Durack MP Melissa Price expresses concern regional WA will suffer under upcoming Budget

Federal Durack MP Melissa Price says she is concerned regional WA will face heavy cutbacks in Tuesday’s Federal Budget. The Albanese Government will announce its first Budget on Tuesday at 4.30pm WA time. Ms Price said the Budget came during at a economically difficult time for many in the regions. “In a rapidly changing economic environment, Labor must deliver a coherent plan to deal with the current cost-of-living crisis which is very real and painful for so many regional Australian families,” Ms Price said. “Indications from Labor suggest that we should fear regional WA bearing the brunt of the economic cutbacks in this Budget. “I am particularly concerned about important Durack road infrastructure projects and local community projects.” Ms Price’s comments echo Nationals leader David Littleproud who claimed regional Australia was being “punished” by the upcoming Budget, after the Government announced it would scrap the Building Better Regions Fund. “Labor has turned its back on regional and rural families and workers,” he said. The Government has rejected the idea it will be unfairly making cuts to regional Australia, and announced $1 billion will go to two new regional programs for the next three years, which Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said will be more transparent and consistent.