No Federal Government Department will be spared from the Liberal and Nationals plans for massive job cuts, including the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. These departments are responsible for not just collecting and analysing our nations road data, but the delivery of vital road funding programs such as the Black Spot Program and Roads to Recovery funding.

Local jobs and access to vital services will also be at risk in Bendigo under Peter Dutton and the Nationals Party, underscoring the choice at this election between building Australia’s future with Labor, or taking Australia backwards.

Contrary to what the Coalition claims, most public servants live and work outside of Canberra. Across the country, Peter Dutton’s commitment to slash the public service would translate to 22,700 job losses outside of Canberra.

These cuts will have a significant impact on the delivery of much-needed government services and lead to delays for Centrelink and other Services Australia payments, longer approvals for veteran’s pension claims, and blown-out processing times to get newborn babies onto Medicare.

It is a direct threat to the progress made by the Albanese Government, which has been hard at work since 2022 rebuilding the APS’ capacity to deliver the services and local infrastructure Australians expect and deserve, after a decade of neglect by the Liberals and Nationals.


QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BENDIGO, LISA CHESTERS MP:

“The Liberals and Nationals road data campaign is a distraction to the wrecking ball they will take to the public service and regional funding programs if they win the next election.

“Peter Dutton’s commitment to cutting at least 20 per cent of the public service should send a shiver up the spine of locals.

“It will mean their ability to deliver vital roads funding programs will be significantly compromised, as well as the delivery of key Federal Government services like veterans' affairs, Medicare and Centrelink.

“This is all part of Peter Dutton’s plan for $347 billion in cuts to vital services like Medicare and regional funding programs, which will leave Australians worse off.

“The Liberals and Nationals must rule out any job and funding cuts to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts.”