The NSW Labor Government's 18 June Budget does nothing to alleviate the growing cost of living problems in the Richmond and Clarence Valleys, although there is some good news for the region, according to Clarence Nationals MP Richie Williamson.
"Everywhere I go, every local I talk to, they all say the same thing: we're struggling with rising costs - why isn't the Government helping?" Mr Williamson said.
Mr Williamson said that he was all for working cooperatively with the Government, but there was mounting evidence Sydney Labor is "out of town, out of touch and the budget is out of control".
"Calls to reinstate the $250 fuel card for regional seniors, students and apprentices have fallen on deaf ears, but Sydney seniors now enjoy $2-a-day Gold Passes on Sydney's massive and massively subsidised public transport system as well as toll relief for Sydneysiders," Mr Williamson said.
"Calls to save the Ulmarra ferry from Labor's axe met a similar fate, at the same time as Labor is buying a fleet of new ferries for Sydney and took over another Sydney ferry service that has lower patronage than Ulmarra to Southgate."
Mr Williamson did acknowledge the Government's ongoing funding of the previous Liberals and Nationals Government’s Grafton Base Hospital rebuild, the allocation of $6.2m in the fight against White Spot disease in local rivers as well as a "welcome" $90m boost for the Resilient Homes Program, following the 2022 floods.
"These are crumbs compared to what Labor is lavishing on its Sydney heartland," Mr Williamson cautioned.
"The Richmond and Clarence Valleys provide the timber for Sydney homes, the beef for Sydney dinners as well as the sugar and milk for Sydney cappuccinos.
“That needs to be acknowledged and we deserve our fair share," Mr Williamson concluded.”
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