LABOR: NO CARE, NO RESPONSIBILITY

13-July-2010

Mr Albanese, one of the most senior members of the Rudd/Gillard Government proves again Labor has no idea and doesn’t care about rural and regional areas.

Responding to funding pressures on rural shires with a low rate base Mr Albanese claimed that councils are free to spend their federal funded income ‘as they please’.

“He knows this is wrong and illustrates not only the abject arrogance of this government, but the total lack of interest about the viability of our local councils,” Federal Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella said.

“I’m sure councils would love to be able to spend their funds as they please, but many of these funds are ‘tied’ which means they are allocated to specific projects, whether that is social or infrastructure.

“The inference that Strathbogie Shire Council could have arbitrarily spent these funds to fix Kirwan’s Bridge is ridiculous.

“As Kevin Hannigan, CEO of Strathbogie Shire, said today, if the funding that was allocated to aged care had been diverted to the bridge and older people were thrown on the streets, there would be an outcry as well.

“Unlike Minister Albanese, the Coalition has put forward a plan of direct action to address these issues such as the Bridges Renewal Program.

“I have already put my hand up for funding for Strathbogie Shire Council and Kirwan’s Bridge under this program, and I will continue to fight for this funding under a Coalition government.”