Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) Share this | Hansard source

Today I rise to shed light on a matter of utmost importance: the neglect of regional communities by the Labor government. It is vital that we address the significant impacts of the government's action on regional infrastructure programs, which have been the lifelines of our regional areas for far too long. This government's decisions have wielded a heavy axe upon regional programs aimed at fostering growth and opportunities for our regional communities. In their inaugural budget, Labor shockingly slashed a staggering $10 billion from regional programs, delivering a severe blow to the prospects of regional development.

Let us examine the consequences of their actions. The list of abolished programs reads like a catalogue of missed opportunities. The Building Better Regions Fund, the Community Development Grants Program, the Regionalisation Fund, the Regional Accelerator Program and the Energy Security and Regional Development Plan were all eliminated without regard for the aspirations of regional Australians. Moreover, crucial coalition programs left in limbo by Labor's inaction include the Regional Airports Program, the Regional Airport Security Screening Fund, the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, beyond phase 4, and the Stronger Communities Program. These programs, which were instrumental in enhancing regional connectivity and resilience, now languish without extension or support.

Furthermore, the Labor government's review of infrastructure programs has resulted in further devastation for Capricornia. They have axed vital initiatives, such as the dedicated Bridges Renewal Program, the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program and the Roads of Strategic Importance program, undermining the very foundations of regional development. These initiatives have contributed to safe roads for residents of Capricornia. One example is the sealing of 40 kilometres of Stanage Bay Road. This road holds vital significance, not only serving the local community but also ensuring the safe transit of military personnel to and from Shoalwater Bay.

The absence of concrete alternatives exasperates the situation. Despite promises, Labor have failed to provide adequate replacements for the successful coalition programs they have abolished. Projects like the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program and the Growing Regions Program remain stalled, leaving regional communities stranded in a state of uncertainty and neglect. Projects within my electorate of Capricornia, which were fully funded and poised for implementation, have encountered significant delays and the looming threat of cancellation.

Together with my colleagues in the Rockhampton community, I staunchly advocated to safeguard the Rockhampton Ring Road project from being sacrificed, with its funding potentially redirected towards inner-city projects that have incurred substantial cost overruns amounting to billions of dollars. Another critical regional project, the Phillips Creek Bridge, situated near the mining community of Dysart, faced peril during Labor's infrastructure review. It is inconceivable that this government would jeopardise essential projects like the Phillips Creek Bridge which could undoubtably save lives by enhancing commuter safety.

Instead, they appear content to manipulate funding allocations, diverting resources away from regional initiatives to bolster projects within urban centres. Despite their relentless program cuts and funding setbacks, this government shamelessly dispatches its ministers to bask in the limelight and ceremoniously open projects that were fully funded and successfully executed under the former coalition government. The sheer irony of this situation is utterly staggering.

Evidence presented during Senate estimates in February paints a damning picture of Labor's incompetence. Nearly two years into office, hundreds of promised projects lay dormant, with over $1 billion of allocated funds sitting idle, while 271 out of 458 projects were not yet active. This inaction is not just disappointing; it is a betrayal of the trust placed in the government by regional Australians.

The repercussions of these decisions reverberate far beyond budgetary allocations. Labor's funding cuts for regional infrastructure projects by 30 per cent and insistence on a fifty-fifty funding split with states spells disaster for regional development. This departure from the former 80-20 model jeopardises much-needed upgrades to regional roads, impeding economic growth and endangering lives.

Let us not forget the human cost of these decisions. Reduced productivity, limited access to services and increased safety risks weigh heavily on the shoulders of regional Australians. The Labor government's neglect of regional infrastructure is not just a policy failure; it is a betrayal of trust and a disregard for the wellbeing of Capricornians.

See this speech in context