Share This

Media Releases

Tuesday, 15th June 2010

Nationals Turn Their Back On Regional Australia... Again


The National Party’s endorsement of Tony Abbott’s comments dismissing the Rudd Labor Government’s $6 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund as unnecessary and should be scrapped, is a betrayal of the promises they’ve given to regional communities.


In recent months, Nationals Leader Warren Truss and his Shadow Infrastructure Minister Senator Barnaby Joyce have been visiting regional communities promising them better infrastructure and a “guaranteed” fair share of the nation’s prosperity – see attachment.


Even as recently as yesterday, Mr Truss responded to question about his party’s upcoming national conference by saying:



“...we’ll be talking ... about the need for a new government to respond better to the problems in the regions; to make sure that regional Australia gets a fair share of our nation’s growth and development so that all Australians can participate in the good things that our nation has to offer. Much of our nation’s wealth is produced in the regions; we want a fair share of that returned to the regions.”



Doorstop, Parliament House, 14/06/10


Given this and the many other similar statements from National Party politicians, why then are they now opposing the Regional Infrastructure Fund and its guarantee of extra funding for infrastructure in regional communities, particularly those that support our mining industry?


There are only three possible explanations: either Mr Truss and Senator Joyce have been making promises they had no intention of honouring or have again been rolled by the Liberals or have become so bloody-minded in their efforts to thwart everything this Government does they’re now even sabotaging policies which in the past they had advocated?


Whichever it was, the Nationals have again turned their back on regional communities, a continuation of what they did during their twelve years in government and one reason they currently hold the smallest number of regional electorates in the Parliament.


The Rudd Labor Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund will help build a stronger economy which delivers a fairer share to all Australians, and is in addition to the unprecedented $37 billion we’re already investing in the nation’s road, rail and port infrastructure.


About Anthony
Media Centre
Grayndler NewsTranscriptsSpeechesOpinion Pieces

Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

DisclaimerPrivacyTerms

Electorate Office

334a Marrickville Rd
Marrickville NSW 2204

Phone: 02 9564 3588

Parliament House Office

Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 7700

Phone: (02) 9564 3588
Fax: (02) 9564 1734
Email: A.Albanese.MP@aph.gov.au

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which our offices stand and we pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also recognise the resilience, strength and pride of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Authorised by Anthony Albanese. 334a Marrickville Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204.

Sign up to hear directly from the Prime Minister

Loading...