March 29, 2023
The Federal Government has been accused of deliberately delaying regional grants programs to avoid spending any new funding in the current financial year.
Shadow Minister for Regional Development Darren Chester said regional communities were being ripped off by Labor’s refusal to release the eligibility criteria and funding guidelines for the “Growing Regions Program” and “Local Roads Community Infrastructure Program”, 10 months after the election, and five months after the Federal Budget.
“Rural and regional communities are telling us they have shovel-ready projects but Labor has abolished the previous grants program and failed to provide an alternative in a timely manner,” Mr Chester said.
“This is a deliberate tactic to prevent any money flowing this financial year and it will mean councils and local communities will get less for their money as project costs continue to escalate.
“It’s extraordinary that Labor has been in government for 10 months and can’t establish a grants program to support projects across regional Australia.
“We need a pipeline of funding to help communities invest in projects that will make our regional towns even better places to live, work and visit.”
