LAST week’s 2021/22 State Budget is either a tool to deliver a “stronger future” for the Riverland or a city-centric document that delivers zero new projects for locals and in fact features re-announcements.
Chaffey MP Tim Whetstone claimed the former, stating that the Budget would bolster the Riverland via the “creation of jobs and better services”.
Mr Whetstone said the final pre-election Budget provided the economic backing to grow jobs in the Riverland and Mallee and support communities through investment in infrastructure, health services and primary industries.
“The Marshall Liberal Government is investing more than $875 million for regional South Australia by building key regional and community infrastructure, supporting economic growth and creating jobs,” Mr Whetstone said.
“This Budget is the next stage of our plan to secure the state’s recovery and sets up our future here in the Riverland and Mallee.”
For Riverland-specific projects, Mr Whetstone said the Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program was contributing $1.5 million to the Waikerie Riverfront Community Hub, $1.5 million towards the Renmark Town Wharf upgrade, $1.5 million towards the Mid Murray Murraylands Road upgrade and $361,000 towards the Barmera multisport changeroom and oval lighting improvements.
However, State Opposition spokesperson for regional development, Clare Scriven MLC, said the three Riverland projects were all “announced in March from a funding program launched last year”, in October.
“Nothing was announced that was that new for the Riverland in particular,” said Ms Scriven.
“The Government is spending almost $700 million on a basketball stadium along the riverbank in the Adelaide CBD, yet for the Riverland it can only re-announce projects already going ahead.”
In his post-Budget media release, Mr Whetstone pointed to a “$56 million boost to South Australia’s agriculture sector in the 2021-22 Budget, with $34.5 million invested to fund fruit fly eradication activities”
“$8.3 million is provided for initiatives to encourage school leavers, university students and unemployed South Australians to take up seasonal work, as well as facilitating overseas seasonal workers, to address labour shortages across key sectors due to Covid-19,” he said.
“Many wine growers and exporters in the Riverland will welcome the $5.4 million provided for a wine export recovery and expansion program, as well as $1 million to support the work of the South Australian Wine Industry Association to provide industry development and leadership services.”
Meanwhile the two parties also disagreed over health funding, with Labor producing figures that showed 16 staff would be cut from the Riverland, Mallee and Coorong Local Health Networks.
“There are not simply Covid staff that have been cut or something like that,” Ms Scriven said.
“They have been ceased… from the Local Health Networks.”
Opposition treasury spokesperson Stephen Mulligan said Labor would set aside $100 million of the “basketball stadium” money for investments in country health services and country health facilities.
In response, Health Minister Stephen Wade described Labor’s pledge as “nothing but spin”.
“In fact (it) represents less than half of what the Marshall Liberal Government is already investing in capital works alone,” Mr Wade said.
Mr Whetstone said hospitals, aged care, emergency services and mental health would be supported under the Budget.
“Health continues to be a priority of the Marshall Liberal Government, with the Country Health Sustainment program to continue to deliver upgrades and refreshers to regional assets with a further $22.9 million committed over the next financial year,” he said.
“We are also delivering $5.5 million to make sure all SA Health regional aged care facilities have access to a consistent consumer-centred electronic aged care enterprise management system to better support residents and the staff.
“The system will include medication management accessed via mobile devices at the bedside, supporting data entry at the point of care.
“The wellbeing of South Australians living with mental illness is vital, which is why the Government is committing to a $163.5 million mental health package, including $8.4 million in community support services, and an extra $5 million over two years to support immediate staff training and recruitment in the mental health workforce.”
Mr Whetstone said the average Riverland household is now better off under the State Government’s lower-cost priorities.
“(These include) reductions in water bills and ESL bills, cheaper electricity, and increasing sports vouchers from $50 to $100,” he said.