At the half way mark

This week marks two years into the Marshall Liberal Government’s first four-year term.

I remain excited about what we’ve achieved so far. Regional roads and services, support for primary industries and lowering the costs of living and doing business are front of mind in all I undertake and will continue to be.

Across the State, abolishing payroll tax for small businesses, halving household Emergency Services Levy bills and elective surgery wait lists and reopening the Repat have been particularly well received, as have Land Tax threshold reductions, decreases in car rego and power bills, improvements to the Patient Assistance Transport Scheme, doubling the value of sports vouchers and making volunteer screening checks free.

We are delivering on our promises which is so crucial to me. I have also been especially pleased with the renewed focus on regional areas, and recognition that policy and investment must reflect the vital importance of our grains, livestock and tourism industries. The sustainability of businesses, services and communities in our rural towns is vital and I can report work on the State’s first Regional Development Strategy is advancing.

For Narungga

For Narungga electorate, there have been significant achievements in our first two years, and I look forward to delivering more in the next two.

Highlights have included funding secured for the $750,000 upgrade for Yorketown Hospital, $2.6 million for Snowtown’s Lumeah Homes, $720,000 for Ardrossan Hospital’s Accident and Emergency Services and smaller investments such as a new generator and switchboard for Wallaroo Hospital, construction of a Central Sterile Supply Department at Yorketown Hospital, and new communication equipment at Yorketown, Maitland, Port Broughton hospitals and Melaleuca Court Nursing Home at Minlaton.

From the new dedicated Regional Coast Protection Fund, $650,000 has been allocated for local coastal protection projects at Port Clinton, Black Point, North Beach Wallaroo and Port Broughton.

Narungga has also received an estimated $8 million of local school upgrades, $700,00 for local emergency services infrastructure improvements, $4 million for a new wharf and clean-up activities on Wardang Island, and approximately $680,000 for local sports clubs for improvements to facilities, equipment, lighting, irrigation, and court resurfacing.

Much preparation and design work has occurred for the $122.5 million Port Wakefield overpass and lane duplication project that is finally due to start later this year, and other local projects in the last two years have totalled an estimated $32 million. This allocation includes the $11.1 million of access improvements for the Dublin saleyards and 23 kilometres of resurfacing of Port Wakefield road.

So many of our roads require investment and I will continue to strongly advocate for more funding.

There is much to do, and with continued collaboration, much more can be achieved. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch for assistance with any State matter, including for updates on the State Government response to the evolving Coronavirus situation.