The Chaffey Electorate has emerged a big winner of the Marshall Liberal Government’s first State Budget, delivering on key election promises and providing household and business financial relief.

Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone said today’s State Budget has invested significant funding into important election policies in the Chaffey Electorate.

“The State Budget handed down today provides funding certainty for the establishment of a full-time community legal service office in the Riverland and an Ice rehabilitation pilot program,” said Mr Whetstone.

“The reinstatement of a full time legal service presence in the Riverland will provide a valuable service for those who cannot afford legal advice and delivers on an election commitment.”

“The State budget is delivering for our regions and the Riverland community will benefit from these commitments to health and legal services, while providing opportunities for job growth within the community.”

“Funds for the establishment of additional quarantine bins and enhanced inspections are provided in the budget, to protect our fruit-growing region from the threat of fruit fly.”

“Small businesses will benefit from our commitment to abolish payroll tax, making it easier and more financially viable to create additional jobs.”

“The State Budget also delivers on my election commitment to fund a business case for a state-of-the-art Food and Wine Centre and the implementation of a pilot Matrix drug recovery program in the Riverland.”

“Behind agriculture and horticulture, tourism is the region’s biggest economic generator and the proposed Riverland Food and Wine Centre business case will further enhance the region’s growing reputation as a premium destination for food lovers,” said Mr. Whetstone.

“The Matrix-pilot program is crucial to the Riverland as the community faces many social challenges, predominantly ice and methamphetamines usage and the community needs further means to combat the issues faced by drug and alcohol abuse.”

Health services in the Riverland will be boosted by budget measures providing investment in expanding country cancer services, country health infrastructure and health workforce funding, to provide more opportunities for medical interns and to retain specialists.

The Chaffey Theatre in Renmark will benefit from funding committed for regional theatre sustainment works to ensure the safe and compliant operation of regional theatres.

Among the other budget measures of benefit to the Riverland funded in the State Budget over the next four years are:

• $2.5 million in both 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 to support Country Fire Stations.
• $250,000 towards a school bus review of services.
• $2.3 million towards the introduction of local health governing boards.
• $10 million over three years to address mobile black spots.

Mr Whetstone said the Government cannot overturn 16 years of neglect overnight but in this budget we are starting on the journey of investing in the Riverland.