INDEPENDENT candidate for Page Dr Hanabeth Luke was hopeful that the pre-election Federal budget would address key areas of immediate support for people affected by floods.

However, she says that the region has been ignored and what is needed most was missed.

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She said that short-term handouts were favoured over addressing the housing crisis or improving our preparedness for future extreme events.

Dr Luke said, “As the eighth poorest electorate in Australia, we know that our community was already struggling.

“There appears to be an expectation that our people should rebuild and just get on with it.

“To fix this, we must first properly identify the problem.

“We are facing a housing crisis at the same time as a climate crisis and the whole region needs to prepare for what comes next.”

Dr Luke said she was shocked when last week’s budget announcement saw fossil fuels come before welfare funding, a fact she believes reiterates that the Government’s priorities are not supporting the region’s needs.

“A budget cut for already-struggling teachers in public schools was coupled with a huge boost for private schools,” she said.

Dr Luke said that, for the vast majority in Page, no wage increase is on the horizon and a significant reduction in Centrelink benefits was coupled with an estimated $4-5 billion thrown at coal and gas.

She said that the LNP’s version of ‘climate action’ continues to be a trojan horse for coal seam gas, while not one dollar was allocated for a Federal integrity commission.

“Their management of our public purse is nothing short of reckless and it’s time that the Australian public take back control of the purse strings by electing an Independent who votes for us, and the needs of our region,” she said.

“We need at least $2.5 billion put towards this recovery for housing alone and we also need to invest in the wellbeing of our people.”

Still cleaning up from the previous deluge, the people of Lismore, Grafton and surrounds had to brace themselves for further flooding into homes, businesses and farms.

“The farmers have shown me the impacts of the floods on their farms,” Dr Luke said.

“There will be no sugar cane harvest from those farms next year.

“We need to bring the community and experts into the conversation, including architects, town planners, hydrologists, engineers, farmers and developers.

“Let’s think innovatively and together we can plan for a future where our people and regional businesses can prosper and cope better with what is to come.”

The office of the Member for Page, Kevin Hogan, was contacted for comment, but, owing to flood issues, did not provide a response before publication.

By Andrew VIVIAN