Nationals Leader David Littleproud said the Albanese Labor government doesn’t understand what’s happening in regional Australia, following its decision to scrap more than 50 infrastructure projects.
“In May last year, the Prime Minister said that he would govern for every Australian. That’s unless you live in regional, rural and remote Australia,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Minister King has come out today and cut over 50 projects, and most of those are in regional Australia.
“In NSW, with the Great Western Highway, the Nationals made a $2 billion investment because we wanted to ensure that those people in the Central West had a connection to Sydney, where they gravitate to and undertake business.”
Mr Littleproud said such projects would help give us an export advantage, but that advantage has now been ripped away.
“I can assure you that the Albanese Government doesn’t understand what’s happened in regional Australia and we are the ones that are bearing the brunt of these infrastructure cuts.
“Just think about your cost at the grocery store next time you’re there, because if we don’t have the arterial that get our produce to your plate, then you’re going to pay more and unfortunately, this is a stitch up on regional, rural and remote Australia in what has been a callous, a callous act by the Albanese government.”
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, and Regional Development – Senator Bridget McKenzie – said the Labor Government has not only cut 50 projects, but created uncertainty over 250 more.
“These are projects that are about fulfilling the freight task, making sure Australians get home safer and sooner to their loved ones, and reducing the congestion in our suburbs across our capital cities.
“Catherine King has duck-shoved the responsibility for making the tough decisions about which projects are going to go ahead and which aren’t, in the face of flooding our nation with another one and a half million people, to the state governments. you’ve heard already this week, they’re not happy about it.”
