The Morrison Government’s plan to secure Australia’s recovery will rebuild our economy and create more jobs to ensure we come back stronger from the COVID-19 induced recession, including in Barker.
Member for Barker, Tony Pasin, said, “Australia entered the crisis from a position of economic strength having brought the Budget back to balance for the first time in 11 years”.
“This provided us with the fiscal firepower to support communities throughout Barker when they needed it most including record funding for schools, hospitals, aged care, mental health and the NDIS.”
As part of our COVID-19 response, the Morrison Government has committed $291 billion or 14.7 per cent of GDP in direct economic support for Australians, including thousands of individuals, households and businesses in Barker.
As a result of this support we are well on the road to recovery.
“Our plan to secure Australia’s recovery will create more jobs, continue our economic rebuild and set the country up for the future”, Mr Pasin said.
TAX CUTS
The Budget provides an additional tax cut to more than 10 million low and middle income earners, including around 66,000 people in Barker.
Low and middle income earners earning between $48,000 – $90,000 will benefit by up to $1,080 for individuals or $2,160 for couples.
“This is more money to spend in local businesses, giving them the confidence to take on an extra worker, offer an extra shift, or buy a new piece of equipment,” Mr Pasin said.
“We are also continuing to incentivise business to invest, creating more economic activity and jobs.”
23,500 businesses in Barker will continue to be able to write off the full value of any eligible assets they purchase. Announcing the extension of these measures for a further year until 30 June 2023, means a tradie can buy a new ute, a farmer a new harvester and a manufacturer expand their production line.
Additionally, around 4,600 businesses in Barker will be able to use the extended loss carry back measure to support cash flow and confidence.
JOBS
The Morrison Government is investing a further $1.5 billion to extend the Boosting Apprenticeships Commencement wage subsidy. This investment will deliver 170,000 new apprenticeships and trainees, supported by a 50% wage subsidy.
“We already have 2,455 apprentices in Barker and these new measures will lead to even more opportunities for apprentices and trainees.”
The Morrison Government is doubling its commitment to the JobTrainer Fund to support a further 163,000 new training places to upskill job seekers to meet skills shortages.
The budget also includes measures to accelerate digital skills training for job seekers with low levels of reading, writing, maths and computer skills, and additional funding to boost STEM scholarships and programs for women to help them to break into non-traditional trades.
INFRASTRUCTURE
Mr Pasin said the Government is building the generation defining infrastructure projects our community needs for the future, with a record 10-year $110 billion infrastructure pipeline, which is already supporting 100,000 jobs across the country, including important infrastructure projects such as:
- The Truro Bypass on the Sturt Highway, to improve road safety and productivity of the national network, and to improve the regional connection between Adelaide and the Riverland for freight, tourism and local commuters. It complements works being undertaken as part of the Sturt Highway as a Road of Strategic Importance.
- Further upgrades to the Heysen Tunnel including upgraded signage, fire suppression systems and electrical systems associated with venting and fans.
- An investigation into the duplication of the Swanport Bridge and upgrades of the Princes Highway and Dukes Highway to improve road safety outcomes and access for higher productivity vehicles along this corridor.
- An investigation into the construction of upgraded freight routes to enable larger high productivity vehicles to be diverted from the South Eastern Freeway and Cross Road onto the Regional North-South Freight Route via the Sturt Highway, bypassing Adelaide.
The record infrastructure funding also includes a further $22.3 million from the National Water Grid fund for the development of business cases for eight water infrastructure projects that will help secure Australia’s water security. Specifically, Barker will benefit with an investment of $3.5 million into a detailed business case to bring a sustainable alternative water supply to the Barossa.
“This project aims to treat, transfer and distribute high-quality recycled water to the Barossa, which, with existing resources, will assist the growth of primary industries, food and beverage production and long-term planning due to improved water security.” Mr Pasin said.
Other key budget initiatives which will place the regions at the centre of our economic recovery include:
- An additional $1 billion for the highly successful Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program, increasing delivery of community amenity projects including upgrades to local roads, bike paths, community halls, as well as improved accessibility to public facilities. This brings the total commitment to the LRCI Program to $2.5 billion. This includes an additional $17 million for local Councils in Barker.
- The Building Better Regions Fund will see a further $250 million for a sixth round. This fund has already delivered important infrastructure and community projects throughout Barker.
- An additional $22.7 million for Round Seven of the Stronger Communities Programme, which provides grants of between $2,500 and $20,000, direct to community organisations for modest but meaningful projects.
- A continuation of the Federal Government funding for the South Australian Supplementary Road Program providing a further $40 million over two years to facilitate strategic road maintenance projects and improved road safety outcomes.
ESSENTIAL SERVICES
Hospitals, schools, aged care, Medicare, mental health, and disability support services will always be guaranteed under the Morrison Government.
This Budget delivers a record investment in Aged care to help the 33,535 senior Australians living in Barker. This investment will deliver more home care places, more funding for residential aged care and increases the amount of time residents are cared for while strengthening regulatory measures to monitor and enforce the standards of care.
The Morrison Government is also investing $123 million in our rural and regional health workforce, including $65.8 million to increase bulk billing incentive payments for doctors working in remote areas and rural towns.
In addition, we are extending COVID-19 health measures by investing $204.6 million to extend telehealth arrangements until 31 December 2021, bringing total investment to date to $3.6 billion, which continues to provide access to health services for all Australians regardless of where they live.
The wellbeing of Australians living with mental illness is vital, which is why the Government is committed to undertaking significant structural reform of the mental health and suicide prevention system. The $2.3 billion package in this Budget is a first step in responding to recommendations from the Productivity Commission and the National Suicide Prevention Commissioner.
This investment in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan is the largest Commonwealth mental health investment in Australia’s history, including creating a landmark national network including up to 57 additional mental health treatments centres and satellites for adults, as well as more centres for youth and children through the Head to Health and Headspace programs.
To cut the cost of living for around 4,290 families in Barker and to help boost workforce participation, the Government is providing an additional $1.7 billion to make childcare more affordable.
The Morrison Government will increase the childcare subsidies available to families with more than one child aged five and under in childcare, benefiting around 990 families in Barker and abolishing the $10,560 cap on the Child Care Subsidy.
For those families with more than one child aged five and under in childcare, the level of subsidy received will increase by 30 percent to a maximum subsidy of 95 per cent for their second and subsequent children.
The Morrison Government is investing a further $13.2 billion in the world-leading National Disability Insurance Scheme. The NDIS is fully funded and demand driven, with 450,000 Australians now accessing its life changing supports. We continue our commitment to funding the NDIS, and this is reflected in more than $17 billion in additional funding over the last two Federal Budgets.
Member for Barker, Tony Pasin said, “The Morrison Government’s comprehensive economic plan will create jobs and secure Australia’s recovery.”
For more information, visit: www.budget.gov.au.
ENDS
