Labor’s Budget ignores Gold Coasters

Angie Bell MP
Shadow Minister for Early Childhood Education
Shadow Minister for Youth
Federal Member for Moncrieff

Hon Karen Andrews MP
Federal Member for McPherson

Cameron Caldwell MP
Federal Member for Fadden

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Labor’s Budget ignores Gold Coasters

16 May 2024

The Albanese Government has once again shown there is no plan to deliver real support for Gold Coasters at a time when many continue to face increased cost of living pressures.

Gold Coasters know that despite the Treasurer’s spin, their bills continue to rise and prices for essential items continue to go up.

Labor’s big spending, big taxing Budget delivers $315 billion in new spending – an extra $30,000 for every Australian household.

The Government has the money to hire 36,000 additional public servants in Canberra but can’t deliver meaningful cost of living support for Australians doing it tough.

Federal Member for Moncrieff, Angie Bell, said this Budget was further proof that Labor doesn’t care about Queensland or the Gold Coast.

“We continue to see households across the Gold Coast struggle to make ends meet with many turning to charity and community services for housing support and groceries,” Ms Bell said.

“The Albanese Government has shown it has all the wrong priorities at a time when Australians are doing it tough.”

Gold Coasters needed a Budget that addressed inflation, reduced cost of living pressures, created opportunities for small businesses, and helped young Australians enter the housing market.

Instead, migration is out of control, housing prices and rents continue to rise, and there is no plan to deal with the homegrown inflation crisis created by Labor.

Federal Member for McPherson, Karen Andrews, said there were significant losses for Gold Coasters in this year’s Budget.

“The Gold Coast’s domestic violence crisis has not been significantly addressed through this Budget, with not enough being done for housing victim-survivors trying to find somewhere to live right now,” Mrs Andrews said.

Andrews also said it was radio silence in the Budget for transport after the business case to extend the heavy rail to Gold Coast Airport was funded in 2019.

“Extending the heavy rail to Gold Coast Airport has not been funded, this extension is something locals are crying out for.”

“It’s also appalling to see federal Labor bail out their state Labor government counterparts who have, over consecutive years, failed to manage constant cost blow outs for transport infrastructure projects on the Coast.”

The Government has handed out a $430 million lifeline to the Queensland State Government for the Coomera Connector cost blow outs, but Federal Member for Fadden, Cameron Caldwell, says it’s all smoke and mirrors.

“While Labor has pledged $431.7 million towards the Coomera Connector Stage 1, this funding only seeks to cover up the inept Palaszczuk/Miles Government and their billion-dollar budget blowout,” Mr Caldwell said.

“When the Coalition was in government, we supported the Gold Coast with lower taxes for households and businesses, and we invested in crucial infrastructure for our growing city, including funding the light rail, M1 upgrades, and the Coomera Connector.

“In this terrible budget, Labor has bypassed the Gold Coast.”

The Albanese Labor Government has failed in three consecutive Budgets to address the source of the inflation and cost of living pain felt by families and businesses right across our country.

Under Labor, Gold Coasters are worse off – and they deserve better.

[ends]