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MPs weigh up Labor record

30 Sep, 2009 05:00 AM
AFTER a decade in office, the State Government says it has a proud record and has provided strong leadership, but the State Opposition claims it has broken a long list of promises.

In 1999, Steve Bracks led Labor to victory over Jeff Kennett's government.

Ten years on, Eastern Metropolitan MP Shaun Leane says the State Government has a proud record across the outer-eastern suburbs, investing in infrastructure, health and schools.

"While our economy continues to recover strongly from the global downturn, the Brumby Labor Government continues to invest in local economies."

Scoresby MP Kim Wells was less than impressed. "After 10 years in government and a string of broken promises, things are only getting worse, not better, under Labor."

Mr Leane said residents had benefited from the Angliss Hospital's emergency ward that opened in 2005 and a $30million investment in Wantirna Health.

He said Eastern Health's budget had increased by 150per cent since Labor took office and 1100 extra nurses had been employed in the health system.

Mr Wells said one of the Government's first actions when elected in 1999 was to axe the 300-bed Knox public hospital project.

Mr Leane said education was the Government's top priority, with schools such as Fairhills High having millions of dollars invested in them under Labor.

"While the lazy Opposition criticised our plans and opposed everything, we're working shoulder to shoulder with the Rudd Government through the Building the Education Revolution program, with record investments in schools so our children can do better."

In transport, Mr Wells said Labor had broken a 1999 election promise to conduct a feasibility study into a Rowville rail line, a tram to Knox City and to duplicate High Street Road in Wantirna South.

The Government had also "lied to people of the outer east" and broke its promise not to toll EastLink.

Mr Leane said the Government had added more train services along the Belgrave and Lilydale lines and that more suburban trains would be rolled out soon.

Mr Wells said there was a lack of frontline police across the state and a 1999 election promise for a 24-hour Rowville police station had gone unfulfilled.

But Mr Leane said the Government had increased the number of police and that Victoria Police had a record budget of more than $1.9 billion this year.

With an election a little over 12 months away, Mr Wells said the Liberals would focus on education, health, law and order and public transport.

Mr Leane said that while the groundwork had been laid and investments made "we know there is more to do".

LABOR'S LEDGER: BOTH SIDES AFTER 10 YEARS

Opposition

* Axed 300-bed Knox Public Hospital project.

* Broke 1999 promise to conduct feasibility study into Rowville rail line.

* Broke promise for a tram to Knox City.

* Broke promise not to toll the Scoresby Freeway (EastLink)

* Should have acted earlier on water crisis.

* Badly implemented Melbourne 2030 planning policy.

* Broke promise for a 24-hour Rowville police station.

Source: Kim Wells, Scoresby Liberal MP

Government

* Opened Angliss Hospital's new emergency ward in 2005.

* Made $30 million investment into Wantirna Health, providing palliative care and rehabilitation services..

* More evening services on the Belgrave and Lilydale train lines, and more trains across the network.

* Victoria Police have a record budget of more than $1.9 billion this year, and have increased the number of police by more than 1400.

* Has worked with the Federal Government to deliver infrastructure investment in schools.

* Has provided strong leadership during the global financial crisis.

* Investment in infrastructure, health and schools has secured jobs and bolstered the economy.

Source: Shaun Leane, Eastern Metropolitan Labor MP

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