Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak on behalf of the seven million Australians who do not live in capital cities. This Albanese Labor government has instigated a war on rural and regional Australia, with not one cent flowing from the coffers here in Canberra to on the ground in rural and regional communities through the programs announced by the Albanese government. At the time they came to government, they said they would deliver a grants program for community infrastructure across the country, but the regions are yet to see a cent. Last year's budget indicated regions would receive up to $130 million of funding under the government's Growing Regions Program and the Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program last financial year—instead, nothing. Even the funds they intended to spend last year were pushed off into future years under the last budget.

The Growing Regions Program opened in July last year. Councils and community organisations put in their requests and they are yet to hear an outcome. The minister only approved 40 projects, and even the successful projects under this program are yet to receive a cent. What sort of process are you running? These are programs that, in a place like Bendigo, delivered upgrades the art gallery; the Bendigo tennis complex, which can now host national and international events; and the theatre. The National Party candidate for Bendigo, Andrew Lethlean, wants to see that investment returned. Bendigo Foodshare is still waiting for over $665,000 in a grant to support the food relief on the ground there in a regional capital like Bendigo. Bendigo deserves better from a Canberra-centric Labor government.