NSW Labor has again ignored the bush by failing to provide any extra funding in yesterday's State Budget to implement recommendations by the Premier's Rural and Regional Taskforce, says Shadow Regional Development Minister, Adrian Piccoli.

Mr Piccoli says other than some delayed reductions in payroll tax, which will not come into full effect until 2011, there is nothing in the Budget that addresses any specific recommendations from the taskforce.

"I am sure that the Member for Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay, and the Member for Monaro, Steve Whan, will be as disappointed as the rest of country NSW that no mention was made of the taskforce.

"While there were plenty of big ticket infrastructure announcements for Sydney there was no mention of timber bridges or measures to attract people from Sydney to live in rural and regional NSW, all of which were key recommendations from the taskforce.

"Other taskforce recommendations ignored in the Budget include setting up a regional fund designed to offer grants for essential infrastructure, an increase in public libraries, art galleries and sporting facilities as well as measures to target alcohol-related violence," Mr Piccoli says.

"In transport, a critical issue for people living in rural and regional NSW and a key factor in bringing business to the regions, the taskforce recommendations were also ignored.

"The taskforce had recommended that support be given for the inland Brisbane to Melbourne rail link and for greater assistance to be given to regional airlines to help them service smaller communities.

"There was great expectation that this Rural and Regional Taskforce, supported by all members of the Parliament, would deliver results for rural NSW and would be taken seriously in the Budget."