Andrew Giles MP, Federal Member for Scullin, today expressed his dismay that people in Lalor will be denied the redevelopment of the Lalor Tennis Club because Tony Abbott has cancelled its funding.
The City of Whittlesea was allocated funding of $300,000 toward the cost of the project by the previous Labor government under the Regional Development Australia Fund.
Now Tony Abbott and Nationals Leader Warren Truss have decided to cancel all projects unless contracts allowing them to proceed are already in place.
‘This decision is bad news for people in Lalor’, said Mr Giles.
‘The project would have provided improvements to tennis courts and a total redevelopment of the community tennis pavilion’, said Mr Giles.
Nationals Leader, Warren Truss has confirmed his government will not deliver the funding.
‘I wrote to Mr Truss after the election after concerns were raised about the status of Lalor Tennis Club’s funding. Mr Truss needs to let the Lalor community know why they don’t deserve these improvements’, said Mr Giles.
The Regional Australia Development Fund was designed to stimulate regional economies and create jobs by funding important community infrastructure projects.
‘Whether it is a tennis court, footy oval or a community centre upgrade, every cut hurts our community’, said Mr Giles.
The decision comes despite Mr Abbott’s pre-election assurances of “no- surprises’’ and no cuts that would cost jobs.
‘The Coalition’s mania for funding cuts regardless of the consequences is hurting people in Lalor,’ said Mr Giles.