HE didn’t receive an invite to the Ministerial and community soiree at the old post office building in Wonthaggi recently, but Bass MP Brian Paynter doesn’t care.
He’s just happy some funding might finally be committed to some major projects in his electorate.
The opposition MP described the visit by six Labor ministers for a whirlwind tour of Bass Coast on April Fool’s Day as “fantastic”, but he was also quick to note that apart from $30,000 in funding for Wonthaggi Hospital, nothing else was announced.
“It was like the gunslingers came to town but forgot to bring their guns,” he said.
“But I loved seeing them down here because I have repeatedly been raising many of these issues in Parliament.
“Now they’ve visited the area, they know what I’m talking about.
“It’s time to put more focus on Bass.”
During the visit, Deputy Premier James Merlino strongly hinted at a funding announcement for the relocation and rebuild of Wonthaggi Secondary College’s senior campus, when the State Budget is unveiled on April 27.
Mr Paynter believes there’s “no way” the State Government can back down now.
“They have to fund it,” he said.
“We don’t want $100,000 to fund a planning stage or anything like that – we’re beyond that.
“We need the $21m to build the school.”
Mr Paynter said the Secondary College has been a political football that has been “kicked around far too long”, and he readily acknowledges the disappointment felt by the community when the Coalition promised funding just weeks before the 2014 election, only to have all hopes vanquished when Labor triumphed.
“It’s time for action,” he repeated.
“(They) can’t keep coming down here and saying the same things.
“They are just continuing the talkfest without doing anything.
“Having them all visit Bass Coast is great, but it’s building expectations.”
Aside from the school and overall Education Precinct project, Mr Paynter said he hopes to see some budget joy for Bass Coast Health.
“At a minimum I’d like to see funding for a new service delivery plan,” he said.
Asked if he thought there were matters overlooked by the six-pack of Ministers, Mr Paynter said he’d heard no mention of the electoral structure of Bass Coast, which remains in limbo until the Minister for Local Government, Natalie Hutchins, makes a final decision on whether the ward boundaries will change and there will be two additional councillors on board.
“What’s going on with the council could have easily been addressed,” he said.
“There must be people in the community who are thinking about (standing) and the election is less than six months away.”
Mr Paynter also said he would have asked Water Minister Lisa Neville about the necessity of the State Government’s first order of water from the desalination plant.
“It’s great to come down here, but these are the issues that needed to be talked about.”
Paynter puts heat on Labor ‘gunslingers’

Bass MP Brian Paynter says he’s glad to see the Bass electorate in the spotlight after six State Ministers visited all at the same time recently, but he believes some key issues were ignored. G0315126
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A photo opportunity for 30k? The Department of Health manages hospital boards, it vets applicants, they are a ministerial appointment. It is the same with the CEO, and only a Minister can sack either. So where are our millions Jill Hennessy? If the hospital is over 3 million in the red it is not our fault, it is your Department who cannot manage some of the 74 Health services. Hospitals like Wonthaggi are vulnerable and fragile. The Boards are not paid like those in the city, and often a lot is required for what is a voluntary appointment. They need the greatest of support and guidance to enable strength in our hospitals and equality in healthcare for the community. Not giving us the millions for the Department of Health failings tells us country people are less valued then those who live close to Spring St. We pay equal taxes, yet we are greatly shortchanged when the 30k is announced on a plan to be a sub-regional, when their is one long term contracted executive, when Jill Hennessy and her Department knew that even the CEO was an interim CEO. Again I say it was 30k for a photo opportunity for a Minister who is failing our community.
Well if Brian Paynter wants to liken this to a western movie …The Hateful Eight show up in town riding at high noon. The hospital has a deficit of over 3 million, so 30 grand ain’t buying shit and everyone knows it. The Department of Health was lost us our money. They had Ministerial delegates on the Wonthaggi hospital board for years. What was the Department doing all those years? They lost us our money and owe over 3 million big ones. Staff are threatened if they talk to the local paper the Sentinel. It is the Department of Health that lost our millions yet they are untouchable. Now the Minister rides in eating and drops a few breadcrumbs and young Brian drops to the ground. If Brian Paynter is Sherrif in this town, then where doomed Curly, where doomed!