January 30, 2023
Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien says the Federal Government has refused to confirm if promised Council roads and infrastructure funding will be allocated.
Mr O’Brien said that before the last election, the ALP had promised to extend the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to $750 million, including $500 million which had been budgeted by the former Coalition Government.
But at a Senate Estimates hearing, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development was unable to confirm whether the Federal Government would honour this funding commitment.
“Labor is showing complete disrespect for the Wide Bay councils by withholding advice about when they will receive promised funding and how much will be made available,” Mr O’Brien said.
The Coalition had budgeted for the South Burnett Regional Council to receive $1,644,465, Cherbourg $39,849 and Gympie $1,361,802.
Mr O’Brien called on the Federal Government “to end the secrecy” about the funding.
“Local Governments need time to develop, plan and prioritise their projects but before they can commit to delivering them, they first need to be able to budget for them,” he said.
“Councils planning activities will be hamstrung until they know what will be in their Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program funding envelope from the Federal Government.
“Councils are relying on funding being available from July 1, but after eight months in office the Labor Government has failed to provide any information to councils as to their funding allocation and the conditions and guidelines for it.”
