The Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone has criticised the 2025-26 State Budget as a missed opportunity and a reminder that the Malinauskas Labor Government continues to ignore the Riverland and Mallee.

“This Budget delivers next to nothing for our region,” Mr Whetstone said. “It lacks a vision for our communities and offers little investment in the issues that matter most.”

“The Budget fails to deliver for our region including healthcare, freight and road safety, agricultural resilience, and cost-of-living pressures.

“Subsidies for public transport might help city commuters, but they mean nothing to families in the Riverland or Mallee who rely on cars to get to work, school, and medical appointments.”

Mr Whetstone said despite some positives, the Budget failed to address the real and urgent needs of regional communities.

“While I welcome continued funding to fight fruit fly and support for the Murray River, the wider needs of our region have been completely ignored. At a time when soaring electricity prices are crushing households, the Government is raking in more tax revenue instead of providing relief.”

“Healthcare is one of the biggest concerns for people in the Riverland and Mallee and while the Government talks up a $1.9 billion investment in the health system, there’s no specific funding to bolster much needed mental health services or ease pressure on our local hospitals.”

Despite years of advocacy, Mr Whetstone said the Budget also ignored a long-standing priority for the region which is the duplication of the Sturt Highway.

“The Sturt Highway is a lifeline for our freight operators, growers and families however, Labor continues to turn a blind eye to the need for safer, more efficient transport infrastructure,”

“The lack of investment is not only disappointing but also unsafe.”

Mr Whetstone condemned the Budget’s lack of direct support for the struggling wine industry.

“The Riverland is the engine room of Australia’s wine production. Astonishingly, this budget contains no targeted support for our growers or winemakers, despite the immense pressure they’re under.”

Mr Whetstone said the drought response package announced in the Budget also falls short of community expectations.

“Farmers across our region have been clear about what they need: low-interest loans, seed banks, rate relief, equity in the Emergency Services Levy increase and boots-on-the-ground support,” he said. “Instead, this package takes a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t reflect what our farmers are facing on the ground.”

“You cannot trust Labor with supporting the needs of the Riverland and Malle and our regions continue to be asked to do more with less support.

“This Budget confirms what most already know, Labor governs for Adelaide.” 

“Our communities work hard and deserve better than this.”