GrainGrowers Chair Rhys Turton said thefunding pack-age proposed by Rural Roads Alliance would be a smart investment in the future of our regions. “This funding package is an opportunity for the Federal Government to stem the rapid deterioration of Australia’s rural road network, and to reduce the cost to the budget of future climate events.”
Rural Roads Alliance Outlines Infrastructure Priorities To Parliament: Newly-formed Rural Roads Alliance has this week given evidence to a parliamentary inquiry, reiterating its call for an emergency funding package totalling nearly $5.5 billion in next week’s Federal Budget.
In the lead up to the Federal Budget, the Rural Roads Alliance is calling for an emergency funding package totalling nearly $5.5 billion, including:
• A one-off injection of $1 billion over four years directed at regional road and infrastructure reconstruction for councils impacted by flooding and other natural disasters to ensure the rebuild is to a standard more resilient to future disaster events;
• $800 million a year over four years for the Roads to Recovery Program;
• $300 million a year over four years to address first and last mile freight productivity; and,
• Targeted funding through the Roads of Strategic Importance program to improve the long-term climate resilience of freight networks.
Cost Of Living Data Proves Need For Payment Reforms: The latest ABS Living Cost Indexes show pensioners and other government payment recipients are hit the hardest by rising cost of living pressures.
National Seniors Australia Chief Operating Officer Chris Grice said the latest quarterly figures reveal a worrying increase with pensioner and age pensioner households recording the largest rise at 2.2%. Households receiving other government payments recorded a rise of 2.1%. “Under the current system, pensions are adjusted every six months, in March and September. This leaves recipients playing a game of catch up when inflation is unusually high.”
Mr Grice said the federal government should index the pension more frequently during times of high inflation to help those most vulnerable.
Coles Shoppers Helping To Clean Up Australia: Unilever Australia, maker of household staples including Omo, Rexona, TRESemmé, Dove and Streets ice creams, has partnered with Coles and Clean Up Australia to supply free Clean Up Kits to schools and communities across the country. From 3rd to 30th May, whenever shoppers buy one of Unilever’s participating products at Coles supermarkets or online, 10 cents from each purchase will go to Clean Up Australia.
Shop at Coles during May to help Clean Up Australia.