SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Leader of the Nationals in the Senate
ANDREW WILLCOX MP
Federal Member for Dawson
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
13 October 2022
REGIONAL FUNDING AT RISK UNDER LABOR
Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox will host Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie in the Mackay region this week.
Senator McKenzie and Mr Willcox will highlight several projects that were ear-marked for funding in the Dawson electorate that are now at risk in Labor’s upcoming Federal Budget.
Key projects facing an uncertain future include a swathe of community and major infrastructure projects that will underpin the future economy of the Dawson electorate, according to the Shadow Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie.
“We are very concerned about the Labor Government’s silence on regional funding in the lead-up to the Budget,” Senator McKenzie said. “And if they do mention regional funding the Labor Party talks about eliminating waste.”
“We strongly reject that claim – roads, bridges and community infrastructure investments underpin the economic and social well-being of regional Australia and any move to slash these projects will undermine that.”
Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox said that Labor has already pledged to scrap some Building Better Regions Fund projects, cut $350 million from the Community Development Grants Program and $400 million from the Regionalisation Fund.
“Labor’s plan to cut funding to regional community groups and sporting clubs includes many right here in Dawson– valuable organisations run by hardworking volunteers who are the very fabric of our communities,” Mr Willcox said.
“I’m calling on the Labor Government to honour funding commitments for Dawson including $483 million towards building the Urannah Dam, $9 million for the CQU Electric Vehicle and Energy Training Centre, $5 million towards Veteran Wellbeing Centres in the Mackay region, $11 million towards The Wulguru group Site Consolidation and Rail Wagon Manufacturing Project, $50,000 to Proserpine State School, $1 million towards stage 2 of the Lake Proserpine Recreation Facility, $9 million towards Disaster Resilience and flood protection and $420,000 towards VMR Whitsunday.
“Labor must NOT cut funding to rural and regional areas like Dawson, I urge the Labor Government to show up for the regions and include us in their October Budget.”
ENDS