Budget a dud for Parkes Electorate
11-May-2011
The Federal Government has yet again ignored the desperate needs of the Parkes Electorate. Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton has expressed his disappointment that the budget did not contain adequate funding for the electorate in vital areas such as health and infrastructure.
This years Budget deficit has soared to $49.4 billion and the net debt has climbed to a record $107 billion in 2011/12.
Many families will now find it harder to meet with the rising costs of living as a result of a number of misguided spending cuts. Regional Australia has been short changed by a city centric Government that’s cut $500 million in regional funding and there is not a single new cent in this budget for road and rail projects across Australia.
However, Mr Coulton warned people should be cautious of promises outlined by the Government. “Since Labor’s election in 2007 it has repeatedly broken many of its key budget commitments and with the deliberate lack of detail in many crucial areas there are concerns history will repeat itself.”
Dubbo Base Hospital has been let down after the Gillard Government announced only $7.1 million would be made available in the Federal Budget to go towards the re-development of the hospital, despite an application put forward to the Government for funds of $50 million.
Mr Coulton said he was extremely frustrated with the Government’s attitude and said the Government showed what its priorities really are by announcing they would spend more than $13 million on carbon tax advertising and only $7.1 million on Dubbo Hospital.
“This really shows the priorities of this Government. They consider spending more than $13 million on carbon tax advertising and propaganda more important than delivering health services to Western NSW.”
“Servicing a growing population of nearly 200 000 people in the Greater West, it is imperative that funding for the development of Stage 2 of the Dubbo Base Hospital be provided to ensure that the hospital meets the growing demand for health services in the region,” Mr Coulton stated. “This budget has failed to provide the hospital with an adequate amount of funding.”
Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Multi-Disciplinary Health Care Centre and Accommodation will receive $3 million under the same funding program as the Dubbo Base Hospital.
Mr Coulton said the major concern of this budget was the huge debt that will put further pressure on everyday Australians.
“The Government‘s failure to rein in its wasteful and reckless spending will lead to higher inflation and put upward pressure on interest rates.”
“Ultimately the omission of the Carbon Tax in the Budget means there is a hole in the heart of the Budget and the Government’s claim to deliver a surplus in 2012/13 can’t be taken seriously.”