Media Release – Senator Barnaby Joyce, 30 August 2011:
Labor’s empty promises to regional Australia
The rollout of Labor’s Regional Development Australia Fund, promised to Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott last year, is running at least two months behind schedule, Senator Joyce said today.Minister Crean announced in a statement on 16th May 2011:
“I look forward to receiving advice on the most meritorious applications from the independent RDAF Advisory Panel in June and will announce successful projects in July,” Mr Crean said.*
As reported in The Australian today, a spokesman for Regional Australia Minister Simon Crean last night confirmed the minister had not yet even received a shortlist of projects ticked off as being “ready for investment” from the fund’s independent advisory panel.**
Senator Joyce said “It seems unlikely that the successful projects will be announced before the middle of next month at the earliest. The Government’s promises on regional spending are proving to be empty.
But Mr Crean has found time over the past seven weeks to conduct 9 marketing sessions on the carbon tax involving Regional Development Australia bodies in Gippsland, Geelong, Gladstone, Mackay, Queanbeyan, Rockhampton, Hunter, Whyalla and Townsville.
“Minister Crean seems to have plenty of time to sell a carbon tax but not enough time to do what he is supposed to be doing as Minister for Regional Australia. Just when Australia needs strong leadership this is a government that is becoming increasingly distracted by broken promises, failed policies and scandals.” said Senator Joyce today.
“Regional Development Australia committees are finding out that their greatest purpose appears to be a propaganda unit for Mr Crean rather than a mechanism to deliver real outcomes to regional Australia.”
More Information – Matthew Canavan 0458 709 433
* New Grants Program gets strong response from Regional Australia, Media Release, Simon Crean, 16th May 2011
**The Australian, Lauren Wilson ‘Regional Development Fund two months behind and facing further delays’ 30th August 2011
Barnaby Is Right 
I was wondering about this with Tony Windsor announcing improvements to Tamworth Base and including monie for regional health. I was wondering if these have already transpired or is it a case of ‘promises, promises’. But when you consider the 200 billion debt so far, and the 600 million a year to the United Nations Climate Change fund, it is hardly much to give our hospitals a 1.2 million in Tamworth.