It hasn’t been easy under Albanese

May 20, 2023

Maranoa MP and Leader of the Nationals David Littleproud believes all the Albanese government has managed to achieve in 12 months is to increase everyone’s cost of living and divide the nation. Mr Littleproud said their reckless spending has increased everyone’s mortgage rate while their failed energy policy was also driving up everyone’s power and food bills.

“The Albanese government has also introduced a superannuation Tax, a fresh food tax on farmers and a truckie tax that every Australian will have to pay,” Mr Littleproud said.

“The Prime Minister’s proposed Voice referendum has already divided the nation, even though he could narrow it to constitutional recognition and it would bring the nation together.”

Mr Littleproud said at a local level the people of Maranoa have also lost out because the new government’s first year in office included a number of lowlights, such as scrapping the Building Better Regions Fund, pulling federal funding for the Emu Swamp Dam project and leaving the future of several road infrastructure projects hanging.

“During its first year in power, the Labor Government has scrapped the Building Better Regions Fund, which had delivered millions to regional areas since it was introduced by the former Coalition Government in 2016,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Scrapping this program means proposed projects like the $11.5 million Jessamine Place aged care facility in Winton, the $6.4 million upgrade of the Barcaldine Swimming Pool Complex and a $3.2 million project to build accommodation for healthcare workers in Chinchilla can’t go ahead.”

Mr Littleproud said this government’s decision to pull its funding of $126.5 million for the Emu Swamp Dam project was a “kick in the guts” to the Granite Belt community.

“The Granite Belt community has now been left without long-term water security thanks to this decision,” Mr Littleproud said.

“During the most recent drought, which was the worst on record, communities across the Granite Belt had to rely on water being carted in from nearby areas because local water supplies had run dry.

“Over a period of 15 months, each day about 34 truckloads of water, or about 1.6 million litres of water per day, were carted into Stanthorpe to supply the community.

“This project sought to provide more water security to the entire community, but those hopes were dashed by this decision.”

The government also recently put the Infrastructure Investment Program under review, which Mr Littleproud said could potentially rip billions of dollars away from the Maranoa electorate in the form of proposed projects.

“This review threatens potentially game-changing road infrastructure projects for our electorate, such as more than $100 million worth of upgrades to the Cunningham Highway, $146 million worth of upgrades to the Outback Way, and $375 million for the Warrego Highway,” Mr Littleproud said.

“By potentially taking away these job-creating projects, the government is not only taking away jobs but limiting the growth of the Maranoa electorate and all regional areas.

“It’s more important than ever that we continue to work hard and ensure we get our fair share.”