Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Last night's federal budget was devastating for the bush. The lack of funding for regional Australia was once again on show for us all to see. There was no new funding for the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program, there was no new funding for the Growing Regions Program, there was no new funding for the Stronger Communities Programme, and WA will get a pitiful 2 per cent of federal Labor's road and rail funding. And with 57 local governments across O'Connor, we are hit hard.

This Friday 28 March is an opportunity to put regional WA back in the hearts and minds of our nation. Once again, Western Australians will take to the streets of Perth, united in their support for the live sheep export trade and the communities that depend on it. Farmers, truck drivers, shearers and their families will travel up to 800 kilometres to urge the Albanese Labor government to bin the ban. People will leave their businesses and their communities to once again highlight the impact of shutting down a legitimate and world-leading trade, a trade that provides food security for those countries who cannot produce their own.

So I call on the good people of WA to keep on fighting for their regional communities. Whether you're from the city or the bush, show up and support the call to save the live sheep export trade and send a clear message to the Albanese government. It's time to vote Labor out and #keepthesheep.