Debate over infrastructure funding has turned ugly, with the National Party and the Shooters, Farmer and Fishers Party accusing one another of playing politics in the lead up to the next election.
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Griffith’s Shooters’ Party candidate Helen Dalton has accused the Nationals of not spending enough on rural towns.
Her comments follow the release of the Auditor General’s Report on State Finances, released on Friday.
The report found that 18.5 per cent of the Restart NSW fund has gone to country areas over the last six years, which is “not good enough” according to Mrs Dalton.
“They’ve been hoarding our money and it’s disgraceful,” Mrs Dalton said.
“There’s a gammat of stuff we need doing - we need funding for our Griffith Base Hospital, and we have crumbling roads full of potholes in Leeton and Whitton.
“It proves they haven’t delivered for the bush and they’re more interested in the big city.”
Restart NSW was funded through sales of poles and wires electricity infrastructure, and 30 per cent of that money is designated for rural areas.
“They’ve been selling off our assets and said we will have our share of the funding, but so far they haven’t delivered any of the things that they should be,” Mrs Dalton said.
Member for Murray Austin Evans said Mrs Dalton’s complaints were a “desperate” attempt to win votes for the upcoming election.
“Their complaint that only a certain percentage has been spent shows that they just don’t get it,” Mr Evans said.
“The reality is we’ve got that money secured and we’re spending it wisely.
“We’re rolling it out to get good results for the community and not rushing it out for the sake of winning votes.”
Mr Evans said he was committed to rolling out infrastructure projects in rural areas, pointing to the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy fund.
“Water infrastructure has been flagged as one of the things that really makes a difference to country people,” he said.
“This plan will be a game changer and we will get good results from it.”
Other infrastructure projects include $1.7 million for Jubilee Park and Community Gardens as well as a $10 million state grant to go towards a regional multi-sport facility.
Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
