Tony Perrett slams State Budget as ‘scraping the barrel’ for Gympie

The Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has blasted the Palaszczuk Government’s plans, claiming they show “no vision” for the region’s future.

MP Tony Perrett has slammed the State Budget, claiming it scrapes the bottom of the barrel for the Gympie region. What do you think? (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

Firebrand Gympie MP Tony Perrett has lashed the newly-released State Budget as “scraping the bottom of the barrel” for the region, claiming it has instead “hitched” itself to projects funded by other levels of government.

Treasurer Cameron Dick this week confirmed a raft of announcements during the annual lockdown in the State Parliament.

Road infrastructure projects were revealed to be high on the budget agenda for Gympie, as funding for the $107m Bruce Highway (Gympie to Maryborough), Tiaro Bypass project was reaffirmed with $2.5 million set aside for the 2021-22 financial year.

Gympie MP Tony Perrett says the State Budget has largely ignored the region’s pressing needs.

But Mr Perrett said the region would be left wanting by the Palaszczuk government’s plans, claiming there was no room for Gympie health, schools, police, road and bridge upgrades.

“I have raised in the Parliament and written to Ministers and the Premier on so many occasions, even last month, outlining some of Gympie’s needs,” Mr Perrett said.

“Despite eye-watering borrowings and debt, the Budget has delivered no vision for Gympie’s future.”

Mr Perrett previously listed road access to the Cooloola Coast, passing lanes on the Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach Road, a higher police presence on the Cooloola Coast as well as the Mary Valley on his wishlist prior to the Budget announcement, but said all those and more had been ignored in its release.

The Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry also slammed a 10 per cent cut to his own department.

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick delivers his budget speech at Parliament House. This is Mr Dick's second state budget.Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

“ Despite eye watering borrowings and record debt the (DAF) operating budget is cut by more than 10 per cent from $586,733 to $522,630,” Mr Perrett said.

“DAF staff numbers are cut while there are more than 30,000 extra bureaucrats on the Government’s payroll.

“There’s no relief for rising power and water costs, no detail on assistance for quarantine costs of foreign workers who are desperately needed on farms, not even a mention of pest and weed management.”

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick drivers is congratulated by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk after he delivered his budget speech at Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

Elsewhere Mr Perrett welcomed a $500,000 commitment to improve water supply at Mary Valley State College, but claimed the other three Gympie projects to get funding included a “recycled commitment for the Rainbow Beach auxiliary Fire and Rescue station”, and only part-funding for the Bruce Highway upgrade, and the Cooloola Coast esplanade revitalisation.

“They’ve hitched themselves to projects primarily funded and delivered by the Federal Government and the Gympie Regional Council,” Mr Perrett said.

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“This is the third time the Rainbow Beach auxiliary Fire and Rescue station has been announced in their glossy brochure about Budget highlights for the Gympie region.”

What are your thoughts on the Budget? Did Gympie get a fair shake? Share your thoughts at [e-mail].