The Albanese Government’s first Budget has failed the people of Hinkler with drastic cuts to regional funding programs and no immediate measures to help families and individuals with rising cost of living pressures.
While Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt has welcomed the commitment to restoring Paradise Dam, he expressed his frustration that it was ever in doubt.
“Last week media reports repeatedly claimed that funding for Paradise Dam was on the chopping block and Labor didn’t confirm or deny this. Instead, they left growers and businesses with the uncertainty that this vital infrastructure project could be at risk.
“The Budget last night proves that Labor could have said there’s nothing to worry about, but they chose not to.
“This is an appalling way to treat people whose livelihoods depend on Paradise Dam.
“I want to congratulate the community and my State and Federal colleagues on their continued efforts to ensure this project wasn’t ignored.
“What we need to know now from the Albanese Government is when the restoration will be completed.
“Our community needs it fixed as soon as possible and I don’t want to see funding wasted on consultants or reports. It must be spent on the actual reconstruction – I want to see bulldozers and concrete trucks out at the dam – and the sooner the better.
“I’ll be writing to the Infrastructure Minister to request a meeting to get a briefing on the construction timeline for the restoration of Paradise Dam and I’ll be pushing every step of the way to ensure it gets done.”
While Paradise Dam has been funded, Labor’s Budget has scrapped $4.6 billion in other water projects including Hells Gate Dam.
Mr Pitt said to have it confirmed that a number of regional programs had been dumped by Labor was a real kick in the guts to the 30 percent of the population living in regional Australia.
“The Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) has resulted in a number of important projects across the Hinkler electorate. Is the Labor Government trying to imply that the joint Royal Flying Doctor Service and LifeFlight aeromedical base was not a much-needed project in our community? Or the funding to bring the Primary Schools Cup Netball competition to Bundaberg in 2018 was a rort?”
The Labor Budget has no plan to deal with the source of inflation or to help families deal with immediate cost of living pressures.
“Groceries are more expensive, electricity prices are predicted to increase by 50 percent, interest rates continue to rise and there is nothing to address any of these issues.
“Plans to increase support for childcare won’t start until July next year and Labor’s plan to build more social housing won’t start until 2024. What happens to the people who find themselves struggling to get a roof over their head now?
“Labor has delivered a dud of a Budget which will not help the people of Hinkler right now or into the future.”
