Roads are proving to be a major talking point for the Riverina leading up to the election. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Election candidates for the federal seat of Riverina, incumbent Nationals MP Michael McCormack and the Citizens Party’s Richard Foley have made promises for road funding that Labor candidate Mark Jeffreson says they won’t be able to deliver.
Mr McCormack was the first to unveil his party’s plans for rejuvenating the Riverina’s roads by allocating about $27 million across the 12 local government areas that make up the electorate.
“We are putting back in place the local roads and community infrastructure, a program I put in place when I was the deputy prime minister, infrastructure minister, transport minister and regional development minister,” Mr McCormack said.
“It is such a good program because it gives local councils the autonomy to decide, based on their community needs and wants and expectations, where they feel the money should be spent.
“Of course, it has to get the tick off from Canberra, but essentially, it’s local councils making the decisions for local people, funded by the Federal Government and the Nationals in government, will reinstate, restore this vital program.”
Mr McCormack reinforced that the funding would only be secured if a Coalition government was elected.
“Labor promise very little for regional areas,” he said.
“And all of the independent candidates, I mean, what seriously can they offer?
“They’re like people outside the tent throwing rocks at the tent. They’re never going to be around the expenditure review table when decisions are being made.”
Mr McCormack’s pledge of $27 million is dwarfed by the pledge made by Richard Foley, who will be looking to secure more than $6 billion for the electorate which includes $2.4 billion for roads.
“Basically the 2.4 billion is split over 14 councils, about 170 million per council,” Mr Foley said.
“They’re going to be able to fix everything they want, and there’s a slush fund left for other things.”
Mr Foley said by being a part of a smaller party, if elected he would hold a balance of power in a minority government and would force the hand of whichever of the major parties was elected.
“This is the only way I can promise this, and I will promise this because the fact of the matter is that if I’m holding the keys to the supply of a government, that’s my demand, and it is a ruthless demand that I will not give an inch on,” he said.
Labor for Wagga candidate Mark Jeffreson repsonded to both Mr McCormack and Mr Foley’s promises, stating he was not surprised by his fellow candidates’ announcements but was left confused as to where the money would come from.
“It’s pretty clear that Michael is just working an election campaign, which is fine, that’s what we’re here for,” he said.
“But he’s had three years to advocate for these things that he’s talking about, and we’ve had nothing from him.
“In regard to Mr Foley, it does beg the question, how on earth is he going to find over $6 billion?
“As for Labor, we have been great on infrastructure. Over the last three years we’ve worked on getting our systems in place so as we’re not operating on spreadsheets with electoral consideration, we’re putting resources where they’re needed.”
The federal election will be held on Saturday 3 May with early voting opening on Tuesday 22 April.
