Councils Left In Dark Under Looming Labor Government
Dawson Councils are set to lose Federal Government support, after the Albanese Labor Government slashed funding for local councils in the May Budget.
Federal Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox, is concerned local councils will be unable to provide the facilities and programs their communities need, and ratepayers will be forced to foot the bill on large-scale community projects, as support from the Federal Government wanes.
“There are 537 Local Councils across Australia who are set to lose out from Labor axing support in the May Budget.” Mr. Willcox said.
“A Budget is all about priorities, and it’s concerning that local councils aren’t near the top of Labor’s list.
“I understand there’s a long term goal for local councils to achieve 1% of tax revenue through Financial Assistance Grants, and this is something I am fully supportive of. Yet in the May Budget, the funding was reduced to 0.5%, which is half of what’s needed.”
“Cost of living is biting at the heels of Australian families, and this move is set to force ratepayers to foot the bill of more community projects. This could also mean Councils may have to increase rates to help pay for those projects.
“As the previous Mayor of the Whitsundays Regional Council, I know how important Federal Government support is to be providing the facilities needed by our community. The Whitsunday Regional Council was able to build the Proserpine Entertainment Centre with the assistance of $5 million from the Coalition, and the Cannon Valley Reservoirs with $3.75 million from the Coalition through the Building Better Regions fund.
The Federal Member for Dawson is urging the Labor Government to cut it’s “Canberra knows best” attitude, and work with local councils, who know their community best.
“Local Councils are the closest level of Government to the people and are across what is needed for each community, yet Federal Labor don’t trust our Councillors and Mayors to listen and work for their regions.
Mr Willcox is also disappointed to see future phases of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program (LCRIP) be scrapped.
“The LCRIP was the previous Coalition Government’s way of assisting Councils to work directly for their constituencies.” Mr. Willcox said.
“When I was Mayor, the Coalition provided us with $6,437,903 over the previous four phases of the program. This gave us the support council needed to develop plans and deliver projects for the Whitsunday community, when and where it was needed most.
“This was the same right around Dawson, with the Townsville City Council receiving $16,824,146, the Mackay Regional Council receiving $13,328,688, and the Burdekin Shire Council receiving $3,698,445 over the previous four phases.
“This funding was vital for Dawson residents. Bureaucracy always slows down progress, and the LCRI program made sure that project delivery was streamlined and efficient.
“Judging from the cuts and slashes for Dawson in the Federal Budget, I certainly don’t trust Federal Labor to deliver council projects to my region.
“I’m urging Labor to get out of the road and let our Local Councils work for their people.”