Labor must reveal local road and community infrastructure fund allocation

The Albanese Government must end eight months of secrecy over how much money local councils will receive from phase 4 of the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.

Member for Barker, Tony Pasin MP said councils are being restricted in planning projects for 2023 due to the Albanese Government’s secrecy and delays over grants programs.

“Labor is showing complete disrespect for our Local Government by keeping councillors in the dark about when they will receive promised funding and how much will be made available.

“Councils are trying to plan their capital works budgets for the year ahead but they are being hampered in their ability to do so because there has been no confirmation of funding,”

“Labor made an election promise to extend the highly successful Coalition initiative by investing $750 million for local roads and community infrastructure, including $500 million additional funding budgeted by the former Coalition Government.

“This is a program strongly supported by local government because it provides a source of untied funding which they can use to upgrade roads or invest in other community infrastructure to help local families and businesses.

“Councils were expecting these funds to be available from 1 July, but after eight months in office the Government has failed to provide any information to councils as to what sum they can expect to receive or the conditions attached to it.

“The Coalition Government were open and transparent about what was budgeted. Before the election, Councils across Barker were set to share in more than $8.3 million through the LRCI program in 2023.

“Labor needs to start showing respect to Local Government and our local community by ending the secrecy and delays over this program.

“I’m calling on the Federal Labor Government to immediately advise councils in Barker regarding what funding they will receive from the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to enable councillors and staff to get on with doing what they do best, improving our local infrastructure for local communities,” Mr Pasin said.

Media Contact: Charlotte Edmunds 8724 7730