The Palaszczuk Labor Government has abandoned the Bundaberg and Burnett by delivering a budget that cuts infrastructure spending and key services.
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the incompetent Palaszczuk Labor Government had failed the people of Bundaberg and Burnett by delivering another budget of broken promises propped up by raids on public servants superannuation and increased taxes.
“Premier Palaszczuk and her clueless Treasurer have handed down a budget that fails to deliver the jobs and services that the needs of the people of Bundaberg and Burnett now and into the future,” Mr Bennett said.
“Labor promised a budget that would deliver jobs in our region but unemployment will rise. They promised a budget that would pay down debt but instead debt will increase. They promised record infrastructure but have slashed infrastructure funding to a record low.
“This means the Bundaberg and Burnett electorate will miss out on vital infrastructure and services, all because Labor can’t manage the books.”
Mr Bennett said the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s budget failed to provide the support needed to tackle a drop in apprenticeship and traineeship completions or to address youth unemployment.
“Labor likes to talk about jobs, jobs, jobs, but it has absolutely no plan to combat the alarming youth unemployment rate or incentivise employers to take on apprentices and encourage them to complete their training,” he said.
“Our region has one of the nation’s highest rates for youth unemployment, but what has the member for Bundaberg and her Labor Government done to address the issue?
“This budget proves the member for Bundaberg and her Labor Government has absolutely no vision or plan for our region to combat youth unemployment.
Mr Bennett said the government had failed to address flood mitigation in the Bundaberg region.
“I’m bitterly disappointed the government has completely overlooked flood mitigation to protect our community from future flood events,” he said.
“Flood mitigation measures should be high on the government’s agenda. It was certainly my expectation and to find out the government doesn’t see this vital infrastructure as a priority is appalling.
“The former LNP Government was fully committed to flood mitigation in Bundaberg because we understood the need to deliver real and tangible outcomes for locals and businesses who are concerned about repeated flooding.”
Mr Bennett said he was also disappointed by the lack of expenditure to support the region’s education facilities and transitional housing.
“I’m disappointed funding hasn’t been allocated towards any new classrooms or additional resources,” he said.
“There’s no funding being allocated towards transitional accommodation to address homelessness and Domestic Violence. That was an important area that completely missed out.
“This is a budget of raids, rip-offs and write downs which doesn’t offer a great deal for the Bundaberg and Burnett region.”
Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls said today’s Palaszczuk-Pitt Budget confirmed Labor was incapable of delivering a sustainable long-term economic plan or creating jobs for Queensland.
“Budgets should boost business confidence, infrastructure investment and jobs but the Palaszczuk Labor Government has failed on all counts,” Mr Nicholls.
“Premier Palaszczuk and her clueless Treasurer only know how to deliver short-term sugar hits that will fail to deliver the jobs and services that Queenslanders need now and for the future. What happens when they run out of hollow logs to raid?”
Labor’s budget cuts by portfolio:
- Department of Education and Training $191.2 million
- Department of Transport and Main Roads $102.8 million
- Queensland Police $38.1 million
- Department of Justice and Attorney-General $28.3 million
- Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing $6.6 million
- Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation $5.9 million
- Department of the Premier and Cabinet $5.1 million
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries $5 million budget year and forward estimates
- Queensland Treasury $4.5 million
- Department of State Development $2.9 million
- Department of Environment and Heritage Protection $2.7 million
- Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning $2.7 million
- Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders $1 million budget year and forward estimates
- Department of Energy and Water Supply $0.9 million
- Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and Commonwealth Games $0.4 million
14 June 2016