VICTORIAN Treasurer Jaclyn Symes has hit back at a social media post by Liberal MP for Brighton James Newbury who criticised her and Premier Jacinta Allan for living in regional Victoria on Wednesday.
Mr Newbury posted to the social media platform X that "The Premier and new Treasurer don’t live in Melbourne".
"The State Labor Government is overseeing a massive doubling of the population in our city and the two key decision makers don’t even live here," Newbury posted.
"We are being run by out-of-towners."
Ms Symes pounced on Newbury's gaff and sent out a media release on Thursday shooting down his assertions.
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"Last night, the Liberal Member for Brighton James Newbury made a series of bizarre social media posts – claiming Premier Jacinta Allan and I are unqualified to be leaders in this state because we are from the country," she said.
"You’d think the alternative minister for planning would know that a map of Victoria extends beyond Melbourne.
"Let me state the bleeding obvious: regional Victorians are Victorians, too.
"We are not less capable because we live in country communities.
"We don’t deserve less or ask for more.
"We rely on the same health system, our kids attend the same school system, we work in the same economy, we face the same cost of living pressure – and we share the same future – as anyone in Melbourne."
Ms Symes went on to explain that there are 1.6 million people in the state.
"We remember when Jeff Kennett called regional Victoria the toenails of the state," she said.
"We remember his Treasurer who signed off on the closure of regional hospitals, train lines, schools and the SEC.
"He was also the Member for Brighton, just like James Newbury."
She said until now, Victorians might remember James Newbury as the politician who is disgusted by the idea of more homes for young people near train stations.
"Now they will also remember him as the politician who is disgusted by regional Victorians," Ms Symes said.
"I’m proud to be a regional Treasurer.
"JA is proud to be a regional Premier.
"And unlike James Newbury, John Pesutto and the Liberal Party, we get up every morning and fight for all Victorians – not just some."
