September 3, 2013
Communities in the South Burnett would benefit from an incoming Coalition Government plan to establish a $1 billion National Stronger Regions Fund, Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said this week.
“The (fund will) regenerate the regions and grow jobs in communities that are experiencing high unemployment,” Mr Truss said.
“The fund will invest $200 million each year in local capital works projects that will improve local communities.
“Councils and community groups will be able to apply for grants between $20,000 and $10 million to meet half the cost of community building projects. Regions with a higher than average unemployment rate will receive priority for funds.
“Labor has ignored our region for the last six years.
“When the Coalition left office in 2007 our regional unemployment rate was 3.5 per cent, which was below the national average.
“Today, after six years of neglect from Labor and the minor parties, our unemployment rate is more than 9 per cent.
“Labor scrapped the former Coalition Government’s highly successful regional development programs and hit families and businesses with over 40 tax increases.
“A Coalition Government will work with local communities by backing successful projects and contributing up to 50 per cent of the funds needed to construct them. The remaining funds for the projects will come from local government, state governments, the community and the private sector.”
