Victorian Premier Steve Bracks is being accused of pork-barreling after plans were revealed last week to move the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) headquarters to the regional city of Geelong. While it may bolster the Government’s standing in the regions – rural voters tipped out Jeff Kennett’s coalition government in 1999 and another election is due next year – the plan has upset Melbourne-based TAC employees.

More than 750 people would be affected by the move, which is the subject of a feasibility study being conducted for the Government by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Many voted with their feet in a snap protest walkout from their Melbourne offices last Thursday. Geelong is 70km from central Melbourne, and one newspaper report suggested as many as 70% of TAC employees will quit rather than move to Geelong or adapt to long-distance commuting.

That prospect doesn’t appear to deter Treasurer John Brumby, who sees the move as helping to sort out some regional unemployment problems. He said last week that a relocation of this size “could generate more than $50 million per year in economic activity” for Geelong. A new building would also have to be erected to house the TAC.

Opposition TAC spokesman Bill Forwood says the Government is seeking votes in regional Victoria “and TAC staff are the victims”.