Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry MP has slammed the Albanese Labor Government for cruelly axing $23 million in funding for the Rocky Sports Club project, calling it a devastating betrayal of the Rockhampton community.
The funding — originally secured and approved in 2020 by the former Coalition Government — was intended to support the expansion of the Rocky Sports Club, which services 129 sporting clubs and community groups.
Ms Landry said Labor’s Minister for Infrastructure, Catherine King, has deliberately strung along the community for years before finally cutting the project altogether.
“Labor never wanted this important piece of community infrastructure for Rockhampton,” Ms Landry said.
“Since coming to government, Minister Catherine King has done nothing but cruelly string along the people of Rockhampton with false hope — and has now ripped this project away altogether.”
Ms Landry said this project required only a simple project variation sign-off to proceed, which would have delivered local jobs and world-class sporting facilities — positioning Rockhampton as a premier sports training hub in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
“This decision shows complete contempt for Rockhampton and the wider Capricornia region by an inner-city focused Labor Party — a party that continues to fail regional Queensland,” Ms Landry said.
“The funding was approved in 2020 by the former Coalition Government, and due to COVID and other delays, the project timeline was extended. The question now is: where is this shifty Labor Government going to move this $23 million? Who is going to get the money that was meant for Rockhampton?”
Ms Landry has urged Minister King and the Albanese Government to reconsider their decision and to honour the commitment made to the people of the Rockhampton region.
“This is about fairness and respect for our community,” Ms Landry said.
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