BUDGET MUST DELIVER FOR REGIONS

Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is urging the Labor Government to remember the regions ahead of the Federal Budget.

Mr McCormack said he had been lobbying relevant Government Ministers to deliver on projects important to the Riverina and Central West.

“The people of the Riverina and Central West expect the Government to continue the sort of outcomes the former Coalition Government was delivering for the regions,” Mr McCormack said.

“People in the Riverina and Central West are telling me this Government needs to address the cost-of-living crisis and deliver more funding for road repair.

“The Wagga Wagga Veteran community is demanding a Veterans’ Well-Being Centre, which the Coalition promised $5 million towards before the May 2022 election.”

“I am pleased the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, which I established whilst I was Deputy Prime Minister, has been extended into a fourth phase, but the extensive adverse weather last year has put our region’s roads in a terrible state – I am hopeful the Labor Government will see fit to provide more support to improve regional and rural roads – some of which are extremely dangerous to drive on at the moment.

“I will continue to advocate for funding for the upgrade of the Wagga Wagga Airport terminal – the Coalition promised more than $20 million towards this important investment.

“Charles Sturt University’s AgriPark was also promised $20 million by the former Coalition Government to go towards infrastructure, including research and development facilities, innovation spaces and shared accommodation for education and industry partners.”

Mr McCormack said he was concerned the cessation of funding to the Whiddon Group Aged Care facility in Temora was the beginning of regional funding being stripped from the regions.

“Labor talks a big game when it comes to aged care, but they have taken funding away from a Temora aged care centre which does so much in that small community to support older residents and their families.

“The Prime Minister has said there will be no cuts in the upcoming Budget, but the devil will be in the detail.

“With Labor’s announcement of a 90-day review into the Infrastructure Investment Program, I expect the cuts to begin soon after the review – and it will be those living and working in the regions who will suffer the most.

“The only thing Infrastructure Minister Catherine King is building is a pile of reviews in her in-tray.

“This latest review by the Labor Government threatens to strip local communities in the Riverina and Central West of smaller scale infrastructure projects in favour of very large projects which will undoubtedly be based in capital cities.

“Labor has never shown interest in the regions and I am afraid we will see more of that on Tuesday night.

“Regardless, I will continue advocating for the people of the Riverina and Central West to get the outcomes they need, want, expect and, most importantly, deserve.”