For Sunshine Greens MP Huong Truong, the recent state budget is a “missed opportunity”.
Ms Truong, who is a Western Metropolitan member in Victoria’s upper house, said more investment was needed in public transport.
“The budget shows patronage booming across the train network, but services aren’t growing to match,” Ms Truong said.
“Instead of throwing billions at roads, we need better transport, safer cycling options and a plan to get freight off the road and on to rail.”
Ms Truong said the budget offered no long-term solutions for the growing recycling crisis, with China no longer accepting waste from Australia.
“We need to invest in infrastructure to locally sort, re-purpose and create local market demand for our recycling,” she said.
“Propping up councils so they can collect kerbside recycling without investment to process it is a terribly short-sighted solution and ignores the opportunity to create local markets.
“Recycling stockpiles are already overflowing and this budget further increases the fire hazard they represent to communities.
“Once again, the Andrew’s government take the west and our vibrant communities for granted.”
