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Regional grants delayed to avoid spending new funds in 2023 by Federal Labor government

Labor's delay in providing grants programs prevents funding for shovel-ready projects in rural areas.

By news@gippsland - 28th March 2023 - Back to News

The Albanese government is deliberately delaying regional grants programs to avoid spending any new funding in the current financial year, according to Shadow Minister for Regional Development Darren Chester. Mr Chester said regional communities were being ripped off by Labor's refusal to release the eligibility criteria and funding guidelines for the 'Growing Regions Program' and 'Local Roads Community Infrastructure Program', 10 months after the election, and five months after the Federal Budget.

Popular Coalition initiative needs regional funding guidelines released by Ministers for project commencement

Delayed funding frustration

Mr Chester said, "The Minister for Transport has confirmed in question time that she still hasn't approved the funding guidelines and regional communities are sick of waiting for the Minister to just do her job. Rural and regional communities are telling us they have shovel-ready projects but Labor has abolished the previous grants program and failed to provide an alternative in a timely manner."

"This is a deliberate tactic to prevent any money flowing this financial year and it will mean councils and local communities will get less for their money as project costs continue to escalate." Mr Chester said.

According to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts website, the new Growing Regions Program "will help drive regional economic prosperity by providing access to funding for capital works for community and economic infrastructure across our rural and regional areas".

Coalition initiative

The website advises: "Information on program guidelines, eligibility criteria and the application process will be provided in due course. It's extraordinary that Labor has been in government for 10 months and can't establish a grants program to support projects across regional Australia. We need a pipeline of funding to help communities invest in projects that will make our regional towns even better places to live, work and visit."

Mr Chester said the Minister for Local Government has also failed to release funding guidelines for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program. "This Coalition initiative is extremely popular with the local government and the Minister admitted in question time today that she hasn't finalised the guidelines for the next round."

"Instead of attacking the previous government and putting forward pathetic excuses, both Ministers need to do their day jobs and release the regional funding guidelines to ensure projects can start as soon as possible." Mr Chester said.

Pictures from Darren Chester Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com