By Deanne Jeffers
THE Australian Labor Party (ALP) handed down its federal budget on Tuesday, October 25. The ALP has described its first budget as, “a responsible budget for uncertain times,” but it is being criticised by Federal Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell, for its failure to invest in regional Australia, or to address childcare needs and cost-of-living pressures.
Mr Birrell said, “We have some economic headwinds to be dealt with, especially with energy. What we are seeing though, is funding investment being diverted from the regions to the cities.”
The Government says it will save $4.6B over the next 12 years by cutting several of the previous Coalition Government’s water projects, as well as cancelling around $2B in grants promised by the previous government.
“Labor has also put an axe to funding for roads, rail and dams in regional and rural communities. Programs cut include the Energy Security and Regional Development Plan, Regional Accelerator Program, Community Development Grants Program and Building Better Regions Fund,” said Mr Birrell.
“At least $4.6 billion has been ripped out of regional and rural water projects.”
“I am all for helping people with childcare and I understand that support is important. But it is very generous to help two people on high incomes and to not address the shortage of childcare places in regional areas.”
“While the treasurer announced $4.7 billion in childcare measures, he couldn’t create one new additional childcare place, leaving families across Nicholls no better off.”
Grants programs, like the $2B Regional Accelerator Program have been cancelled by the Government, leaving projects like the $19.5M Rural Clinical Health School in limbo.
He said despite confusion in the news recently, the $600,000 funding promised by the Coalition for Shepparton Foodshare, supported by the Regional Accelerator Program, has been confirmed.
“Contracts had not been signed prior to the election caretaker periods, approval should have been a formality but instead Labor chose to delay and play politics.”
“The only failure was fact checking,” said Mr Birrell.
He said he was disappointed by the budget but would continue to seek answers for these “vital,” projects for Nicholls.
