Praised by the government as a budget that tackles cost of living pressures, Mrs Dalton argues most of the relief is designed to help city dwellers.
“Once again, the state government has forgotten that it’s meant to represent the entire state, and not just the people who live in Sydney,” she said.
“Cutting tolls in Sydney does nothing for families who are struggling with the cost of living in Murray, or anywhere else in rural Australia, for that matter.”
Mrs Dalton also queried the government's promise of $120 million for the Euston to Tocumwal road corridor, warning that on the government's own budget papers it appears to be funding for the oversize-load route for the South West Renewable Energy Zone, not the local road upgrades her constituents have long been crying out for.
“The government needs to come clean on this. How much of this $120 million comes out of the Regional Roads Fund and why are regional motorists missing out on the benefit of this money?
“Shouldn’t it be the energy companies who foot this bill, given they are the ones who actually benefit?"
Mrs Dalton also questioned why schools in Murray were receiving very little of the $9.2 billion that Treasurer Daniel Mookhey has allocated for upgrades to NSW state schools.
The budget also ignored Mrs Dalton’s pre-budget request for a dedicated mental health unit and drug and alcohol rehabilitation ward, at Griffith Base Hospital.
“Without these mental health and drug services, Griffith Base Hospital continues to fail our community,” she said.
Mrs Dalton also said the budget ignored the “shocking damage” being done to communities in rural NSW by the Federal Government's water buybacks, which are occurring with the assistance of the NSW Government.
“Both the state and federal governments are doing devastating damage to the lives of so many people in rural NSW with these government buybacks,’’ she said.
“The buybacks must stop and the NSW Government should be helping the people they’ve hurt. This budget does not do that.”
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