The NSW Nationals have unveiled billions of dollars in election promises aimed at improving water security, roads and mobile-phone coverage in regional areas at their campaign launch yesterday.
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Launching the campaign in Queanbeyan, Nationals leader John Barilaro said “the fight for our third term is our biggest fight yet” before outlining the party’s new funding commitments for regional areas, taking their commitments so far to $5 billion.
The funding, largely via the $4.2 billion Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund, will cover a drought-relief package, water security and infrastructure, regional roads, mobile-phone black spots, travel for seniors and youth issues.
However, rival candidates in the seat of Wagga Wagga have lambasted the promises as being too late, lacking details and “a list of failures”.
Among water security is the initiative to fast track six regional water strategies that align with each catchment area to invest in local solutions that Mr Barilaro said was “to ensure every regional community has access to safe and reliable water”.
We need to be bold.
- John Barilaro, NSW Nationals leader
As well, $25 million has been committed as down payment to investigate mass-water infrastructure projects to drought-proof Eastern Australia.
The initiative will revisit the Bradfield Scheme in 1938, which was never adopted, that proposed to use pipelines to redirect surplus water in northern Queensland to inland rivers.
Mr Barilaro cited the recent floods in Townsville and how the water could have been redirected to “towns [in NSW] running out of water”.
“We need to be bold,” he said.
The drought package has also been extended from $650 million $1 billion, which includes waiving fees and charges for eight local government areas.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our farmers who are enduring the worst drought on record, offering real support that makes a real difference,” Mr Barilaro said.
Details about which regions would benefit from the water security and drought package have not yet been released.
Mr Barilaro also announced the appointment of a minister for regional youth to provide a link between education, health, justice and employment “to deliver NSW’s first-ever regional youth strategy”.
“This is about every man, woman and child in regional NSW,” he said.
Finally, the deputy premier also announced a further investment of $1.54 billion into regional roads and bridges, the goal of making NSW free of mobile phone black spots, and seniors travel cards.
Rival candidates have their say
Country Labor’s Dan Hayes said the list was “a list of failures of this government over eight years”.
“None of these policies have ever been discussed until now,” he said.
“In specific to water, for them to have a water policy after eight years is stretching it.”
“What is most interesting is what’s not listed - there’s nothing about jobs, healthcare, education, cost of living, electricity and the like.
“What’s missing are probably most symbolic of what the Nationals stand for.”
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate Seb McDonagh said the water funding commitments were “a bit late”.
“Given that its the government that has created the problem by the mismanagement of the Murray Darling Basin,” Mr McDonagh said.
However, he said it was "a good start" and that "finally we see some vision from the government".
He said the funding to drought package and mobile phone black spots were also positives.
"Waiving of fees and charges from LLS [Local Land Services] — I agree with this and it should be standard practice," he said.
"If the coalition is returned to government, most likely minority, a vote for me means that we have the strength to hold the coalition to their promises.
There’ll be a cynicism that it’s taken an election for this to happen.
- Joe McGirr, Wagga MP
Wagga MP Joe McGirr said that while the items announced were all important, the electorate “see these issues as long overdue” and labelled the $25 million investment into water infrastructure as a “pipe dream”.
“There’ll be a cynicism that it’s taken an election for this to happen,” Dr McGirr said.
“As for the initiative around young people, it’s been a concern for some years.
“This announcement is at least a recognition of that, but really it’s no more than that.
“There’s no strategy with it and there is a risk we could have more bureaucracy with another ministerial layer.”
Australian Conservatives candidate Colin Taggart questioned why the Nationals are interested in water security now.
“It is only because they have made such a mess of it recently - they should be sacked, not given more taxpayers funds,” Mr Taggart said.
He said energy was the single most important issue for people.
“High energy prices and low energy security...there’s no mention of how to address this,” he said.
Earlier in the launch, Mr Barilaro recounted the party’s achievements and its commitment to regional NSW.
“To the individuals and families living and working in the towns and cities who grow our food, provide our milk, generate our power and export products that help grow our economy: this is your state, it’s about your life and this is your time,” he said.
Nationals candidate for Wagga Mackenna Powell has not yet responded to questions.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian also spoke at the launch on Sunday.
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