Labor won’t match Coalition’s pool promise

THERE will be a clear choice at the November 2022 Victorian State Election for those who say funding the Phillip Island Aquatic Centre is a make-or-break issue.

The Coalition’s National and Liberal Party candidates, Brett Tessari and Aaron Brown, had the backing of their parties when they promised $42 million for the project, as an opening gambit, back in July 2022.

But, at the ‘turning of the first sod’ for the $6.4 million Phillip Island Community Hospital during the week, Labor’s Jordan Crugnale said her party would not be able to match the promise.

“Look, there’s no disputing the fact that both Phillip Island and Wonthaggi need new aquatic centres but it’s a lot of money, almost $100 million,” Ms Crugnale said.

“It needs a commitment by three levels of government; Federal, State and Local government and we’re not at that stage yet.”

Ms Crugnale said Labor had put a $290 million promise on the table for the next stage of the Wonthaggi hospital and funding for the two aquatic centres was simply out of reach at the moment.

Secretary of the Phillip Aquatic Centre Inc Peter McMahon said the group had been asking Ms Crugnale for weeks to commit to funding but he wasn’t prepared to take no for an answer.

“Well, at least we’ve had a response, but you never say never,” Mr McMahon said.

“We’ll keep pushing right up to election day, asking for a commitment from Labor. They might find themselves really desperate to win this seat by then.”

In its advocacy pitch, the Bass Coast Shire Council said it was looking $39.65M from both the state and federal governments, adding $15M of its own money for the $94.6 million projects, Phillip Island and Wonthaggi, to be fully funded.