“I welcome the inclusion of things like childcare subsidies, investment in infrastructure for child care centres, and commitments to women’s health - areas that are often overlooked,” Mrs Milthorpe said.
“However, the truth is, the funding for regional areas is superficial.
“It’s a short-term fix for long-term problems, without a real plan for lasting solutions.
“It’s one thing to offer subsidies for child care, but that only helps if you actually have a child care centre in your town.
“If you don’t, then a subsidy does nothing for you. That’s the reality for many regional, rural, and remote communities in Farrer.”
Mrs Milthorpe also pointed out a major gap in healthcare funding, particularly for emergency care.
“The new Urgent Care Clinics announced in the budget will improve healthcare access for many Australians, but not for the majority of people in Farrer.
“Unless you live in Albury, you miss out ... again.
“These clinics will be available to four out of five people in Australia, yet in our region, where access to healthcare is already limited, we’ve been overlooked.
“For communities without hospitals or after-hours care, this is just another example of the city-first approach that ignores the reality of living in regional Australia.”
Mrs Milthorpe is calling for a more practical, big-picture approach.
“Take health care, for example. Let’s say a GP wants to move to a rural town, but there’s nowhere for them to live, no school or child care for their kids, few job opportunities for their partner, and no local sports teams or community groups to be part of.
“Why would they choose to settle there?
“But if we invest in housing, ensure child care places are available, maintain strong local schools, support industries that create jobs, and build thriving communities, then we create places where people want to stay for the long term.
“Our regional communities are incredibly resourceful - we get things done because we have to.
“But with meaningful, well-targeted federal funding, we could achieve so much more.”
