Phoney Tonys party walks away from the Princes Highway
Wednesday, 26 May 2010 09:20
The Federal Opposition has abandoned its promise to duplicate the Princes Highway between Winchelsea and Colac, exposing the spin and dishonesty of Phoney Tony's candidate for Corangamite Sarah Henderson.
Documents released last week by the Shadow Finance Minister Andrew Robb confirm that the duplication of the Highway beyond Winchelsea is NOT a commitment the Liberal and National parties will honour if elected later this year - see attachment.
According to Mr Robb, the Coalition's new found interest in this road has "been discontinued."
On 9 February, Ms Henderson issued a press release with the following carefully prepared and scripted remarks:
"A duplicated highway through to Colac would be a major economic boost for the region. It [Labor] must stop its obsession with spin, get out in the real world and take action on critical projects such as this one."
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and his Shadow Treasurer Joe Hockey expressed similar views during separate visits to the region earlier this year.
We now know the only person that's been guilty of "spin" is Ms Henderson.
Prior to the last election, her Party refused to commit any funding to this road and now their renewed interest in it has been exposed as a sham.
"The revelation means that far from committing to the next stage of the Princes Highway, if elected, the Liberals will stop funding on the current stage from Waurn Ponds to Winchelsea," Darren Cheeseman said.
"It does not surprise me that their commitment was so shallow. They had 12 years of the Howard Government and did nothing. Tony Abbott was nearly killed on the road and he walked away without giving any commitment."
"The plain fact is that Labor Party is the only party who has committed to this project and we are getting on with the job, all the planning is just about finished, with construction to start this year."
The Liberal Party's repeated failure to put their money where their mouth is is just further proof that none of Phoney Tony's "Gospel truth" road promises can ever be believed.
For our part, the Rudd Labor Government pledged $110 million to duplicate the road between Waurn Pounds and Winchelsea - a commitment that's being matched dollar for dollar by the Brumby Labor Government.
Good progress is already being made on delivering this long overdue upgrade, with the detailed planning work currently being finalised and construction expected to start later this year.
Contact Joe Taylor 0416241653
