Murray Valley

MEDIA RELEASE
MURRAY VALLEY NEEDS STRONG REGIONAL COMMUNITIES

Independent candidate for Farrer, Louise Burge, said the long term viability of economies in regional and remote communities needed to be at the forefront of decision making at a Federal level.

“We need to make sure we have strong regional and remote communities with strong economies which can give a future to the people of our electorate,” she said.

“The Murray Valley region needs to have its agricultural and horticultural industries and communities such as Tooleybuc and Barham kept in mind when decisions are being made.

“Major issues in the area, like simply getting more than a one lane bridge at major crossing points of the Murray River – such as Swan Hill – need to be heard in Canberra and listened to,” she said.

“And we need to make sure decisions which destroy entire industries in the Murray Valley, like the timber industry, never happen again.”

Mrs Burge, who is touring the electorate in the weeks leading up to the August 21 election, said the economies of regions should no longer be sacrificed in the Federal decision making.

“We need to give Farrer a future by making sure our local needs are being met at a Federal level,” she said.

“We can do this by making sure the electorate is represented by someone who knows the issues and who is willing to take those issues to Canberra and be a vocal campaigner.

“I can do this, with my experience in campaigning and lobbying for regional issues, and being an independent voice solely for the electorate, and the people of the Murray Valley.”

“We need to make sure technology is available to regional and remote areas so they remain at the forefront of this country, and not be isolated.

“Just because our electorate includes isolated areas like Balranald, doesn’t mean it should be isolated with its technology and services which will help the communities and industries continue to prosper.”

“Our health systems need to meet the demands of our vast areas, and they need to get the funding they need to operate.

“We need to make sure the infrastructure that services this region – the roads, the bridges, the civil construction – has enough funding for it to meet the needs of the region,” Mrs Burge said.

“The Swan Hill bridge is a classic example of why the fight needs to be taken to Canberra with a concise message that the electorate has had enough stalling, action needs to be taken.”

Mrs Burge said the agricultural, mining and tourism industries which are the backbone of the electorate must be properly represented with a loud and clear voice.

“We have to be pro-active about getting our industry concerns heard – getting in to parliament and making sure the issues like the wheat single desk, water resources and managed investment schemes which are important to the Murray Valley region get a good hearing.

“As an independent I can do that,” Mrs Burge said.