Southern Downs MP disappointed in budget, says region deserves ‘our fair share’

James Lister criticises the State Government, saying ‘our kids and grandkids in Southern Downs will be paying off Labor’s debt for a hundred years without getting to see the benefits locally’. Full details here:

Mr Lister claimed he lobbied the goverment for upgrades to key roads, but still recieved no funding in this year’s budget.

Southern Downs MP James Lister has slammed the State Government for overlooking the region it its 2021-21 budget, saying the Southern Downs deserved a fair share of the cash to be spent in “our neck of the woods”.

Mr Lister said he was disappointed to see the government re-announcing projects from previous budgets, rather than directing funds to upgrade problematic roads.

“Some (the projects) are half complete already and others are years from starting,” he said.

“But the State Government is still re-announcing as new projects, which they claimed credit for months or years ago.”

Mr Lister said he had been lobbying the government to secure funding for upgrades to Cunninghams Gap and the Southern Downs section of the New England, Cunningham and Gore highways.

However, those selections had failed to make the this year’s funding offerings.

“This is a big problem for us because a our local economy depends on decent roads, and every day that goes by without fixing them makes it harder and more expensive later on,” he said.

There were some winners, with the Eight Mile intersection upgrade on the Cunningham Highway receiving $12m in 2021-22.

Mr Lister said he felt if the government was going to rack up $127b in debt, then the Southern Downs should at least get a bigger slice of the pie.

“Instead, our kids and grandkids in Southern Downs will be paying off Labor’s debt for a hundred years without getting to see the benefits locally,” Mr Lister said.