The Government likes to claim they 'took the SRL to two elections'- but that raises something very significant. Because for the same 5 years they have also claimed 'value capture' would fund 30% of the cost. ... until now. Now, suddenly they admit it won't and we have a massive funding shortfall. That's a shortfall that proves the project doesn't add the value claimed, proves that their business case is a work of fiction and that Infrastructure Australia's concerns about cost and funding assumpt

Last week the Allan Labor Government released tower heights and locations for ten other Activity Centres — between 12 and 16 storeys each. But Blackburn? Held back. No maps. No heights. No clarity. The community deserves honesty, not secrecy in dribs and drabs. I’ve asked the Minister directly: what are they hiding, and when will Blackburn be told the truth? Our Save Blackburn campaign is working — and I’ll keep pressing until we get real answers. https://www.richardwelch.com.au/survey/sign-here

Victoria needs a new vision —one more than the current formula of tax, debt and spending without outcome. I spend a lot of time considering the changes we need and how they would be reflected in policy for tax, and debt management - but also around productivity and innovation. I actually obsess over these; they are the policy areas I am most intensely interested in - because fundamentally, to save our state and put it back on the right path we have start there- and with it a budget that truly fu