by Michael R Williams, Longreach Leader
Now Nationals party leader and member for Maranoa, David Littleproud said he will continue to fight for Maranoa and the regions, even if it is now from the opposition.
“It will be harder to get funding for Maranoa and regional areas, but I’ve had a constructive with the new Prime Minister about garnering his appreciation of what we’ve been able to achieve for the regions,” he said.
“The investments that have been made into electorates like Maranoa, nearly $6.97 million, and not one of charity, but one that has economic merit to it – our economic output [people who live in the regions] per person far outweighs most who live in capital cities.
“And our conversations [with Prime Minister Albanese] have been about making sure that our investments in infrastructure, whether it be roads, telecommunications, and about empowering the community through our own local solutions.”
“Local solutions” was a motif of Minister Littleproud’s time as Minister for Northern Australia in the previous cabinet and one he hopes will be taken up by the current Labor Government.
“[Mr Albanese] has given me a chance to listen and try and understand and, I’ve given him a commitment to work constructively, but we will hold him to account to make sure Maranoa and regional Australia – more broadly as Nationals leader – is getting their fair share,” he said.
“We’re currently taking them at face value, but the proof will be in the pudding.”
Another round of Building Better Regions funding will be still accessible of over $250 million which Minister Littleproud hopes Labor will commit to a long with a budgeted $21 billion infrastructure expenditure that could go towards much-needed repairs for roads, weirs and the like.
“We would hope the new government would live up to that as it would show they really are committed to rural and regional Australia,” he said.
“The only thing they are committing at the moment, $500 million – as part of a $15 billion manufacturing program – which is loose change compared to what we committed to regional rural Australia.
Another part of Minister Littleproud’s legacy has been the $5 billion drought resilience fund; Minister Littleproud parried calls from now Agricultural Minister that he had taken too long to spend said fund, stating that it was Labor had stalled efforts in parliament.
“We do hope they continue with that fund as it is now legislated and they now have control over it,” he said.
“They could potentially tear that fund down as well as the emergency fund, I think that’s less likely.
“I do hope the drought fund maintains its independence.”
Minister Littleproud said he hopes through collaboration and consultation the work his team have made over the past nine years for rural Australia is not undone.
“My job will be to demonstrate to this government the opportunities that are in regional Australia,” he said.
