David Hawker

Labor`s Budget Bombshell

LABOR BUDGET A HUGE SLAP IN THE FACE FOR WESTERN VICTORIANS

12 May 2009

A whole generation of Western Victorians will pay higher taxes for a Budget that delivers them next to nothing,
Federal Member for Wannon David Hawker said today.

"Rudd Labor has continued its attack on rural and regional residents in this Budget, completely ignoring the
needs of Western Victorians," Mr Hawker said.

"After weeks of fanfare about their great infrastructure spend, we see nothing for the Princes Highway, nothing
to hasten the Ararat bypass, nothing to address Portland's rail and port needs.

"After announcing their hugely expensive National Broadband Network, which excludes more then 9,000
Western Victorians, Labor has announced in this Budget an end to the Broadband Guarantee, which enabled
residents in remote areas access to high speed broadband at metro-comparable prices. This Guarantee,
introduced by the Coalition to assist rural and regional families and businesses, will be phased out by 2013.
However Labor's new network is not due for completion for another 10 years!"

Mr Hawker said it is clear the Labor Party has lost control of public finances, with debt forecast to escalate to
the equivalent of $9,000 per person - that's $500 per person each year in interest alone.
"Health and aged care in rural and regional areas need urgent attention and this Budget does nothing to
address that need," Mr Hawker said.

"There's nothing to assist rural students pursuing tertiary education, and no guarantee of funding for our
Australian Technical College, which has such strong industry support.

"Our local Catchment Management Authorities and Landcare programs are struggling to survive under the reduced funding imposed by this Government, and our local Area Consultative Committees, that have delivered millions in worthwhile regional development programs in recent years, will be shut down completely," he said.

"While it's a relief to see Labor finally following the Coalition's lead and increasing the pension, many on partpensions
will lose.

"In all my time in Federal Parliament, I have never seen such a depressing Budget, and the prospect of
massive debt will hang over all Western Victorians for many years to come. It is a downright disgrace to think
the next generation is going to be handed such a crippling debt due to the irresponsible mismanagement of the
Rudd Government," Mr Hawker said.

Media contact: (03) 5572 1100

David Hawker's Media Releases

Australians are now paying the price for Labor's reckless spending.

www.liberal.org.au/Budget2009