christmas as we get to the holidays.”
Mr Tehan said the opportunity to get out and talk with people face-to-face about the issues which matter to them was always a highlight.
“I love it,” he said.
“I’ve had two weeks with the Federal Parliament sitting, so to be able to get out and talk with normal people and discuss normal things is just fantastic.
“You pick up on what’s really happening on the ground, and that’s absolutely invaluable.”
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