The new Labor Government is continuing their vendetta against rural and regional Australia with the confirmation it will abolish the Coalition Government’s Building Better Building Regions Fund (BBRF) and Community Development Grants (CDG).
The highly popular programs create jobs, drive economic growth, and build stronger regional and remote communities into the future.
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace MP said the regional funding has meant a lot to the Fisher electorate with $9.7 million invested into ten projects since 2016.
“We believe investing in rural and regional communities is essential if we’re going to impact the 9 million Australians who don’t live in capital cities,” Mr Wallace said.
“Since my election in 2016, the Sunshine Coast has seen more Federal Government investment than ever before – a record $5.4 billion in roads, rail, and community projects.
“These projects create jobs and drive economic growth. This is not the time for the Labor Government to turn its back on the Sunshine Coast and regions like it.”
Mr Wallace said BBRF and CDG funding has delivered projects like the $3m Caloundra Events Centre upgrades, a $5m contribution to Sunshine Coast Community Sporting Hub, and $600,000 Gateway Care upgrades.
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie said regional communities across Australia have benefited from important facilities taken for granted in the cities such as art galleries, museums, sporting precincts, aquatic centres, health facilities, community halls and upgrades to regional water infrastructure.
“The Labor Government continues to prosecute the mistruth that regional funding projects are a waste when these projects actually deliver social and economic benefits to local communities and our nation as a whole.” Senator McKenzie said.
“It becomes clearer every day to us that creating jobs, driving economic growth and building stronger regional and rural communities into the future is not a priority for the Labor Government.”
$9.7m Fisher Electorate funding under Coalition Government’s rural and regional funding programs
$4.32m from Building Better Regions Fund
- 2017 Caloundra Events Centre accessibility and other upgrades ($3m)
- 2018 Palmwoods Memorial Hall upgrades ($231,200)
- 2018 Caloundra Rugby Union Club pitch lighting ($131,000)
- 2019 STEPS Australia Murphy House Extension upgrades ($190,000)
- 2021 Beerwah Golf Club car park safety and lighting improvements ($98,200)
- 2021 Cycle Sunshine Coast multi-stage community and elite cycling event ($75,000)
- 2021 Gateway Care expanded facilities ($600,000)
$5.39m from Community Development Grants
- 2016 Sunshine Coast Community Sporting Hub contribution to new facility ($5m)
- 2019 Glasshouse RSL ($258,000)
- 2019 Windansea Community Clubhouse new facility ($140,000)
