Both major parties are pitching to western suburbs voters ahead of the November 29 state election by accusing the other of neglecting the west.
Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews told Star Weekly the government had overlooked the western suburbs while in power, a claim denied by western suburbs Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury.
Mr Andrews said the government had failed to focus on the growing needs of the west.
“We’ve got the highest unemployment on the mainland, we’ve got hospitals in crisis, we’ve got just a fraction of what’s needed in terms of upgrading our schools, and our TAFE system has been gutted,” he said.
According to Mr Elsbury, only the Liberal Party is committed to the future of the western suburbs. He pointed to Liberal funding for an intensive care unit at Sunshine Hospital and removal of the St Albans level crossing as key government commitments.
A state government spokesman said the Coalition had invested more in projects that would benefit the western area than Labor did in 11 years.
Mr Andrews rejected the claim, arguing Labor had learnt from its time in opposition and took nothing for granted.
“We’re going to continue to roll out good strong policies so families across Melbourne’s west have a real choice,” he said.
