October 29, 2013
Federal Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd has written to the mayors of all local councils in the Flynn electorate advising them that he is currently working with the Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss to establish the status of funding commitments made by the previous Federal Government under the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF) and Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF).
“Earlier this year I contacted the mayors of regional councils within Flynn to advise them of the Coalition’s position regarding projects and commitments made under these funding programs,” Mr O’Dowd said.
“I advised councils that any projects or funding which had been signed and contracted would be honoured by an incoming Coalition government, and that position has not changed.
“I also advised that the issue of funding for uncontracted RDAF projects will be considered in the context of available funds and could therefore not be guaranteed.”
Mr O’Dowd added that “non-contracted announcements made by the Labor government during the recent campaign have the status of election promises and do not bind an alternative government”.
Repeating statements made earlier this month by Mr Truss, Mr O’Dowd said that prior to the election Labor promised hundreds of communities across the country, including many in Flynn, money for local projects based on funding from a mining tax that failed to deliver the promised revenue.
“In light of that, I have also advised our mayors that I will continue to fight for a fair share for our region, and while the dire economic situation that the Coalition has been left with makes things extremely difficult, I am confident that over time we will see the situation improve,” he said.
“I will continue working with Deputy Prime Minister Truss to ascertain the status of funding committed under RDAF Round 5 and 5b, and determined to deliver on our election commitments for Flynn, and of course the fulfilment of our policy objectives to get our nation back on track.”
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