By Alesha Capone
A ROUTINE roads funding announcement turned in to a comedy of errors last week as Federal and State politicians engaged in a game of back and forth press releases.
The State Government was accused of “sneaky, shameful politics” by a spokesman for Prime Minister Julia Gillard, after a Victorian Liberal Party statement claimed they were providing millions in funding for road improvements in the West.
But the funding was actually provided by the Federal Government’s Black Spot Program, which is managed by VicRoads and councils, back in June this year.
Among the projects which the State Government claimed to be funding – without mentioning the Federal Government – was a $1.74 million plan to install a roundabout at Dohertys Rd and Tarneit Rd, in Tarneit.
The other proposals included a $51,000 project to put a fully-controlled right turn movement at Dunnings Rd and Boardwalk Blvd, Point Cook, and also at Fitzgerald Rd, Tilburn Rd and Forrest St in Ardeer.
“This is sneaky, shame-ful politics. It’s time for the state Liberals to stop playing games on important local projects and start working with the Gillard government to improve infrastructure and services for the West,” Ms Gillard’s spokesman said.
However, after the Federal Government made their announcement, the State Government issued another statement a few days later which said their original claim of $3.3 million of roads funding for the North and West was “incorrect”.
“The Office of the Minister for Roads was provided with a draft media release about 10 roads projects across Melbourne’s northern and western suburbs,” the statement said.
“VicRoads has advised that the error was the result of a failure to thoroughly cross check the media release.
“In no way was the release intended to mislead or misrepresent the funding contribution to, or
the status of, the Black Spot projects.
“This was a genuine mistake and the Minister for Roads Terry Mulder accepts that responsibility lies with him.”
