Labor finds out: Belt Regional Australia at your peril
28th September, 2009
Regional Australia has been used for target practice by the Rudd Labor Government and the people who live there know it, the Leader of The Nationals, Warren Truss, said today.“Like the clouds of dust that rolled from outback Australia to Sydney and Brisbane last week, the anger and disappointment with Federal Labor in the regions is now mounting and is on its way into town,” Mr Truss said.
“Regional Australians have been prepared to give Rudd Labor a fair go, but their patience has evaporated.
“The disastrous emission trading scheme proposal is just the most glaring example of how regional Australia has been betrayed. There are plenty of others.
“The first Budget in 2008 cut more than $1 billion from regional programs; the second in May this year cut even more.
“Agriculture was the only department hit in the last Budget with an extra efficiency dividend, yet farming is one bright spot on the national economy.
“Today we are again seeing the age-old Labor practice of using unnamed party strategists to blame others for the results – this time the Rees and Bligh state governments.
“What about the 200,000 Australians who have lost their jobs since Kevin Rudd came to power? What about the forecast $315 billion in Government debt? What about cuts to the youth allowance or the failure on the promise to fix regional hospitals?
“Today’s poll in The Australian mirrors one conducted for Rural Press a month ago. Regional Australians are increasingly asking themselves about the Rudd Government: is that all there is?
“Kevin Rudd’s only view of regional Australia is from 30,000 feet up as he heads to a G20 meeting. He is now presiding over the most anti-regions Government in history.
“We’re a long way from the only poll that matters and The Nationals will continue to work hard to convince regional Australians that we deserve their trust and support,” Mr Truss said.
