Media Statement - 9th March 2005
The Howard Government should release its funds earmarked for Mitcham Frankston and provide for other urgent road needs in Victoria.
First we had ConnectEast Chief Executive Anthony Shepherd saying Mitcham Frankston without tolls was "unimaginable".
Then we had the Victorian National Party saying the Mitcham Frankston road should not be paid for by Victorian taxpayers.
Now we have the RACV in its 2005-06 budget submission saying the Howard Government should move on and redirect the funds.
For the Howard Government to play politics and hold up the $565 million until the next State election would be absolutely disgraceful.
Those funds are for roads and they belong to Victoria to help tackle transport bottlenecks and save lives on Victoria's roads.
A Labor Government would already be using this money for such important road infrastructure projects as the Deer Park By-Pass, the Calder Freeway, the Pakenham By-Pass and Pakenham Railway Station.
The Howard Government should do likewise and stop sitting on its hands.
Nine years of inaction on infrastructure bottlenecks is long enough.