The Minns Labor Government's 2025/26 budget has delivered a third consecutive blow to the bush, failing to recognise the needs of primary producers, regional residents, and businesses.
NSW Nationals Leader Dugald Saunders slammed the Treasurer for not including any additional funding to uplift support for the North coast, Mid-North and Hunter regions flattened by the recent floods, with only $358.3m allocated including Federal Government contributions.
"The Premier and Treasurer are hiding behind what has already been announced, failing communities like Taree and Kempsey that are literally on their knees right now pleading for help," Mr Saunders said.
"We know the Federal Government has set aside its half of the category D level support, but despite Chris Minns just three weeks ago saying he would work with the Commonwealth to get grants up to $75,000 over the line, he didn't make it a priority in his budget."
"A month on from the devastation and grief has turned to anger, to the point where thousands are rallying in the streets. Those residents have once again been massively let down because Labor cares more about the bottom line than people's lives."
There is also no money to continue the Nationals' Farm Gate Counselling Service or the establishment of 'safe havens' to provide vital mental health support for farmers facing tough times.
Outside of the existing $13.4m for the Moree pilot program and $4m shared between Bourke and Kempsey, the Treasurer hasn't allocated anything in the budget papers to deal with the regional youth crime crisis.
"The dribs and drabs approach we've seen in the past three years has left our regional communities defenceless against serious repeat youth offenders."
"People are still scared on the streets, and they are scared in their homes, yet there's no additional resources to help fix things and allow residents and families to feel safe."
Our primary producers have also been left unprotected after years of neglect in biosecurity funding.
"The $100m allocated to detection, protection and response won't be near enough to plug the massive hole created in the 2024/25 budget."
"With red imported fire ants spreading, cattle tick in the north, varroa mite impacting our bees, and foot and mouth disease knocking at our door, we can't afford to play games with our highly valuable food and fibre."
When it comes to education and health, investment is going backwards under Labor with not one new or upgraded school included for regional NSW in the $2.6b infrastructure package.
"This is a case of three budgets and three fails, and the Minns Government's complete disregard for country communities couldn't be any clearer than it is today."
"While its focus is firmly on western Sydney, our kids are again missing out, with no plans to build or improve any schools anywhere west of the divide, down south, or on the north coast."
"We also know the regional health system is in rapid decline, with severe staff shortages leading to limited emergency department hours at our hospitals, while our maternity wards are shutting down."
"As part of the 2022-23 budget, the former Coalition Government announced the $883m Regional Health Workforce Incentive Scheme to target critical and hard-to-fill roles and it's bitterly disappointing that hasn't been continued."
