Jim Lloyd (Robertson, Liberal Party, Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads) Share this | Hansard source

and, of course, Roads to Recovery, which we have increased to $350 million, the Regional Partnerships program and programs such as the upgrading of the rural and isolated airports and, of course, the Rural Medical Infrastructure Fund, another important program as well. It is very interesting that the Australian government seems to be having to pick up a lot more of the responsibilities that were traditionally local government and state government responsibilities. If the outrageous proposal by the Queensland government to amalgamate many of the local councils in Queensland actually goes ahead, that will put tremendous pressure on those communities. I have already made it very clear that we do not support the process which they are going through at the moment with the lack of consultation and the seven-member board that is going to basically draw some lines on maps which could, in many cases, wipe out the financial future of many of these towns. You talk about the Australian government supporting rural and regional towns. Without the councils, many of these towns, such as Barcaldine, where I recently attended a rally, those communities simply will not survive. It is very interesting that the Leader of the Opposition rushed up there not long ago and had a chat with the Premier and said, ‘I don’t think this is a good idea.’ His claim that if he was Prime Minister he could work closely with the states had its first big test. He basically got patted on the head and sent back to Canberra. He did not achieve anything at all.

The other reason why there are further delays in Regional Partnerships, Sustainable Regions and RMIF is that the Labor Party continually want to bag the Regional Partnerships program and other programs. They do not really have the interests of the regions at heart. All they are trying to do is play politics with this. We are doing the very best to ensure these programs are open and transparent, and are in fact delivering to the regions and the towns. It is very interesting that the Labor opposition have never supported Regional Partnerships. They have done everything to undermine it, bag it out and criticise it. If you go to virtually any town or community around Australia and ask them what they think of Regional Partnerships, they will tell you about the good work that it is doing.

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