MORE than a week after the Federal Election was called for Saturday, May 3, we have our first local pledge, sort of.
Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster has backed a nationwide commitment from the Collation of $600 million for rural roads.
But there’s a catch, the money is only for “agricultural and mining roads”.
“The Coalition will back our farming and resources sectors by investing $600 million nationwide in agricultural and mining roads critical to getting product to domestic and export markets,” Dr Webster said.
“We will establish a new Ag and Mining Roads program to make it easier to transport products from farms and mines to supermarket shelves and exporters.”
Dr Webster also said if a Liberal and National party Federal Government were elected, a past road funding policy would be reintroduced.
“A Dutton-Littleproud government will also reinstate the 80:20 federal funding model for nationally significant road projects in regional and remote Australia, ensuring more regional roads and highways get upgraded,” she said.
“Everywhere we look in Mallee we see Labor at Federal and State levels making the funding criteria prohibitive, at 50:50 ratios, preventing councils getting their roads repaired.
“Mallee residents all over the length and breadth of the 83,412 square kilometres that I drive tell me the roads are downright dangerous, carrying heavy trucks, with huge potholes and crumbling roadsides.
“They confirm what I know to be true.
“Only a Coalition Government has the back of the nine million Australians who live outside our capital cities and that is why we will restore the 80 per cent Commonwealth funding rule for all new road projects from the first day we are elected.”
