THE Forde electorate got completely side stepped by Jim Chalmers and his Budget.
The Treasurer, whose electorate of Rankin neighbours Forde, “should know what our region needs, yet decided to overlook us” according to Forde MP, Bert van Manen.
“Roads, sporting clubs, community groups and public safety measures were front and centre on my wish list,” he said.
“I outlined 12 projects of importance for our area in correspondence to the Treasurer. Not one received any financial support.
“The only item prioritised by the Government is the relocation of the Loganlea Train Station, at a further cost of $39.4 million. Another project in which costs have seemingly blown out considerably or been ‘revised’.”
The overall cost of the project is now expected to be $174 million – initially announced as a $95 million project in 2019.
“The Government has lifted spending by $315 billion, but the Treasurer didn’t see fit to filter any of it into our region. It’s a disappointing Budget for me and the people of Forde,” Mr van Manen said.
“Under two years of Labor, a typical family with a mortgage is now more than $35,000 worse off.
“Despite the Treasurer’s best attempts at spin, housing is up 12%, rents are up 12%, insurance up 26%, electricity is up 18%, and gas is up 25%. When all of that is compounded, the people of Forde suffer thanks to the Labor Government.
“Their big-ticket item was a $300 electricity rebate. But, because of their inability to govern, cost of living pressures and people’s electricity bills will continue to outweigh whatever sugar hit the Albanese Labor Government dish out,” he said.