PRIME MINISTER ABANDONS QUEENSLAND COUNCILS

Anthony Albanese continues to snub regional councils expressing concerns about new federal disaster funding arrangements, telling ratepayers to pick up the bill for his Government’s cuts.

Speaking after attending the Australian Local Government Transport Conference in Cairns, Shadow Minister for Resources and for Northern Australia. Senator Susan McDonald heard directly from councils about their concerns.

“This is simply not good enough from the Prime Minister. The message was unmistakable: councils cannot absorb these costs,” she said.

“I have had just about every council in Queensland contact me about Labor’s cuts to disaster recovery funding. Mayors have travelled to Canberra to plead their case but nothing has been done.

“These are councils already struggling with rising costs, stretched budgets, low rates bases and increasing demands on their services.

“Now Anthony Albanese wants them to find millions more to repair roads, bridges and essential infrastructure after disasters.

“Labor says it is still in a ‘consultation phase’. That just shows how completely out of touch they are. You don’t need another round of consultation, you just need to get out from behind your desk and talk to a regional council or a resident who has lived through a flood, cyclone or disaster.

“Regional Queenslanders already face higher costs and longer recovery times. The last thing they need is Labor shifting more of the burden onto councils and local ratepayers.

“The Albanese Government should scrap these cuts and ensure councils have the support they need to rebuild when disaster strikes.”

ENDS