The Fair Share Guarantee pledges to ensure regional Victoria receives 25 per cent of all new state infrastructure spending under a Coalition government.
The commitment comes after a Parliamentary Budget Office analysis revealed regional Victoria currently received 12 per cent of infrastructure funding, despite being home to 25 per cent of the state’s population.
Ms Cleeland said regional communities were being overlooked.
“Regional Victorians pay their taxes, build our economy, produce our food and power this state, yet we continue to be treated like second-class citizens when it comes to government investment,” she said.
“For too long, our roads have been left to crumble, our hospitals operating off an oily rag, and our local communities forced to fight for basic infrastructure while billions are poured into Melbourne.
“The Fair Share Guarantee is about restoring balance and making sure regional Victoria finally receives the investment it deserves.”
Under the policy, at least one in every four dollars of new infrastructure spending would be directed to regional Victoria.
It proposes to deliver upgrades to roads, schools, hospitals, emergency services and community infrastructure across the outer metropolitan parts of the state.
“This commitment sends a very clear message: regional Victoria matters,” Ms Cleeland said.
“This is about fairness. If 25 per cent of Victorians live in regional Victoria, then regional Victoria deserves at least 25 per cent of the investment.
“A Liberal and Nationals government will fight to make sure regional families, businesses and communities finally get their fair share.”
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