Despite investing a record $7.1 billion in regional Australia, the federal government’s “tone deaf” pre-election budget delivers little, and promises less, on several key local issues.
The Coalition Government released its 2022/23 Budget Tuesday last week.
It is widely considered to be a budget intended to win voter favour, with the federal election to be called this week.
Though a safe-bet investment in regional NBN and infrastructure was welcome news, local stakeholders have criticised the government's limited investment in affordable housing, biosecurity, and healthcare.
‘‘You can’t get everything you want but for me I was really disappointed with their efforts on affordable housing,’’ Berrigan Shire Council CEO Karina Ewer said.
‘‘I know they have allowed increased access to the first home buyers scheme, but that doesn’t address affordable housing. If anything, it increases the price of housing.
‘‘I don’t think at that end of town they understand the difference between affordable housing and ‘affording’ housing — it’s just tone deaf.
‘‘And it’s not just an issue in Berrigan.
“Everyone I talk to along the border is facing the same issue and has expressed the same or similar concerns.’’
Barooga farmer and NSW Farmers board member Chris Stillard welcomed the government's cuts to the fuel excise and increased investment in biosecurity.
But he too was doubtful of the Commonwealth's conviction, especially with regard to biosecurity.
‘‘It's something they have been screwing up for years, which is a surprise from this government,’’ he said.
‘‘This kind of investment is sorely needed in regional Australia, as recent outbreaks of Japanese Encephalitis and Ross River on the border have more than proved.’’
NSW Nurses and Midwives Tocumwal branch Secretary Marcia Howes was disappointed in the government's failure to address deficits in national health.
Fresh from a protest in Albury on Thursday - the second in two months - she told Southern Riverina News that health worker pleas had gone unheard by both state and federal coalition governments.
“We were very disappointed,” she said of Tuesday’s budget.
“Last Thursday five of us from the Tocumwal clinic travelled to Albury for our second protest in two months, because the state government hasn’t been listening.
“And Tuesday’s effort proved that the Federal Government is just as uninterested in addressing a healthcare system that is in desperate need of being fixed.
“It just feels like no one cares, no one cares about health workers.”
Liberal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley, however, has said the budget is in step with the nation’s needs.
“All up, I think this is a budget which recognises it’s been a tough couple of years, that it’s still tough for many, but here’s the way forward for both our region and the country,” she said.
“As well as the promised cost-of-living measures and fuel excise cut, there’s the NBN wireless towers speed and capacity upgrade — with more money also committed to add new mobile phone coverage and cut some increasing congestion on local phone towers.’’