LOCAL Federal MPs have slammed the Labor Government’s financial plan for 2025/26 saying it falls short on key areas for the region.
Member for Mallee, Anne Webster, said the Federal Budget is light in for road and health funding, and doesn’t do much to for cost of living pressures.
“This is a tricky budget from a tricky government that seeks to deflect blame for rivers of red ink while delivering nothing for regional Australia,” she said.
“The Albanese Labor Government pretends it never said 97 times before the last election that power prices would permanently come down by $275.
“[This] budget provides $75 relief payments for two quarters, a band-aid for a gaping wound.
“Regional Australia has missed out tonight with no new funding for the Stronger Communities program, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, Growing Regions program or the Regional Precincts and Partnership program, critical to building community infrastructure in regional Australia.”
Liberal Member for Farrer, Sussan Ley, likewise took aim with claims about the lack of new funding for key initiatives focused on regional parts of the country.
“In over 20 years, I am staggered so see a Federal Budget which completely forgot to include anything for regional Australia,” she said.
“There was literally nothing extra for the road work and maintenance NSW and our local councils are crying out for.
“The Albanese Government is continuing with wildly expensive water buybacks instead of allowing us to get on with farming and food production.
“Labor also seems to forget 30 per cent of Australians live outside the capitals, and we all get a vote on election day.”
National Party leader David Littleproud also reiterated climes about regional Federal spending.
“Labor has no new funding for the Stronger Communities program, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, Growing Regions program and the Regional Precincts and Partnership program, critical to building community infrastructure in regional Australia,” he said.
