The Federal Government has admitted it hasn’t signed any contracts for projects under its ‘Growing Regions Program’, and local councils are expecting cost blowouts because of the long delays.
Shadow Minister for Local Government Darren Chester says it’s hard to believe that after more than two years in government, the Labor Party has failed to fund, sign any contracts and actually start work on a single project under the program.
“It’s another example of complete incompetence from a government that has abandoned rural and regional Australia,” Mr Chester said.
“The government promised $600 million over three years from 2023-24 and hasn’t built anything in that time.
“Councils that successfully applied for funding under the long-delayed program are now facing cost escalations, and ratepayers will be forced to pick up the bill during the middle of a cost of living crisis.
“Councils are telling me they are seeing price increases for projects as they wait to finalise funding agreements, and the pipeline of projects in regional areas is drying up because of a lack of Federal Government funding during the entire term of the Albanese Government.
“Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development Catherine King announced 40 projects would share in $207 million in May this year. Five months later, the Minister for Local Government Kristy McBain confirmed in Parliament that no contracts had been signed and no hard work had started.”
Mr Chester said it was symptomatic of a government that had abandoned regional communities and had failed to deliver a pipeline of future projects.
“Both Ministers are flying around the country to cut ribbons and unveil plaques on projects that the previous Coalition Government fully funded, but they’ve failed to deliver any regional development projects under their signature program,” Mr Chester said.
“They’re so busy taking credit for projects they had nothing to do with that neither Minister has managed to run a successful grants program. These spin twins have talked a big game but failed to deliver for rural and regional Australia.”
