15 September 2009
Mr MORRIS (Mornington) — The Minister for Roads and Ports is at it again. First he tried to suggest that the absolutely independent councillors at the Shire of Mornington Peninsula were in reality partisan political players.
Now he is trying to re‑define Victoria’s geography to suit his own political agenda. Last Wednesday the minister issued a press release headed ‘$17.3 million in road upgrades for the Mornington area’. Clearly the minister has recognised that Mornington is being short‑changed and is seeking to create an impression of activity.
Projects listed by the minister included:
work on the Western Port Highway — 24 kilometres from Mornington;
on the Frankston‑Flinders Road — 18 kilometres from Mornington;
at Pearcedale — 24 kilometres from Mornington;
at Blairgowrie — 37 kilometres from Mornington;
and at Sorrento — 41 kilometres from Mornington.
None of these sites is, by any stretch of the imagination, in the Mornington district. They are not in the post code; they are not in the electorate; they are not even in the district occupied by the former Shire of Mornington. They have absolutely nothing to do with Mornington.
Thankfully there is in fact one project in Mornington — $1.2 million, not quite 7 per cent — for a set of traffic lights on the Nepean Highway, which is long overdue.
Well done, Minister. Given the minister’s shortcomings in geographic expertise, it is perhaps a good thing that a driver is provided to him or we might never see him again.
Legislative Assembly 15th September 2009
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