Labor’s vows ‘to escape’ Rudd cuts

Andrew Mathieson
Labor’s pre-election promises to the Geelong region will escape plans to slash federal spending, Geelong’s new MPs in Canberra said yesterday.
But Labor’s Richard Marles and Darren Cheeseman said delivery of some pledges could take the full three-year federal term.
They said the new Federal Government would honour all announcements prior to the November 24 poll despite a directive from Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to cut spending.
“Everything we said we will do, we’ll do,” Mr Marles said.
“They are not going to be subject to any cuts in terms of spending.”
However, he could not guarantee the Labor would honour the former Howard Government’s promise of funding for a PET scanner and security cameras in Geelong.
The Labor candidates’ election commitments included the duplication of the Princes Highway, a water treatment plant in Geelong’s northern suburbs, a new recycling plant at Black Rock and a GP super clinic in Geelong’s south.
Mr Marles was confident the major projects would get underway “sooner rather than later”.
“Geelong did very well out of the last election and it’s very important for Darren and I that we do everything we can to ensure those commitments are delivered as quickly as possible,” he said.
Both men vowed the GP super clinic, including a medical training facility, would be open by the end of the year.
“It’s hoped the Geelong super clinic will be one of the first cabs off the rank,” Mr Marles said.
Mr Cheeseman said the Government was working closely with Geelong GP Association and Deakin University’s medical school to ensure “we get it right”.
Mr Cheeseman said other commitments would take longer and none would be underway before the July budget.