The Albanese Government has retained its perfect record of no additional funding for roads and community infrastructure in Gippsland during the entire term of this government, according to local MP Darren Chester.
Mr Chester said the Labor Party had ‘given up on regional areas’ with a Federal Budget that was focused on the next five weeks, with no plan for the next five years.
“Australia is heading in the wrong direction with a government that has put forward a cruel hoax masquerading as a tax cut after years of interest rate rises have driven up the cost of living and placed enormous pressure on family budgets,” Mr Chester said.
“To put it in perspective, a family with a mortgage is $50,000 worse off under the Albanese Government, and Labor’s answer is to hand Australians 70 cents a day in years time.
“In three years, we have also seen the Albanese Government introducing a ‘funding strike’ in Gippsland with no additional funding delivered for new projects as they focus on the cities.
“The only road and community infrastructure funding that has been delivered since 2022 was already in the budgets set by the former Coalition Government.
“Our roads are falling apart, and the pipeline of community projects is drying up because Labor has cut funding for local government and a range of funding programs.”
Mr Chester said he was hoping to see investment in road, rail and telecommunication connectivity to boost the regional economy, but the Albanese Government had given up on regional areas.
“Even the Australian Local Government Association has acknowledged ‘communities have been overlooked in the Budget with no new programs to address the financial sustainability emergency’,” Mr Chester said.
“There is absolutely nothing in this Budget for Gippsland and the rest of regional Australia, other than more cuts.
“Successful Coalition initiatives, the Stronger Communities Program, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, and regional development grants have all been cut.
“Over the past three years, the Albanese Labor Government has cancelled, cut and delayed more than $30 billion worth of infrastructure projects across Australia.”
Mr Chester said he was looking forward to presenting a positive plan for the future of Gippsland in the lead-up to the federal election, which must be held by May 17 this year.
“When Gippslanders go to the polls, they will ask themselves, do they feel better off after three years of an Albanese Government, and do they feel safer?” Mr Chester said.
“I’m determined to keep fighting for a fair go for Gippslanders, creating local jobs, and taking common sense to Canberra. I have a plan to reduce the cost of living and build a safer, stronger, fairer Gippsland, where everyone can get ahead.
“During my time in Federal Parliament, I have worked with communities across Gippsland to create jobs with funding for major road and rail upgrades, along with smaller community projects that make a difference to the lives of local families.
“I believe in practical projects to improve the environment like controlling pest plants and animals, caring for our rivers, lakes and beaches, and managing the bush properly with a sustainable timber industry, plus more boots on the ground.
“There’s nothing wrong with Australia that a good government can’t fix, and I’m determined to keep taking common sense to Canberra with my positive plans for the future of Gippsland and the Latrobe Valley.”
