Geoff Shaw Out Of Touch With Frankston Families

The Baillieu Government has failed to reduce the cost of living for Frankston families, Shadow Minister for Cost of Living, Lily D’Ambrosio said today.

Visiting the Orwil Street Neighbourhood House in Frankston with Upper House Member for the South Eastern Metro Region, Lee Tarlamis to launch Labor’s Cost of Living petition, Ms D’Ambrosio said that she was alarmed at the number of Frankston families that were struggling to deal with rising cost of living pressures.

“The Baillieu government has broken its promise to reduce the cost of living for families, despite it being one of its key election commitments.

“Under Ted Baillieu, unemployment is rising, investment is falling yet the Premier is continuing to dig into the pockets of Victorians by increasing fees and charges.”

Ms D’Ambrosio said that Mr Shaw was on the record in 2011 saying that:

“As a Government we are committed to providing responsible economic management, helping to ease cost of living pressures” (Mr Shaw, community newsletter).

“How can the Member for Frankston claim his Government is delivering on its commitment when Victorians are paying more for car registrations, electricity, public transport and groceries?” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

The Baillieu Government has:
·    Stripped the Education Maintenance Allowance for students from families in need;
·    Scrapped the First Home Owners Bonus;
·    Abolished the School Start Bonus that provided $300 to parents with children in prep or year 7 to help with school costs;
·    Increased motor vehicle registration by $35 and raised speeding fines; and
·    Increased public transport fares by 8.6 per cent.

Ms D’Ambrosio said that Mr Shaw’s lack of local action shows just how out of touch he was with families in his own electorate.

“Mr Shaw clearly needs to engage more with the people of her electorate and listen to their concerns about rising prices,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

“It’s Mr Shaw’s own Government that is imposing higher costs on Frankston families.”

Mr Tarlamis said under Mr Shaw’s watch unemployment in Frankston has grown from 5.9 to 7.8 %.

“Families of Frankston are beginning to realise the Government they voted for is very different from the one they have now,” Mr Tarlamis said.