Millions budgeted for agriculture exports but little new money for road upgrades in budget

The Federal Budget has been handed down and these are the highlights for south west Queensland.

Hundreds of millions of dollars will be spent upgrading the Warrego Hwy under the Federal Budget and other key roads in western Queensland.

But little of the funding is newly announced money with most having been already announced at previous budgets.

About $380 million will be put towards the Warrego Hwy as a “future priority” in the budget, with the allocation not set towards any one stretch of the major east-west highway.

Three projects on the Carnarvon Hwy will also be upgraded with $3.85 million set to go towards the Salmon Rd intersection, $2.7m towards the Castlereah Hwy intersection and $1.04m to the Arcadia Valley Road intersection.

Millions will be spent on modernising Australia’s agricultural export industry.

Our region may benefit from the $30.3m national Regional Connectivity Program, which will help improve telecommunications connectivity in regional areas.

Other commitments that may benefit our residents and businesses include:

•An extension of the $200m Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) for a fifth round;

•$41 m for a Research and Development Program to pay for research and development activities that will benefit regional industries;

•An additional $28.1m to extend the Stronger Communities Program;

•The $5.7m Building Strong, Resilient Regional Leaders initiative; and

•The $5m for the Regional Australia Institute’s research program and promotion of regional living.

Agriculture Minister David Littleproud also announced more than $300 million in funding to help modernise Australia’s agriculture export systems.

“Agricultural exports are critical to Australia’s economic recovery. That’s why this Budget is delivering the $328 million Busting Congestion for Agricultural Exporters Package,” Mr Littleproud said.

“This suite of reforms will modernise Australia’s export systems by slashing red-tape and streamlining regulation and service delivery for our farmers.”

“We’re making it faster and cheaper for farmers to get their product to market, while retaining the levels of quality and assurance that have made our exports world-class.”

The package includes $222.2m over four years for digital services to take farmers to market, including a 24/7 touch point for exporters and $10.9m over three years to create a more competitive meat export industry. - WITH SHERELE MOODY

BUDGET PROJECTS

Warrego Highway – Future Priorities $378.58m

Carnarvon Highway and Salmon Road Intersection Upgrade $3.85m

Carnarvon Highway and Castlereagh Highway Intersection Upgrade $2.71m

Carnarvon Highway and Arcadia Valley Road Intersection Upgrade $1.04m

Originally published as Millions budgeted for agriculture exports but little new money for road upgrades in budget