Joint media release
Shadow Minister for Education, Senator for Victoria, Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson
Liberal for Bendigo, Matt Evans
The Albanese Government continues to play funding games with communities in desperate need to kickstart projects successfully approved months ago.
Senator for Victoria, Sarah Henderson and Liberal candidate for Bendigo, Matt Evans said the electorate was missing out as a result of Labor’s continued failures to deliver grants for the region.
It includes the more than $2 million to Greater Bendigo City Council toward the Heathcote Civic Precinct and Library and $665,636 toward Bendigo Foodshare’s Community Food Hub for Central Victoria
The projects were successfully funded under the Growing Regions Program but, bizarrely, were not announced until after organisations were required to have started work, according to application guidelines.
“This is just another example of the Albanese Government starving the regions of much-needed funding,” Senator Henderson said.
“The Albanese Government promised programs to support the regions, but after more than two years there is nothing to show for it.”
“Labor ministers are sitting on grants programs, refusing to part with money promised for the regions, choosing instead to hoard the cash to prop up its budget in Canberra.”
In Labor’s first two years in office, it has stripped more than $20 billion in infrastructure and programs from regional communities.
Under rules set down by the Albanese government, organisations are not permitted to start local projects until contracts have been signed with the Commonwealth.
Mr Evans said it was now three months since Labor committed to fund the Heathcote civic precinct project and Bendigo’s community food hub.
“These are significant projects, vital to strengthening the fabric of our local community,” Mr Evans said.
“The people of Bendigo deserve more than lip service and long delays,” Mr Evans said.
“So many families are facing a cost of living crisis. Bendigo Foodshare is doing the most incredible job providing vital support to struggling families and this funding delay is totally unacceptable.”
“The Albanese government continues to treat regional Victorians as second class citizens and this is just not good enough,” Mr Evans said.