What the Federal Election result means for Wagga

May 21, 2019, 8:28 pm

The dust is settling on the Federal Election and like it or not, Australia’s political landscape is set for the foreseeable future. We aren’t political commentators but as people who live and work in Wagga we have to ask, what does the result mean for Wagga’s social and economic prospects?
The good news is that Wagga is a regional hub on a trajectory of social and economic growth and through good leadership our region is well placed to prosper into the future.

In case you missed it, Michael McCormack has retained the seat of Riverina and Central.
Mr McCormack is a Wagga boy, born and raised, so we are watching expectantly for strong policy to drive social, economic and cultural growth in the region. In a previous blog we talked about Wagga’s capacity for social and economic prosperity and the bottom line is we need good people, good businesses and a strong advocate in Canberra to help drive our region’s potential.
Mr McCormack was elected Federal Leader of The Nationals and Deputy Prime Minister in February 2018 and is also Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development, placing him, in his words, “in a unique position to ensure the Riverina and Central West, and indeed all of regional and rural Australia, receives its fair share”.

Mr McCormack does have form in securing funding for local infrastructure projects and drought relief that has boosted local job opportunities, stimulated local spending and begun to address social and community needs.

Mr McCormack also appears to understand small business; in his former role as Minister for Small Business he oversaw business taxes falling to their lowest levels in more than half a century and an extension of the instant asset write-off, which was increased in the Budget from $25,000 to $30,000.
“More than 18,000 businesses in the Riverina will pay a tax rate of just 25 per cent in 2021-22,” Mr McCormack said. “That compares to a tax rate of 28.5 per cent in 2016.”

Mr McCormack has said that in a re-elected Liberal and Nationals’ Government he would continue to deliver for the region and ensure it received its fair share of record spending on education, hospitals and the $100 billion 10-year infrastructure plan, which includes $9.3 billion for the Inland Rail.

“Inland Rail is a transformational project which is already delivering jobs in the electorate and will slash freight costs by up to $94 a tonne,” Mr McCormack said. This has to be a good thing for businesses wanting to establish themselves in Wagga.

He continued, “Our plan builds better and safer infrastructure, provides more quality healthcare in regions and ensures our communities have the essential services they need and deserve to grow and prosper”.

There is a tone of scepticism in Australia when it comes to political promises and we aren’t here to enter that debate; we are more interested in getting on with business. We know Wagga has immense capacity currently for people who want to live and work here and the more quality people we attract and quality businesses that set up shop, the better.
For now, Michal McCormack is our man in Canberra and we need to work with him, and together, to ensure Wagga’s positive trajectory is maintained.

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