Regional Australians will benefit from $135 million in spending in next week's federal budget, with three programs aimed at bushfire, drought and COVID-19 recovery, connectivity and supporting regional leaders.
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Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Nationals Michael McCormack will on Wednesday announce the measures which will help the regions "bounce back" from a horror few years, with COVID-19 following drought and bushfires.
"These measures are all part of our economic plan for a more secure and resilient Australia, helping the regions bounce back and then thrive, to drive Australia's economic recovery," Mr McCormack will say in an address to the Regional Australia Institute.
"I'm excited by our regions, excited by their prospects, excited about what we are all - together - doing to overcome the challenges of today and build a better tomorrow."
There is little detail on what the big ticket money may be spent on, but the $100 million regional recovery partnerships program is set to be available to the Snowy Mountains, Parkes, Newcastle and Hunter regions in NSW; all of Tasmania; Gippsland in Victoria; and Kangaroo Island in South Australia.It will also be available to areas of Queensland including Cairns and other regions, and the south west region of Western Australia.
The funding, to be spent over two years, will "co-ordinate investments with other levels of government to support recovery and growth in the regions," Mr McCormack will say.
"These partnerships will support existing regional plans by developing a package of targeted initiatives to deliver jobs, economic recovery and economic diversification."
A further $30 million will go into a grants program for telecommunications infrastructure projects, outside of the NBN's fixed line footprint.
The funding will beef up the existing Regional Connectivity Program, which covers regional mobile and broadband services in areas of need.
Current and emerging leaders in regional Australia will also be eligible for a $5 million grants program that will target members of local governments, volunteers and members of local community groups and industries.