Nationals Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, said last night's Federal Budget was an attack on regional Australia.
He said the most disappointing aspect is the utter neglect of the programs which have done so much to improve liveability and productivity in the regions in recent years.
"There is no further funding for programs which have done so much good for our regions including Stronger Communities, Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI), Growing Regions and the Regional Precincts and Partnerships," Mr McCormack said.
"I was particularly proud of the LRCI I put in place as Deputy Prime Minister because it gave local councils the autonomy to decide at a local level where and on what they needed to spend money.
"Small business, which accounts for more than 97 per cent of Australian businesses and employs more than five million people, has been left high and dry without an instant asset write-off scheme.
"It was $20,000 this financial year (unlimited for a period under the former Coalition Government) and now has been axed."
Mr McCormack said under The Nationals in Government, tradies were able to buy that ute and stock it with tools to boost their business, farmers could get that tractor they always wanted and café owners could buy a schmick barista machine to make their coffee the best in town.
All that's gone now.
"The Federal Government will say its $150 energy bill rebate is a great win but let's not forget Anthony Albanese promised bill relief of $275 on no less than 97 occasions prior to the May 2022 election but failed to bring prices down.
"NSW households face paying an average increase of $328 for power next financial year - so what Labor has offered won't cover half of the upcoming additional yearly slug, let alone the up to $1,300 in additional power bills some Australians are facing since Labor came to government.
"Labor has at least adopted The Nationals' policy to ban foreign buyers from purchasing Australian property for two years, but they've squibbed it on supermarkets with no divestiture powers and no Supermarket Commissioner to ensure fairer prices at the checkout and a better deal for our growers and primary producers at the farm gate.
"The only way to fix this mess is to vote Nationals at the next election and change the government.
"A vote for an independent is a vote for more of the same from this poor Labor Government which has no respect for the regions.
"The difference will be stark on Thursday when Opposition Leader Peter Dutton gives his address-in-reply speech which will set out a course to get Australia back on track."
View The Nationals' plan for the nation here: https://www.nationalsplan.org.au/
