Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce will host Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie in the Gladstone region and Central Highlands this week.
Senator McKenzie and Mr Boyce will visit several projects that were ear-marked for funding in the Flynn electorate that are now at risk in Labor’s upcoming Federal Budget.
Key projects facing an uncertain future include a swathe of community and major roads and infrastructure projects that will underpin the future economy of the Flynn electorate, according to the Shadow Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie.
“We are very concerned about the Government’s silence on regional funding in the lead-up to the Budget,” Senator McKenzie said. “And if they do mention regional funding the Labor Party talks about eliminating waste.”
“We reject that claim – roads, bridges, community infrastructure investments underpin the economic and social well-being of regional Australia and any move to slash these projects will undermine that.”
Federal Member for Flynn, Colin Boyce said that Labor has already pledged to scrap some Building Better Regions Fund projects, cut $350 million from the Community Development Grants Programme and $400 million from the Regionalisation Fund.
“Labor’s plan to cut funding to regional community groups and sporting clubs includes many right here in Flynn – valuable organisations run by hardworking volunteers who are the very fabric of our communities,” Mr Boyce said.
“I’m calling on the Labor Government to honour funding commitments for Flynn including $250,000 for the Gladstone Bowls Club/ RSL sub-branch, $25 million for the CQ Inland Port Future Development, $2.5 million for the Boyne Tannum Sharks and $400 million to seal the beef roads.
“Labor must NOT cut funding to rural and regional areas like Flynn, I urge the Labor Government to show up for the regions and include us in their October Budget.”
