The Marshall Government’s State Budget will secure a stronger future for Chaffey through the creation of jobs and better services.
Member for Chaffey, Tim Whetstone said the 2021-2022 State Budget provides the economic backing to grow jobs in the Riverland and Mallee and support communities through investment in infrastructure, health services and primary industries.
“The Marshall Liberal Government is investing more than $875 million for regional South Australia by building key regional and community infrastructure, supporting economic growth and creating jobs,” Mr Whetstone said. “This Budget is the next stage of our plan to secure the States recovery and sets up our future here in the Riverland and Mallee.”
“We have included a range of measures that support jobs locally, including funding for the Jobs and Economic Growth Fund bringing the capacity to $200m over the next 4 years, extending the payroll tax exemption for apprentices and trainees for a further 12 months, and providing funding for a range of new community infrastructure projects.”
“The budget delivers $786.4 million in new funding for major upgrades to regional roads, including $202 million over three years to construct a bypass of the Truro Township and Accommodation Hill on the Sturt Highway, supporting local jobs and safer roads for our community who use the road often.”
“The Local Government Infrastructure Partnership Program is contributing $1.5 million to the Waikerie Riverfront Community Hub, $1.5 million towards the Renmark Town Wharf upgrade, $1.5 million towards the Mid Murray Murraylands Road upgrade and $361,000 towards the Barmera multisport changeroom and oval lighting improvements.”
“We are committed to supporting our growers by delivering a $56 million boost to South Australia's agriculture sector in the 2021-22 Budget, with $34.5 million invested to fund fruit fly eradication activities”
“This will go towards protecting our billion-dollar horticulture industry and the thousands of jobs it supports here in the Riverland.”
“$8.3 million is provided for initiatives to encourage school leavers, university students and unemployed South Australians to take up seasonal work, as well as facilitating overseas seasonal workers, to address labour shortages across key sectors due to COVID-19.”
“Many wine growers and exporters in the Riverland will welcome the $5.4 million provided for a wine export recovery and expansion program, as well as $1 million to support the work of the South Australian Wine Industry Association to provide industry development and leadership services.”
“We will continue to work with primary industries sectors to encourage adoption of AgTech with a $5.3 million to increase the take-up of technology and build on the initiatives to establish best practice innovation hubs at the State's research farms, including Loxton.”
Mr. Whetstone said that hospitals, aged care, emergency services and mental health will be supported under the Marshall Government Budget.
“Health continues to be a priority of the Marshall Liberal Government, with the Country Health Sustainment program to continue to deliver upgrades and refreshers to regional assets with a further $22.9 million committed over the next financial year.”
“We are also delivering $5.5 million to make sure all SA Health regional aged care facilities have access to a consistent consumer-centred electronic aged care enterprise management system to better support residents and the staff. The system will include medication management accessed via mobile devices at the bedside, supporting data entry at the point of care.”
“The wellbeing of South Australians living with mental illness is vital, which is why the Government is committing to a $163.5 million mental health package, including $8.4 million in community support services, and an extra $5 million over two years to support immediate staff training and recruitment in the mental health workforce.”
“The budget also delivers a $27.3 million investment to expand the sports and recreations grants to help fund
infrastructure improvements and encourage healthier communities, an important measure for a region rich in sporting history such as the Riverland.”
“The average Riverland household is now better off under the Marshall Government’s lower-cost priorities
including reductions in water bills and ESL bills, cheaper electricity, and increasing sports vouchers from $50 to $100.”
“This budget is one of the most important given last year’s challenges and our budget for a strong region is creating jobs and delivering better services and infrastructure.”
“The previous Labor government ignored our region for 16 years and I’m proud to see investment being
returned to the regions, including to the Riverland and Mallee, as we continue to keep the community safe and grow our economy.”
Among the other budget measures of benefit to the Riverland funded in the State Budget are:
• $50 million for the Early Learning Strategy to support developmentally vulnerable children.
• $10 million to complete a business case for the Greater Adelaide Fright bypass to enable trucks to be
diverted from the SE Freeway via the Sturt Highway.
• $4.2 million in 2021-22 to provide further support to country bus operators to help them with the
impacts of COVID-19.
• $2.2 million over 3 years for the continuation of the rural financial counselling and family and business
support mentors’ programs.
• $1.7 million for a biosecurity response to contain the lens snail incursion.
• $1 million between 2021 and 2023 for assistance to Primary Producers South Australia, to provide
advice to the state government on primary industry matters.
• $1.5 million in 21-21 and $1.8 million per annum from 22-23 for Bushfire Response Automatic
Location system, which provides real time information for firefighting and other emergency
response vehicles during incidents.
More information can be found at www.statebudget.sa.gov.au
