Roe MLA Peter Rundle blasts State Budget 2025-26 as metro-centric that creates 'country versus city divide'

West Australian

5 hours ago

Member for Roe Peter Rundle has slammed the State Budget, tabled on Thursday, as 'city-focused' and a document of full of 'wrong priorities'.
When asked what funding was funnelled into projects specifically benefiting the regional area of Katanning and surrounds, Mr Rundle was succinct.
'Not much,' he said.
'For me, it's a Budget of wrong priorities.
'We've got $217 million for Burswood racetrack, the treasurer (WA Treasurer Rita Saffioti) seems to be intent on going through with, then Albany hospital, which was meant to have a potential $60m upgrade, and we've got $1m in planning instead.
'My general feeling is that it's a disappointing Budget for people of regional WA and that this Government is creating a country versus city divide.'
Mr Rundle said much of the funding allocated to the regions involved broader schemes that assisted the community in a generic way and there was little in the way of funding for specific projects in the region.
Though he praised cost-of-living measures such as increases to the pensioner fuel card, and the upgrade to the Albany Regional Airport, there were multiple local sectors he was disappointed hadn't received monetary boosts, including health, transport, education, sport and power infrastructure.
'One thing I have been promoting heavily is a CT scanner at Katanning Health Service so people don't have to travel to Narrogin or Albany when they have something like a stroke, and there's nothing for that,' he said.
'I'm concerned about the truck rest stops as they are not only not funding them, but actually closing down rest stops along Albany Highway and South Coast Highway.
'In Bremer Bay, they have tourism numbers that swell from 500 to 10,000 in the peak season yet we still have issues with power and health services, which is pretty poor.
'There's a drop off of the community sports and rec fund, from $24m to $12m per year, which is disappointing as our regional towns really benefit from that, like Quartermaine Oval for example.
'Labor promises the free summer VacSwim for kids, then dropped off free entry for the families.
'Minister Simone McGurk then comments that the 'beach is free to everyone' — that doesn't go down too well with people who live in Katanning, Wickepin, Narrogin, these places far away from the coast.'
The State Government said $25m will be put into the Regional Housing Support Fund to boost regional housing projects and another $104m was dedicated to doubling the supply of government regional officer housing.
Regional race clubs were also winners via the $25.2m Regional Racing Fund, with local facilities Wagin Trotting Club and Pingrup Race Club receiving $420,000 and $77,000 respectively for upgrades.
Mr Rundle argued these items were exceptions and that much of the Budget caters to Perth-based projects, with funds earmarked for the regions misused.
He said his 'overriding frustration' was with the misuse of the Royalties for Regions fund — into which the State Government has injected $4 billion — being 'raided' to pay for services such as orange school buses that he believes should be funded through consolidated spending in the transport budget.
'It's not what it's designed for,' he said.
'Its original purpose is to improve and increase community amenity and infrastructure in the regions.
'The regions are being forgotten, again.'
Minster for the Great Southern Reece Whitby said that the Budget, that he spruiked while visiting Albany last Friday, 'benefited every West Australian' and was informed by community voices from the entire region.
'We're responding and delivering for Katanning and the entire Great Southern and I believe this is a State Budget that truly backs the region,' he said.
'If the Member for Roe thinks cost of living relief for regional students and regional road safety are wrong priorities, he should spend more time speaking with his own community.
'We're providing significant investments in health infrastructure, mental health services, community safety, housing and community services.'
Mr Whitby touted the $250m invested into the Regional Road Safety Program for safety upgrades on local government roads, $8m Country Week Assistance Program, and $100 increase to the Regional Pensioner Travel Card as examples of regional investment.