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Thursday, 12th February 2009

Liberals And Nationals Stop $500 Million For Local Community Infrastructure


Today, the Liberal and National parties have voted against the Rudd Government’s $42 billion National Building and Jobs Plan which includes $500 million for community infrastructure like sports grounds, swimming pools, community centres and town halls.


By stopping the stimulus package, the Liberals and Nationals have stopped funding to hundreds of local government-led community projects.


The Liberals and Nationals have put politics ahead of local communities.


If the legislation had passed, an extra $500 million would have flowed to local government to build local infrastructure and support jobs in local communities.


This would have built on the $300 million announced by the Prime Minister in November 2008 at the Australian Council of Local Government – bringing community infrastructure funding to $800 million over two years.


Local government was solidly behind the plan with the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program receiving 344 submissions from councils and shires – which sought more than $1.2 billion to build infrastructure and boost local economies.


The Rudd Government responded to the demand from communities by increasing funding available for local government by more than 10 times the original amount.


The Australian Local Government Association has applauded the Government’s investment. They said:


"This injection of additional funding for community facilities at the local level is without precedent and will mean a boost for jobs in local communities hit by the economic slowdown. It will also mean that projects previously unable to be afforded by councils will now be able to be delivered immediately.”


(ALGA Media Release, 3 February 2009)


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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.

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