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Labor Puts Brakes on Funding Boost for Deakin Roads
The Coalition Government’s $1.75 billion five-year funding extension of the Roads to Recovery Programme is at risk of being blocked in the Senate, the Federal Member for Deakin, Michael Sukkar, warned today.
Legislation to extend Roads to Recovery funding for the next five years (from 2014-15 to 2018-19) passed the House of Representatives, but was opposed by Labor and the Greens.
“If Labor and the Greens vote against the legislation in the Senate, the Roads to Recovery Programme will terminate,” Mr Sukkar said.
“Given Labor and the Greens’ position on this Bill, our local councils of Maroondah and Whitehorse stand to lose approximately $4 million in funding over the next five years.
“That’s a lot of bitumen for a lot of much-needed work on our local roads and streets. Our community cannot afford to lose this vital investment.
“Labor is playing destructive political games and it is local councils and local roads users who will pay the price.
“Our $1.75 billion commitment is designed to help local governments to address the backlog of local road maintenance, to improve safety and transport efficiency, and stimulate economic development across the country.
“Local governments are desperate for Roads to Recovery funding, but now Labor and the Greens are threatening the very future of the programme.”
“Across Victoria, local roads will lose a staggering $356 million if Labor doesn’t get out of the way.
“Our local community, our businesses and our entire economy desperately need this $1.75 billion injection of funding for local roads now.
“I urge local councils to petition Labor and the Greens to allow this funding to be passed.”
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Media contact: Kate Bruce-Rosser on (03) 9874 1711