An incredible new chapter in The Nationals’ unwavering commitment is unfolding for the Swan Hill community, and it was great to join The Nationals’ candidate for Murray Plains, Brett Hosking, in Swan Hill on Wednesday to talk about our combined federal-state commitment to finally deliver the Swan Hill Bridge our community has waited decades for.

The Nationals have committed that an elected Victorian Liberal and Nationals Government will spend up to $100 million towards replacing the bridge.  No other party running in Murray Plains is offering that commitment.  

Brett’s commitment to the Bridge builds on the $60 million federal commitment I secured through The Nationals in Government in 2019.

I have relentlessly advocated to protect that federal commitment, including pursuing Infrastructure Minister Catherine King directly after the Albanese Labor Government subjected the project to Labor’s lengthy 200 day infrastructure ‘review’.

New South Wales is the other key partner, and while they have contributed to planning, it is time for the NSW Government to commit its fair share to construction so all three governments can get on with the job.  That’s where The Nationals’ experience in government, working with colleagues in other states and federally, is critical to get the job done.

The current bridge was built in 1896. It remains a single-lane crossing and watching the bottleneck of trucks and cars – yet again – on Wednesday shows the current bridge has long passed its used-by-date for our community.

The Nationals’ $100 million commitment to the Bridge demonstrates what The Nationals’ Fair Share Guarantee means: the 25 per cent of Victorians who live in regional Victoria deserve 25 per cent of Victoria’s infrastructure investment.

That is why electing Brett Hosking as the new Nationals Member for Murray Plains matters. The Nationals are putting real money on the table for the bridge and for our community.

With The Nationals working together and 100 per cent committed to this project at both the federal and state level, Swan Hill has its strongest opportunity in years to finally get the bridge it deserves.

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