“An almost complete absence of interest in regional Australia and a budget based on questionable forecast figures,” is how Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey has described Labor’s 2024 Budget.
“There is scant mention of the issues facing South Australian regions in the Budget. I welcome the continuation of the Remote and Regional Airports programs,” Mr Ramsey said. “But this is a very small part of the Budget.
“I think the residents of Grey would be horrified to learn Labor is putting an extra 36,000 public servants in Canberra. This budget shows they don’t appreciate what regional Australia contributes to the economy.”
Mr Ramsey said the Budget details just two South Australian road projects outside the city, the Mount Barker interchange and upgrades on the Southeastern Freeway.
“Both are more urban infrastructure than regional as they are focussed on the metro population spread, while our major regional freight routes are being ignored,” he said.
“Not another dollar has been budgeted to continue the dual lanes on National Highway One past Lochiel.
“The Government re-announced its Growing Regions Program as a new commitment despite doing the same last year. It is now months behind schedule, with not one cent going out the door so far. Councils are holding out-of-date quotes for projects they applied for with building costs surging.
“I welcome the recognition of enrolled nurses in the aged care sector, it is long overdue following last year’s stipulation of a registered nurse being on duty 24/7 in even the smallest facilities.
“Mr Albanese promised us he would reduce electricity bills by $275 but they have risen by more than 30%. To now try and take political pressure off, he dips into your taxes and hands you $300 of it back. That is a huge admission of defeat, and contrary to all the hype about tax cuts for low-income earners, even the richest in the country benefit.”
Mr Ramsey said while higher wages will be welcome by the childcare sector workers, there is nothing to address the childcare deserts in regional Australia and illustrates Labors refusal to acknowledge the lack of childcare is holding us back.
“I had also hoped there would be some focus on regional housing, on promoting growth outside the cities, but while housing packages are mentioned they look like a re-packaging of existing commitments with the Government still saying it will build 1.2m homes with no understanding of how that can happen given current construction pressures,” he said.
“The 10% increase in rent assistance will help those on Centrelink incomes, and while that is a good move there is no recognition that it is not just people on welfare struggling with rentals prices.
“For agriculture it is another kick with the live sheep export ban and no back-down on bio-security levies. Unbelievably the Treasurer announced interest from the Future Drought fund established by the Coalition, and opposed by Labor, as new spending.
“On top of that Labor is ploughing ahead with the new vehicle emissions standards which will redistribute wealth from the country to the cities.
“Labir is throwing another $4m at the Kimba National Radioactive Waste Management site on remediation following the trashing of the $108m already spent and unbelievably now spending $38m looking for a new site.
“And while the Treasurer trumpets the $25bn tax-cuts, budgeted and provided for by former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, it is worth noting he has swiped away an extra $62bn in bracket creep. The Government has a surplus this year but roars back into deficit in the forward estimates on the back of rapidly rising spending.”
Media contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 02 62774967
May 15 2024
