I am thrilled to celebrate the long-anticipated official opening of the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery redevelopment and the Swan Hill Tourism & Cultural Hub this week.

This Coalition-era $13.2 million investment in the Swan Hill community is a shining example of what happens when regional voices unite and federal support flows to where it's needed most.

Back in March 2019, when I was the candidate for Mallee for the election that May, I stood alongside then Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack at Swan Hill we - The Nationals – committed $16.8 million through the then Coalition Government's Regional Growth Fund for the "Our Region, Our Rivers" initiative, coordinated by Swan Hill Rural City Council across seven councils.

Our Region, Our Rivers sparked the vision for these two vital facilities opened this week, blending a modern art gallery with tourism and cultural elements, drawing on $34.6 million in total investment to boost local jobs, education and visitor appeal.

As we often find in life, the journey wasn’t smooth and in Swan Hill’s case, heritage considerations forced adjustments.  Changing tack due to heritage listing reminds us that just downstream on the Swan Hill Riverfront, The Nationals’ $60 million locked-in Commonwealth funding for a new Swan Hill Bridge awaits all the necessary approvals to proceed.

I congratulate Council and community for their tireless advocacy in navigating red and green tape, securing funding extensions and getting the job done for this week’s triumphant opening.

As Shadow Minister for Regional Development, Local Government, Territories and Regional Communications, Swan Hill’s success highlights how targeted regional investment in projects like Our Rivers, Our Regions spread the benefits, beautifying Lake Boga’s southern entrance, revitalising the Cohuna Beach and Kerang waterfront precincts, and providing better pedestrian access and linkage at Koondrook wharf.        

That’s the value of The Nationals in a Coalition government – who deliver for regional communities.  Tragically, over a comparable 3-year timeframe, Labor has cut grant funding to Mallee by $87 million.

You can see what the Coalition’s $16.8 million has done for River Murray communities in our area – imagine what we else we could do together.