Labor leader needs to show support for region

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt is calling on Labor opposition leader Anthony Albanese – who is expected to visit Bundaberg later this week – to show his support for regional Queensland.

“Mr Albanese can help everyone in this region by urging Premier Palaszczuk to sign up to the Hinkler Regional Deal and pledge to reinstate the full capacity of Paradise Dam,” Mr Pitt said.

“The Coalition Government has invested $173 million into the Hinkler Regional Deal which will strengthen the economy and lead to more local jobs with vital linking infrastructure projects.

“The State Government has shown its contempt for the region by refusing to sign the deal earlier this year and only committing funding to some of the projects.

“Some of the projects which are 100 percent funded federally are still waiting to get underway. Mr Albanese needs to tell the Queensland State Labor Government to just get on with it – stop the delays.

“He can also relay to the Premier the important role Paradise Dam plays in the regions agricultural industry and tell her it must be either repaired and restored to its full capacity, or replaced.

“If he’s honest about wanting to listen to Queenslanders and in particular the people that I represent, then he needs to deliver those messages to the Premier as soon as possible.”