The Albanese Government has yet again ignored Mallee in last night’s Federal Budget, delaying local infrastructure projects, failing to provide new money for Mallee programs and refusing to fix Labor’s self-made cost-of-living crisis, Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says.

“The Prime Minister said when he was elected two years ago, ‘no one would be held back, no one would be left behind’, but that’s only if you live in a capital city and not in Mallee,” Dr Webster said.

“I have pored through the budget and found no references to any projects or benefits for Mallee, Wimmera, Sunraysia or the Grampians.”

“This year’s Budget has demonstrated again that not only has regional Australia had critical infrastructure ripped away, but will also bear the cost of higher mortgages, higher energy bills and higher food prices.”

Labor spent $1.6 billion less on Australia’s road and rail projects this year than it promised just five months ago in its Mid-Year Economic Fiscal Outlook.

Labor’s $300 per household rebates for energy bills comes on the heels of Labor’s plans for 28,000 kilometres of transmissions lines and billions of dollars in tax incentives for ‘green energy’ projects, ripping up prime agricultural land and remnant vegetation supposedly to save the planet.

Dr Webster said the $300 energy rebate was Labor’s admission their energy policies have failed, covering over the cracks with taxpayers’ money, politically deferring the impact of higher energy prices until after the election.

“Labor is also remaining secretive about water buybacks in its Budget and when new road projects will actually be delivered, with most of the funding off into the never-never,” Dr Webster said.

Labor is pressing ahead with its new fresh food tax, called a biosecurity protection levy. Food costs will keep climbing because Labor refuses to reinstate the AgVisa, instead introducing a measly $1 million in its Budget for a ‘skilled agricultural work liaison pilot’ to attract graduates to work in agriculture.

The Budget does provide $132.0 million over eight years from 2024–25 to continue the Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs model, with the Mallee Regional Innovation Centre (MRIC) a partner in the Victorian hub.

“I advocated directly to the Minister for Agriculture for this funding and in a slim budget for the regions I am glad there is some funding to help MRIC continue its vital work,” Dr Webster said.

“I also advocated as Member for Mallee and as Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health to increase the Shingrix vaccination quotas. Thankfully $57.7 million over four years will assist the disproportionately higher number of older people in Mallee compared with the general population.

Labor has no plan to address regional Australia’s housing crisis in Mallee, despite bringing in nearly 1.7 million new migrants over the next five years.

“Regional Australia and Mallee has been betrayed in Labor’s Budget. Sadly, it is clear Labor has no plan to fix its cost-of-living crisis and regional families will feel the pain in their wallets,” Dr Webster said.

“Under Labor, regional Australians in Mallee are poorer and being hit with higher taxes, higher mortgage repayments and higher grocery and energy bills.”