Federal Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon has welcomed a Federal investment of $1.14 million for road projects in Newcastle.
Ms Claydon said the funding was designed to stimulate local economies battered by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
“The funding will be delivered to the City of Newcastle to accelerate priority projects,” Ms Claydon said.
“Local spending on local projects is one of the best ways to get the economy moving.”
Ms Claydon said she’d written to the Deputy Prime Minister to back the City of Newcastle’s bid for funding of their priority projects and to seek assurances for a fair distribution of public funds.
“The funding will support priority projects from a list submitted to the Government in March,” Ms Claydon said.
“I was very concerned that this could turn into another sports rorts disaster so I wrote to the Deputy Prime Minister to back the bid and call for a fair distribution of these public funds.”
Ms Claydon said that while the modest roads infrastructure funding was welcome, it was still disappointing the Morrison Government excluded council workers from the JobKeeper program, forcing the State Government to fill the breach.
“I absolutely welcome this funding which will help stimulate local economic activity,” Ms Claydon said.
“It’s still unfortunate that the Government didn’t recognise the important of local economies and local jobs when it excluded council workers from the JobKeeper program.”