FOLLOWING Federal Treasurer, Jim Chalmers’ first Federal Budget on Tuesday night, Wannon MP Dan Tehan has savagely assessed the fiscal plan as an ongoing “vendetta against rural and regional Australia”.

Against the backdrop of a slowing global economy, increasing inflation, rising interest rates, a nationwide shortage of skills, no real wage growth and frequent floods - Western Victoria no exception - regional and rural Australians were not only hoping for cost-of-living relief, but also their share of infrastructure funding and investment.