Last night’s Budget has lifted the lid on Anthony Albanese’s pre-election infrastructure budget revealed billions of dollars of new projects – they are just two terms of parliament away.
“The Prime Minister and his Infrastructure Minister Catherine King have been making rapid fire announcements since January, but Treasury has revealed that 90 per cent of the funding will not be expended in the next term of Government,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Compared to less than 12 months ago Labor will pay the states $1.1 billion less in road funding this year. That’s $1.1 billion less to fix potholes, improve road safety and upgrade our local road networks.”
Labor’s budget trickery continues by a new assumption that the states and territories will further delay delivery of $5.3 billion worth of projects.
Over the past three years the Albanese Labor Government has cancelled, cut and delayed more than $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects across Australia.
Regional Development
This is the second Budget in a row with no new programs to support economic development in the regions.
“In an extraordinary omission, Labor has no new funding for the Stronger Communities, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, Growing Regions program and the Regional Precincts and Partnership program,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Regional Australians are bearing the brunt of more community infrastructure cuts on top of the burden of Labor’s cost-of-living crisis.”
“Local communities rely on these regional grants to build the infrastructure they need to support regional economies, create jobs and improve the liveability of their communities.”
Last night’s Budget confirms the death under Labor of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program.
“The regions produce much of the wealth of Australia, it is a tragedy Labor repays this in the Budget with contempt,” Senator McKenzie said.
Only a Coalition Government has the back of the nine million Australians who live outside our capital cities.
Local Government
Local Government has been completely overlooked in this Budget, with no new money for the sector to assist with maintaining local roads, delivering community infrastructure, or even undertaking resilience preparation for natural disasters.
“Before the last election Labor promised Local Government would be a priority, this Budget confirms they have walked away from that commitment.”