Labor’s first Federal Budget in almost a decade has been handed down overnight – and not everyone is pleased with the result.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has told myGC that he is “disappointed” the coast “never got a mention” during the Treasurer’s budget delivery on Tuesday night.
The budget included already-announced funding for the Coomera Connector and Stage Three of the Light Rail.
However, there was nothing for critical Olympic Games infrastructure, Stage Four of the Light Rail, or funding for the heavy rail extension from Varsity Lakes to the Airport.
Mayor Tate said overall it appears the city has been looked over.
“I have to congratulate Treasurer Jim Chalmers for his first budget, however a little bit disappointing the Gold Coast wasn’t mentioned anywhere during the live telecast,” he said.
“I welcome the already announced funding for the Coomera Connector and Stage Three of Light Rail”.
The Mayor said the Federal $10 billion Housing Plan was commendable, but he has questioned its target of one million homes Australia-wide in five years.
“It’s never smart to over-promise and under deliver and I fear this is what will happen here,” Mayor Tate said.
“Right now, our city needs 6000 new dwellings. Deliver those inside the next year and I’ll give the budget an A+ but the proof will be in the delivery.”
Labor Minister Murray Watt has defended the Budget, declaring the city has actually come out on top.
“We’ve had to make some very tough decisions about whether projects go ahead or not because of the huge deficit and debt that we have inherited,” Minister Watt told myGC.
“But I’m very pleased to say that we have been able to keep the funding in place for those really important transport projects on the Gold Coast.
“There are other projects across the country that we have had to put off, or cancel altogether, but the Gold Coast has retained funding for those important projects”.
