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Labor neglects regional SA
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Friday, 5 June 2009

Regional South Australia was again neglected in Labor’s State Budget, which slashed funding for roads and health and failed to deliver on jobs and water.

Families will be hit hard with Treasurer Foley increasing hundreds of fees and charges by between 4% and 36%, despite only 3% inflation. And the Budget failed to include any new money for developing broadband – the lifeline of modern businesses – in the regions.

“After eight years of poor performance, the city-centric Rann Government has thumbed its nose at the regions,” said Shadow Finance Minister Steven Griffiths.

“Treasurer Foley has taken an axe to rural roads and country health funding while the Upper Spencer Gulf desalination project is missing from the Budget papers.

“Job creation is one of the most pressing issues yet there is nothing in the Budget to secure the future of regional South Australians. Instead, the Government has used the Budget to raid the wallets of families and businesses.

Among the key areas of concern:

• County Health SA expenditure has only increased by 1.3% compared to 3% in Adelaide.
• Funding for rural road improvements has been slashed from $7.76 million a year to just $760,000 this year.
• No capital works funding for Mount Gambier and Port Lincoln hospitals, despite the Government last year promising to upgrade them.
• Further downgrading of the Regional Development Infrastructure Fund, with funding now at $2.5 million a year. The Liberals will increase that to $7 million a year.
• Axing the $411 million Correctional Services Precinct in Murray Bridge, which Treasurer Foley said three years ago was a “major investment in public safety and infrastructure critical to reducing crime. 

Mr Griffiths said State debt is soaring towards $6.6 billion while the State’s unfunded superannuation liability has hit $9.7 billion. 

“Labor’s newly-created Sustainable Budget Commission is charged with cutting $750 million from the Budget, with public servant jobs and services in country South Australia in jeopardy,” he said.

“Treasurer Foley will not tell South Australians what he will axe until after the next election.”

Mr Griffiths said South Australians can judge the Budget by asking themselves a simple question.

“What three things has Labor done to benefit me over the past eight years?"