Yesterday it was Premier Daniel Andrews in town promising $60million for the demolition of the two cream towers at Bendigo hospital, to be replaced with a new rehabilitation centre.

On Tuesday it was the announcement of fast trains for Ballarat and Geelong (Bendigo missed out on that one).

The Education Minister, James Merlino, was here on Thursday to announce schools funding and open the new Bendigo Tech School.

Earlier in the month the Opposition announced that trains to Melbourne could take just 70 minutes as part of a pledge to build a $19 billion high-speed regional rail link if it wins November’s state election. They were pretty sparse on the details, though.

And that seems to be the point of all this tit-for-largesse. They promise the world, but will they deliver?

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It’s easy in the build-up to the election to get bowled over by all the promises being handed out. Afterall, when you’re trying to win over voters calling for austerity probably isn’t the best pitch. Can we help you with electricity bills? Sure we can. Build better schools? Yes, we can. Fix the roads? Of course. Can we give you a timeline on when all this will be done? Errr …. It’s hard to pin anybody down to dates, times, implementation plans. The minutiae that  means something is actually getting done. We need real answers, not somewhere-over-the-rainbow. 

The same goes for projects such the new Bendigo Law Courts, a new museum and development of the GovHub. Lots of talk, about plans and proposals, but few specifics. 

It’s no wonder people are sceptical about the politicos’ promises –  particularly those looking to the next round of elections and keeping their jobs.

You’ve still got time, though.  When you see them on the hustings, ask not just what they will do, but when they will do it. Hold them to account. We will be.

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