Labor candidate Jeff Drayton says the electorate should receive its fair share of mining royalties - not the trifling amount currently being returned.
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In 2019-20, the NSW Government collected $1.52 billion in royalties from coal mining. Half comes from Singleton and Muswellbrook coal mines alone.
According to Labor candidate for Upper Hunter Jeff Drayton The Nationals only returned $10.3 million to the Upper Hunter in the latest round of Resources for Regions funding (including only $4.57 million to Singleton and $3.75 million to Muswellbrook).
Mr Drayton said that the Nationals had failed to fight for the region's fair share, allowing the region to fall behind on critical services and infrastructure.
A mobile billboard will start traveling the Upper Hunter electorate today, reminding Upper Hunter residents where their hard earned money is being used.
"We are being ripped off. The Upper Hunter sends $800 million down the motorway each year so Sydney's inner city can have the great roads, fancy stadiums, and a shiny new light rail network. In return, we get $10 million.
"And we are paying a big price. We have roads full of potholes; hospitals without enough doctors; long ambulance waiting times; homeless people sleeping rough; vulnerable kids without caseworkers and our TAFE campuses being replaced with cheap online learning.
"It's not good enough. After decades of neglect, Upper Hunter needs a representative who will fight for our fair share, to get the services our communities are calling out for. That's what I'm determined to do."
KEY FACTS:
- In 2019-20, the NSW Government collected $1.52 billion in royalties from coal mining. Half comes from Singleton and Muswellbrook coal mines alone.
- On average, the Upper Hunter sends over $800 million to Sydney every single year.
- The Nationals only returned $10.3 million to the Upper Hunter in the latest round of Resources for Regions funding (including only $4.57 million to Singleton and $3.75 million to Muswellbrook)
- That is only 1.2% returned to the Upper Hunter, while the NSW Government pockets the rest.
