Labor’s Federal grants policy a threat to North Coast: Gulaptis
A new Federal Labor Party policy which would give the States complete discretion over how they spend Federal grants is a major threat to the North Coast, Page Nationals candidate Chris Gulaptis said.
“This proposal will not end the Canberra-Sydney blame game, but it will end any hope we have of getting our fair share of funding from Sydney,” Mr Gulaptis said.
“As it stands, the Sydney-centric State Government is already diverting North Coast tax dollars to Sydney. Federal Labor’s proposal would make this situation worse.
“Kevin Rudd is telling Morris Iemma he can spend Federal grants anyway he pleases. I am saying the opposite: we need to force the New South Wales Government to spend our taxes locally.
“For example, the North Coast Area Health Service represents 10 to 12 per cent of the NSW population, but we only get six per cent of the State’s hospital budget for our hospitals.”
Mr Gulaptis said he had discussed an initiative with Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile which would impose a community service obligation on the States to force them to distribute Canberra health dollars more fairly between Sydney and country regions like the North Coast.
“The Federal Government gives the NSW Government $14 million a day to help run its public hospital system. In these circumstances it is not unreasonable to insist we get our fair share on the North Coast,” Mr Gulaptis said.
