7 November 2022
GOVERNMENT FINALLY ADMITS REGIONAL CUTS
This morning, in evidence before the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee’s Estimates hearing, officials from Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications admitted that Labor has cut $1.2 billion in regional infrastructure funding.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the fears of the 8-plus million Australians living in regional Australia had been confirmed.
“This is the first official confirmation that regional spending has been cut, and this does not include cuts to dam projects or community grants,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Labor promised no one would be left behind, but the Budget decisions to cut spending have seem to have targeted regional Australia through cuts to critical social and economic infrastructure.”
“You can’t pull the wool over the eyes of country people.”
Today’s estimates findings constitute a clear contradiction of claims made only last week by the Minister Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Catherine King, that regional Australia is “better off” in Labor’s October Budget.
Senator McKenzie said the Minister should apologise for misleading Australians about the Government’s investment in vital infrastructure projects for regional Australia as well publicly release the list of regional infrastructure cuts the Labor Government was making.
“Regional Australia is underpinning the economic prosperity the rest of Australia are currently enjoying through our resources and agriculture industries,” Senator McKenzie said.
“We now have clear evidence of a betrayal of regional Australia, and we will continue to probe the Government on its false pledges.”