Mayor calls for ‘petty politics’ to stop with no levee funding in budget

There’s been a call for a stop to “petty politics” after no commitment in the federal budget for the Bundaberg East Flood Levee. See if you agree with what local and state representatives had to say.

Bundaberg MP Tom Smith, Burnett MP Stephen Bennett and Mayor Jack Dempsey have reacted to how Bundaberg fared in the Federal Budget.

Bundaberg’s political leaders have responded to the federal budget delivered in Canberra this week.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg’s budget splashed significant cash on a range of sectors including aged care and mental health.

On Wednesday Hinkler MP Keith Pitt said the budget was packed with good news for the region’s seniors, apprentices and low to middle incoming earning families.

But the budget received mixed reactions from Bundy’s local and state leaders.

Bundaberg Mayor Jack Dempsey said overall the budget had made large commitments, but wanted to see more detail in the benefits for the region on the ground.

He said it was “very pleasing” to see funding for aged care and mental health.

Burnett MP Stephen Bennett described the budget at “strong” to navigate through the nation’s covid recovery.

But Cr Dempsey, Bundaberg MP Tom Smith and Mr Bennett all said it was disappointing to see no funding towards the Bundaberg East Flood Levee.

Mr Bennett said he was “disappointed” to see no money allocated for the levee and blamed the “incompetence” of the state government.

However, Deputy Premier Steven Miles said he has written to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack in both November 2020 and March 2021 asking for a commitment to the levee.

“It’s a bit rich for the Member for Bundaberg to play politics on this and cry poor when his own government is at fault,” Mr Bennett said.

“They haven’t taken the time to sit down with the Federal Government to talk it through, yet they expect them to cough up the money. Instead, the State Labor Government opportunistically announced partial funding and expected the Feds to cough up the majority of the funds.

“We need real leadership to get on with the job and start building and delivering these flood immunity projects, but here we are seven years into a ten-year action plan and so far all we have seen is incompetence from the State Government.”

Mr Smith meanwhile pointed the finger at the federal government.

“The federal budget included a pile of money for other states, but nothing for Bundaberg,” he said.

“The Palaszczuk Government has committed our share of funding, $42.5 million, to build the Flood Levee, but the Federal Government has failed to come to the table.

“I’m really disappointed for our community. It’s unfair that other states have received significant funding, yet we miss out.

“The Flood Levee will reduce the risk and impact of floods for over 600 buildings and increase flood protection, mitigate damage, and protect Bundaberg East, Bundaberg South and the CBD area from a one in one hundred year flood.”

Cr Dempsey said it was “disappointing” to see “petty politics” being put above protecting people and homes.

He called on the levels of government to “stop playing party politics” and get behind the people of Bundaberg.

“Over 600 structures would be protected, the CEO of Suncorp has stated that insurance premiums would be reduced,” he said.

“There’s years of professional engineers and other people putting together report after report, this is probably the most reported resilience project in the whole of Queensland.

“Who is listening to who in this whole scenario? We have a number one priority project for the whole state that has received $42.5 million from the state government...all we need is for people to stop playing party politics and get behind and support the people of Bundaberg.

“One side of politics said “not right, we want to see boots on the ground” well now there’s $42.5 million to deliver those boots and we see party politics getting in the road. It’s not good enough for the people of Bundaberg.”

But not everyone was as disappointed about the lack of federal funding for the levee proposal, click here for more opinions about the issue.