Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan and Leader of The Nationals The Hon. David Littleproud have called on the Labor Government not to scrap important regional projects in the upcoming budget.
“The accusation by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that the National Party were “committed to pork-barrelling” is an insult to the important needs of our regional communities,” Mr Hogan said.
“I have funded many projects in the Clarence Valley. Can Labor tell me which one of the following projects is not worthy for our community?
- $13 million to upgrade Yamba Community Centre
- $6.5 million for Grafton Riverside Precinct
- $5 million upgrade for Maclean Civic Hall
- $1.54 million for Grafton Airport
- $1.8 million for Grafton Rowing Club
- $1 million upgrade for Grafton Saleyards
- $500,000 to upgrade facilities at Ken Leeson Oval in Iluka
- $180,000 to create a walking path from William Agar Park to Pippie Beach in Yamba
- $2 million for the Townsend Industrial Estate
- $10 million to expand create jobs at Big River Group in Grafton
- $460,000 for new pathways at Yamba’s William Agar Park and Flinders Park
- $500,000 to upgrade Yamba Skate Park
- $982,000 for major upgrades to Corcoran Park in Grafton
- $900,000 to establish ‘Yuraygir Camping’ on Hickey Island
- $5 billion for duplication of Pacific Highway
- $4.1 million to build a new warehouse and storage facility at Harwood Sugar
- $150,000 to upgrade the carpark at Rushforth Park
- $432,895 to replace lighting at McKittrick Park in South Grafton
- $10.5 million defence contract for Yamba Welding
- $1.8 million for Maclean Riverside Precinct
- $1 million for a trade skills centre at Grafton High
- $500,000 to build a new Clubhouse at Yamba Sports Complex
- $500,000 to upgrade McLachlan Park in Maclean
- $722,000 to improve water irrigation at Yamba Sports Complex
- New grandstands for Yamba Football Club
- Funding for Junction Hill Playgroup for new play equipment
- New Headspace for Grafton
- Installed new CCTV through Grafton CBD
- Clubhouse upgrade and new nets for Harwood Cricket Club
- Upgraded facilities for Grafton Hockey Club
- Facility upgrades for Grafton City Tennis
- New surf life saving boats for Yamba Surf Life Saving Club
- Grafton Sporting Car Club track improvements
- Funding for Wooli Tennis Courts
- New rescue boat for Minnie Water Wooli Surf Life Saving Club
- Seating upgrades for Lower Clarence Magpies FC
- Court upgrade for Ulmarra Tennis Club
- Funding for Iluka-Woombah Men’s Shed
- New equipment for Grafton Vintage Motor Vehicle Club
“The Clarence Valley Council has recently moved the Grafton Pool as its top priority project. We cannot let Labor to pull programs that would fund projects like the Grafton Pool.”
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud said our regions are not Labor’s priority.
“Regional Australia is getting its guts ripped out by the Labor government. Labor is taking away priority spending and infrastructure.
“When much of the economy was put under the doona because of COVID-19, it was regional Australia that kept on working. Despite keeping the economy afloat, regional, and rural Australians now feel forgotten.
“It is completely hypocritical to say The National Party was pork-barrelling when we now know Labor will spend most of their infrastructure money in the upcoming Budget on getting Victorian Premier Dan Andrews re-elected.
“The Nationals will continue to fight for the regions to make sure we can get the roads we need and ensure we can get products from the paddock to the port as efficiently as possible.”
