Senator calls for locally backed alcohol plan for rural Australia<\/p>\n
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Sorry, this video has expired Video: Kevin Rudd: We need a better plan for rural Australia (7pm TV News QLD)<\/p>\n
Sorry, this video has expired Video: Kevin Rudd: Australian communities need a plan to recover and revitalise rural Australia (ABC News)<\/p>\n
Key points: Kevin Rudd says there needs to be better plan for rur\ubc14\uce74\ub77c<\/a>al Australia<\/p>\n Rudd says the cost of investing in a scheme like this would be at least $150 billion<\/p>\n Labor says the plan must focus on rural Australia<\/p>\n The Government has rejected suggestions it will put an end to the current $30 billion in national emergency funds which it says is vital for rural Australia.<\/p>\n But Kevin Rudd says the plan must be focused on those who will benefit, not all the rest of the nation.<\/p>\n Mr Rudd says $35 billion a year for rural communities would be much more than sufficient to rebuild and restore a nation.<\/p>\n He says investing in rural communities is crucial to meeting national targets like reducing violence and reducing mental health costs.<\/p>\n “This is not just about money, it’s about people, it’s about families, it’s about schools and hospitals,” he told the ABC’s Lateline program.<\/p>\n “We’ve got more than two million people living in poverty in Australia today. We need to be a national leader in that, and we cannot neglect the need for rural resilience.<\/p>\n “But it must be a national commitment, and it must be in the context of putting a plan in place that would invest in those communities who need the support.”<\/p>\n Opposition health spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said the Treasurer was right to make the call to tackle the nation’s alcohol problem and increase investment in regional areas.<\/p>\n She says the Government needs to commit to $15 billion by 2015 to fund a national alcohol plan and reduce violent crime.<\/p>\n Ms Macklin also says those who don’t have the money should be supported to ensure they are well cared for and supported to have better lives.<\/p>\n Labor has called for an independent inquiry into the country’s “hastening death of hope” in order\uc6b0\ub9ac\uce74\uc9c0\ub178<\/a> to address the nation’s alcohol crisis.<\/p>\n The Opposition leader says the Tre\ubc14\uce74\ub77c\uc0ac\uc774\ud2b8<\/a>asurer’s response to the crisis will be one that will lead to more deaths and more violence in Australia.<\/p>\n “This is our deathbed for one of the biggest challenges we have today, but it doesn’t have to be,” Mr Rudd said.<\/p>\n “We need to take thes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Senator calls for locally backed alcohol plan for rural Australia Posted Sorry, this video has expired Video: Kevin Rudd: We need a better plan for rural Australia (7pm TV News QLD) Sorry, this video has expired Video: Kevin Rudd: Australian … Continue reading