Mrs Dalton is particularly critical of new funding for rural roads and drought programs, which she says are welcome, but “nowhere near enough”.
The NSW Government announced $155 million for a “rural road blitz” last week, and the Federal Government revealed its $43.2 million plan for drought resilience.
Mrs Dalton also took aim at the recent one-off Sustainable Communities payment, which is meant to recompense communities for the Federal Government’s plan to take additional water away from production through buybacks.
Mrs Dalton said each of the funding commitments “barely scratches the surface”.
“Our rural roads are a disgrace. Locals pay rego and fuel tax but are forced to drive on dangerous, car-wrecking potholes. This funding won’t even touch the backlog.
“Councils are broke and the bush deserves roads as safe as Sydney’s.”
On drought, Mrs Dalton said farmers deserved real action – not token workshops.
“You don’t stop drought with coaching sessions.
“Real resilience is building water infrastructure – like Lake Coolah off-river storage and dams.
“Instead, Labor is stripping productive water out of the bush with buybacks. That’s a slap in the face for regional Australia and a direct hit on our nation’s economic future.”
Mrs Dalton said agriculture must be at the centre of national policy.
“Agriculture underpins Australia’s economy. Our farmers feed and clothe the nation, and drive billions in exports. Undermining agriculture through water buybacks threatens not just the bush, but our entire economic future,” she said.
“If governments are serious about drought resilience, they’ll stop ripping water away and start funding real projects that keep rural communities in business and secure Australia’s long-term prosperity.”
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