Gippsland › Latest news › Darren Chester MP
Darren Chester comments on federal budget saing 'Ronnie Biggs has nothing on Labor'
Talking about 'The Great Train Robbery', Albo makes Ronnie Biggs look like a mere shoplifter.
Last night the Labor Party released its Federal Budget complete with a press release saying it was investing $447.7 million in the Gippsland Rail Line upgrade. Sounds like great news, except I made the announcement five years ago as Transport Minister, and since that time we've actually built the new railway bridge in Stratford, and work is progressing on major upgrades to the Traralgon and Morwell railway stations, along with a host of smaller track improvements.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester at the new Avon River Rail Bridge in Stratford, which was completed as part of the Gippsland Rail Line upgrade
Recycled press releases
I'm a huge fan of recycling but that's ridiculous, most of the money has already been spent. I had low expectations from a city-focused Labor budget and unfortunately they have met them. I can't find a single dollar of new funding for Gippsland projects or programs in the budget and we will be lucky to hold on to all of the initiatives already announced by the previous government.
Labor has cut regional programs like the Building Better Regions Fund and Community Development Grants, and it remains to be seen whether all existing projects, including planned Princes Highway improvements, will be honoured by the new government.
Judging by the rail funding 'announcement' we can expect recycled press releases and no new projects. Budgets are about choices and Labor will always choose the cities over rural and regional communities like Gippsland.
Pictures from Darren Chester MP website.
Source: http://gippsland.com/
Published by: news@gippsland.com
Bass Coast Shire Council will host free community workshop on 18 May 2024 with keynote speaker Kate Buxton of Shift the Needle
Baw Baw Shire Early Childhood Careers Expo at West Gippsland Arts Centre on 30 May 2024
Siemens and Marathon Group join forces in Gippsland to progress energy transition to offshore wind projects
Surf Parade Shared Path to be extended to last 550m to InverlochSurf Club
Baw Baw Shire Council meeting snapshot - Wednesday 15 May 2024
Corner Inlet is celebrating National Volunteer Week on 18 May 2024 at Foster War Memorial Arts Centre
Gippslanders face more financial strain under Albanese Labor government third budget with broken promises and regional neglect
National Farmers' Federation and industry leaders protest live sheep export ban during Agriculture Minister Murray Watt speech
Albanese Labor government ignores regional Australia cutting infrastructure funds and neglecting the cost-of-living crisis