SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE
SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT
LEADER OF THE NATIONALS IN THE SENATE
SENATOR FOR VICTORIA
5 April 2024
MEDIA RELEASE
LABOR’S STARVING THE REGIONS PROGRAM DEBACLE DRAGS ON
- Labor fails to announce Growing Regions Program grants – at least a month overdue
- Growing Regions application process – 40 weeks and getting longer each day
- Also, no grants approved in first assessment of Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program
The Albanese Government continues to starve regional Australia of much needed economic development funding with its failure to deliver on grants programs promised to the regions.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie accused the Albanese Government of creating a budget surplus by stripping billions of dollars from regional communities.
“Labor should rename their regional portfolio the Starving the Regions Program because after almost two years in office they have not awarded grants under programs they budgeted for rural, remote and regional Australia,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Labor Ministers are sitting on grants programs as if they were roosting golden eggs and appear unwilling to part with the money, preferring to hold it in Canberra to prop up the budget surplus.
“By failing to award grant moneys, Labor is effectively stealing $700 million in much needed funding from the regions,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Regional councils and community organisations have been waiting more than 40 weeks since Labor opened the so-called Growing Regions Program, and in nine months not one application has been approved and funded.”
“Communities and councils were given just 20 working days to put in their initial applications under the Growing Regions Program, but the Albanese Government has been unable to complete project assessments in 250 days.
Senator McKenzie said she had received a stream of requests from right across the country from local government representatives and community groups wondering when the Government would announce the outcome of applications.
“Many councils are trying to finalise their budgets for the next financial year and do not know if they will be investing in planned projects or, have those community infrastructure and economic development initiatives thrown on the scrap heap by the Prime Minister,” Senator McKenzie said.
“Labor’s other regional program offering $400 million for Precincts and Partnerships has been a complete failure so far, with not a single grant approved in the first assessment round undertaken in September/October 2023.
“Over Labor’s first two years in office they have stripped more than $20 billion in infrastructure and programs from regional communities,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The Albanese Government is creating a new generation of forgotten and ignored people in Australia and they are the one third of us who live in the regions.”
Senator McKenzie said since the day Labor was elected they have systematically starved regional communities of funding.
“Labor has abolished or discontinued the Building Better Regions Fund, Community Development Grants, Regionalisation Fund, Roads of Strategic Importance Program and the Stronger Communities Program, just to name a few,” Senator McKenzie said.
Senator McKenzie said the Opposition will examine Labor’s failed grants programs at Senate Estimates following the budget, and consider referring the programs to the Australian National Audit Office for the failure to deliver for regional communities.
Labor’s ‘Starving the Regions’ Record on Regional Funding Programs
- Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) – abolished
815 applications received under BBRF round 6 applications received under the Coalition Government cancelled by Labor on coming to office. - Community Development Grants – abolished
- Energy Security and Regional Development Plan – abolished
- Regional Accelerator Program – abolished
- Regionalisation Fund – abolished
- Roads of Strategic Importance – abolished
- Bridges Renewal Program – abolished
- Stronger Communities Program – lapsed
- Regional Airports Program – lapsed
- Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program – lapsed
- Regional Deals program – lapsed
Note – ‘lapsed’ programs are those the Labor Government has chosen not to continue once existing Coalition budget commitments delivered.