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HEALTH IS A LOSER Member for Flinders Liz Penfold said health has been a big loser in the Labor State Government’s 2003 Budget. “Metropolitan hospitals last year received an increase of 7.1% in their budgets while the budget for country hospitals was only increased by 2.4% which was less than inflation. “This year’s Labor Budget has cut that even further,” she said. Mrs Penfold said this contrasted poorly with the Federal Government’s $3.5 billion contribution to South Australian public hospitals, an $800 million increase in funding above the current federal-state agreement.
RIVER MURRAY
WATER LEVY IS UNJUST Member for Flinders Liz Penfold said Premier Mike Rann knows how to create injustice given the River Murray water levy will apply to Eyre Peninsula residents. “The Murray pipeline stops at Whyalla. We on the rest of Eyre Peninsula do not use River Murray water. “Residents and businesses in Flinders electorate already pay an annual water levy of $28.60 to the Eyre Peninsula Catchment Water Management Board. “We have husbanded our water resources and for years have sought practical ways to conserve water. “Many Towns on Eyre Peninsula have water re-use programs in operation. “The grey water program in Port Lincoln where recycled effluent water is used on ovals and greens was put in place with the assistance of a substantial Federal Government grant,” she said. The River Murray levy is $30 per household and $135 for non residential , farms and presumably also businesses, hospitals, schools, halls, and clubs. Mrs Penfold also criticised the absence of funding for a desalination plant on Tod Reservoir. “The government previously announced $32 million for this project but it is omitted from the Private Public Partnerships list flagged by the government,” she said. Mrs Penfold said the Labor Government’s actions demonstrated its callous cynicism in relation to rural and regional South Australia, in particular Eyre Peninsula that produces an estimated $1 billion in wealth each year for our state.
LABOR BACKFLIPS VICTIMISE EYRE
PENINSULA Member for Flinders Liz Penfold said the State Labor Government’s backflips on road funding victimised Eyre Peninsula. Roads affected are Elliston-Lock, the Bratten Way from Cummins to Mount Hope, Lipson-Ungarra, and the Lincoln Highway between Cowell and Tumby Bay. “The sealing of all rural arterial roads in the State, which under the Liberals was to be completed next year, has been gutted. “The allocated funding of $2.798 million for the whole state is only 3.5 per cent of what is needed,” she said. Mrs Penfold said the Minister for Transport, Michael Wright, gave a written undertaking to Elliston Council in August last year to complete the sealing of the remaining 19 kilometres of the Elliston-Lock Road by June 2004. “The Liberals budgeted for sealing 10 kilometres of the road in 2002-2003, a commitment that was confirmed by Mr Wright. “Mr Wright also gave a commitment to seal the remaining 9.5 kilometres in the 2003-04 Budget. “That 19 kilometres has been cut without notice and without advice to 4.5 kilometres with no indication when – or even if under Labor – the rest will be sealed. “It appears from evidence such as this that Labor’s written word is as worthless as their spoken word,” she said. Mrs Penfold said only $1.9 million of the estimated $7.8 million required has been allocated for ongoing work on the shoulders of the Lincoln Highway between Cowell and Tumby Bay. But the Labor Government has found $16.3 million for air conditioned buses in metropolitan Adelaide, and $56 million for the trams to Glenelg.
LABOR'S VAUNTED
EDUCATION "PUSH" IS A BODY BLOW FOR Member for Flinders Liz Penfold said Ceduna has been dealt a body blow with the removal of State funding for the redevelopment of Ceduna Area School. “The Liberals allocated $5 million for the first stage of the project in the 2001-02 financial year, one million dollars of which was from the Commonwealth Government’s Capital Funding Program. “Labor cut the $5 million to $3.9 million in its 2002 Budget last year, with the completion date also extended from September 2003 to September 2005. “In the 2003 Budget just released, the funding has been cut to $1 million – presumably the federal contribution to the project,” she said. Mrs Penfold said that when she queried the figures last year, the Minister for Education and Children’s Services, Trish White, put out a media release saying Mrs Penfold had it wrong and that $500,000 was to be spent in 2002. The Minister’s reply to a similar question from Shadow Minister Vicki Chapman, recorded in Hansard in August 2002, states: “Ceduna Area School, a $3.9 million project, of which $500,000 is allocated in this Budget. That was due to commence in June 2002 and be completed in September 2003. That will now commence in December this year (that is 2002).” “When I was in Ceduna a couple of weeks ago, I visited the site and found that not a thing has been done. When will the new school be built? “Where is the Labor Government spending the money that it claims in the Budget has been allocated to specific projects that never eventuate?” Mrs Penfold asked. Mrs Penfold slammed the increased fees for apprentices and trainees that would be a disincentive to employ and train. “The 50% increase will add an extra $160 for an apprentice hairdresser, bringing the amount for training to $480 or about $10 a week. “This contrasts with Mr Rann’s condemnation of changes to the Higher Education Contribution Scheme proposed in the federal government’s Budget,” she said. Mrs Penfold said South Australia was already struggling with vacancies in trades, therefore a lack of apprentices and trainees paints a bleak picture for the future of this state particularly in country regions. “This is no way to encourage young people and businesses to go for apprenticeships, nor will it do anything to increase South Australia’s competitiveness in relation to the other states,” she said. Mrs Penfold has also heard nothing about the continuation of the Aboriginal Apprenticeship Progam started by the Liberals in 2000 and specifically aimed at the most disadvantaged seekers in the job market. Another blow to future jobs in regional areas is the 40% increase in royalties to be paid by mining companies. This is a major disincentive to develop the huge potential on Eyre Peninsula Mrs Penfold said. |
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