Labor breaks promises and hearts in its first Budget

Federal Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox says Labor has ignored Dawson in its first Budget.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised if he won government, there would be “no one held back, no one left behind”.

But in Labor’s first Budget, 30 per cent of Australians who live in regional and rural areas, including Dawson have been held back and left behind in three key areas - cost of living, childcare and infrastructure.

The cost-of-living crisis is set to get worse under this Budget.

Mr Willcox said drastic increases in grocery bills will continue to go up because of Labor and the Budget would make the average family worse off by at least $2000 by Christmas.

“Groceries are eight per cent higher, not just because of natural disasters, but also because of Labor’s foolish political decision to scrap our Ag Visa. Supply has been slashed because farmers and processors are only working at around 60 per cent capacity, which has put upward pressure at the checkout for families in Dawson,” Mr Willcox said.

“Retail electricity prices are predicted to go up by 50 per cent, while the $275 promised by Labor to reduce electricity bills is now gone.

“Interest rates have already gone up and are predicted go up further under Labor, which is ripping hundreds of dollars out of households each month.”

Labor’s Budget has neglected families desperate to find childcare places in Dawson.

While the Treasurer announced $4.7 billion in childcare measures, he couldn’t create one new additional childcare place for Dawson, leaving local families no better off.

Mr Willcox said Dawson Mums and Dads had been left behind.

“Labor has put the needs of Dawson families last – refusing to increase availability of desperately-needed childcare centres in our regional communities.

“This is not the Australian way. This is not what we were promised.”

Labor has also put an axe to funding for roads, rail and dams in regional and rural communities.

Programs cut include the Energy Security and Regional Development Plan, Regional Accelerator Program, Community Development Grants Program and Building Better Regions Fund.

At least $4.6 billion has been ripped out of regional and rural water projects.

Locally, the Labor Government must guarantee projects including;

•             Mackay Hockey

•             Ayr Industrial Estate

•             Proserpine P&C

•             Alligator Creek Community Sporting Club

•             VMR Whitsunday

•             Urannah Dam

•             Bowen Pipeline

Urannah Dam is another project on the chopping block exposing Labor’s lack of common sense.

“Urannah Dam is planned and ready to go. It’s a dam shame,” Mr Willcox said.

“Urannah Dam was the only dam that has been through Infrastructure Australia and has private equity partners ready to go. Urannah Dam ticks all the boxes, provides water for agriculture, tourism, mining, and urban use as well as pumped hydro which will put clean, green electricity directly into the north south grid.

“Labor’s Pioneer-Burdekin Project is nothing more than a thought bubble that is set to wipe out local homes.”

In another blow, Labor is taking the fun out of regional and rural Australia. The Budget won’t proceed with round 2 of the Agricultural Shows Development Grant program and is also scrapping funding for the Agricultural Show and Field Days program.

“Labor don’t understand regional Australians and what’s important in our communities,” Mr Willcox said.