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Premier Baillieu makes first Sunraysia visit

Posted on September 9, 2011

VICTORIAN Premier Ted Baillieu made a flying visit to Sunraysia this week, checking some of his Government’s election promises that were made late last year, and other major projects.

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu and Mildura Mayor John Arnold.

It was his first visit to Sunraysia since becoming Premier in November.

He made stops at the Mildura Arts Centre and riverfront redevelopments and Dockside Marina while in the district, but made no further announcements during his visit on Wednesday.

While not committing any immediate additional funding, the Premier painted a positive future for the district.

“Mildura has a fantastic future and indeed we’ve made some very significant financial commitments in very challenging times and we’re keeping those commitments,” Mr Baillieu said.

“I look forward to Mildura growing in the future and the riverfront development is one step and yes, these things take time, but every step in the right direction is a positive step.”

The Premier used his visit to Mildura to reiterate his stance on the Federal Government’s carbon tax and its potential impacts on areas such as Sunraysia.

“We don’t think this will be good for Victoria and I have to say I don’t think this will be good for Mildura either,” Mr Baillieu said.

“There’s a very large trucking industry out of Victoria, particularly out of this region and these industries are going to do it tough, and the last thing anyone needs right now is another tax.”

He said a carbon tax would negatively impact on the entire Mildura region and its businesses, refuting Federal Government claims that Victorians would be compensated for the cost increases caused by the new tax.

“We find the compensation offered to Victoria is not really going to be up with it,” the Premier said.

“It represents a threat to jobs, a threat to regions, to our economy.”

After his public engagements, the Premier had closed door talks with Mildura Mayor John Arnold and Mildura Development Corporation chief executive Anne Mansell.

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