The Victorian government has sacrificed regional and rural communities on the altar of budget repair, according to Rural Councils Victoria (RCV).

“The budget is propped up by hundreds of millions of dollars that will be ripped from the state’s rural communities through the unfair Emergency Services Volunteers Fund levy,” RCV chair, Rob Amos said.

“Despite using rural communities to prop up the state’s finances, this budget fails to deliver for rural communities. Most of the spending is pre-announced or business as usual, with very few new initiatives for rural voters.”

“Investing in new schools and roads upgrades is the bare minimum we expect from government,” Cr Amos said.

“Rural Victoria is bearing the brunt of tax increases with very little to show for it.”

“The budget appears not to contain any new measures to support rural councils to manage the delivery essential programs and basic infrastructure with limited revenue.”

The only significant funding in the Towong Shire is $121,000 to upgrade toilets at the Tallangatta Secondary College.

Cr Amos did add that there were some positive elements in the budget.

A third of the government’s new $150 million Victorian Investment Fund has been earmarked for regional Victoria, to promote economic growth and new jobs.

The government has also fully funded its previously announced Economic Growth Statement ($74.1 million). Under this package, $10 million will be spent on critical basic infrastructure needed to support new homes, such as sewerage and water connections, $3.5 million will be used for cutting red tape across regional areas including digitising regional council systems; and $400,000 has been set-aside for the creation of Regional Launching Pads’ to help stimulate regional businesses.

There is also $88 million for regional housing, as part of the Commonwealth’s Housing Support Program.

This article appeared in Corryong Courier, 22 May 2025.