He said the Budget, to be brought down by Treasurer Michael Costa this week, should begin to reflect the recommendations from the Rural and Regional Taskforce Report.

“Funding regional infrastructure is a priority,” Mr Torbay said. “There has never been a decent sum of money set aside for big projects outside metropolitan centres. A regional investment fund should be established to set this process in motion.

“Without specific infrastructure funding, rural and regional communities would still have to approach the government with a begging bowl for small handouts and not be able to plan for the big ticket items that are needed for growth and economic development.”

The MP said he would also be looking for increased funding for health, education and school maintenance and for regional transport coordination to improve public transport options in regional areas.

“These issues were among the most critical raised at our taskforce hearings,” he said.

“The lack of public transport outside the metropolitan cities was raised as an issue of great concern.

“It is a matter of equity. People in rural and remote communities should be provided with some form of public transport because they often have to travel long distances to access health and other services.

“There needs to be a shake-up and I hope the Budget will begin to reflect the priorities of rural and regional communities laid out in the taskforce report.”

A member of the taskforce with chair Col Gellatly and Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, Mr Torbay said it would be unrealistic to expect the Government to meet all the recommendations in one budget.

“However, we have put forward the priorities and expect a response,” he said.

“I am also anticipating that the Northern Tablelands will be allocated a fair share of the budget allocations for health, education and other government services.”