Labor will raid billions from infrastructure funds allocated for the regions in a desperate bid to pay for its election promises.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said it was clear a Labor Government would ransack every fund set aside to support regional communities for the future.
“Labor’s big policy pitch for regional NSW at this election appears to be ‘we’re coming for your money’,” Mr Toole said.
“Instead of genuine new funding for the bush, Labor is ransacking existing regional funds to pay for its short-term election pitches and trading off investment in transformative infrastructure that would benefit regional NSW for the long-term.
“The regions will wear the cost of a Labor Government for a generation – just like last time – if they are elected on 25 March.”
Parliamentary Budget Office costings released show that Labor will cut:
$179 million from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF)
$851 million from the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund
$1.1 billion from the Great Western Highway Upgrade
Mr Toole said the $3.3 billion Regional Growth Fund had already delivered more than 3,500 projects across the State and benefited every single regional LGA.
“Under a NSW Liberal and Nationals Government, the Regional Growth Fund will keep fueling investment statewide including another $90 million for the Stronger Country Communities Fund and the $175 million Growing Regional Economies Fund.
“Under Labor, the Regional Growth Fund will be siphoned off to pay for election promises to try and help fill its budget black hole.
“If Labor was serious about funding for the regions, it would put new money on the table – not cannibalise the regional programs and projects already in in the Budget.
“Without a long-term economic plan, Labor is forced to dip into the funds set aside for long-term projects to satisfy spending commitments for today.”
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