Young families on the Central Coast were the big winners in the Federal Budget, handed down on October 25 by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, with a multi-billion-dollar childcare package and improvements to parental leave set to make things easier for the region’s parents.
The budget also saw health, housing and infrastructure benefits for the region, but no increases in the JobSeeker payment and no immediate relief from rising power bills.
Member for Robertson, Gordon Reid, said $4.7B to be invested over four years from 2022-2023 for cheaper childcare would benefit at least 6,900 families in each of the Coast’s two Federal electorates.
“This will not only make sure people can more readily afford childcare but will allow them to re enter the workforce if they choose to,” Reid said.
“More children will be able to access early childhood education and care (and receive) the pre literacy development necessary to engage with the public schools curriculum.”
Funding of $531.6M will see the Paid Parental Leave Scheme transition from a total 20 weeks in July, 2023, to 26 weeks leave by July, 2026.
Reid said the Government had delivered on its key election promises in an “economically measured and responsible budget”.
Another confirmed election promise will see two Medicare Urgent Care Clinics established in the region, one in each electorate, and a Medicare-funded MRI licence for Wyong Hospital, along with cheaper medicines through a drop in PBS maximum co-payments from $42.50 to $30.
Member for Dobell, Emma McBride, said the moves would give residents access to more affordable healthcare.
“As a pharmacist who worked at Wyong Hospital for 10 years, I know what it will mean to our community to have this MRI licence confirmed in the Budget,” she said.
“Locals will be able to access affordable, life-saving medical scans when they need it, close to home.”
Reid said existing GP clinics will be able to put their hand up for tender to adapt their practice to an urgent care clinic and engage more staff.
“These urgent care clinics will be bulk billed for adults and children with extended hours and should take the pressure off our hospital Emergency Departments,” he said.
“They will cover the middle ground between GP visits and hospital; for example if you cut your hand and need stitches, you can to go an urgent care clinic.”
Changes to the PBS will mean significant savings for Coast residents, Reid said, especially those who are on more than one regular medication.
The Budget also confirms $40M in roads funding for the entire Central Coast.
“One of the number one issues people raise with me is the state of our roads,” McBride said.
“The Central Coast has some of the worst roads in NSW and after recent weather events, there are more potholes and hazards on our roads than there have been previously, so a $40M injection into local roads will make a big difference.”
Other benefits for the Central Coast include $17.14M for a Food Manufacturing Hub, backed up by $37.5M from industry, which will create more than 280 local jobs, drive economic growth and help expand the region’s food and beverage market (see separate story).
The Government is also delivering $4M towards Tuggerah Lake, with the funds to go to programs including flood mitigation and storm water management.
A major investment in social and affordable housing will see a New Housing Accord between government, investors and industry receiving an initial $350M to kickstart the delivery of one million new homes across the country over five years from 2024.
A Housing Australia Future Fund will see 30,000 social and affordable homes built nationwide in its first five years.
Reid said the measures would especially benefit the region’s front-line workers, veteran and older women at risk of homelessness.
With energy costs predicted to soar in the next two years, the Budget offers no short-term relief but Reid said the Government was focussed on investing in renewable energy sources, rewiring the grid for more efficiency and installing community batteries leading to long-term savings.
“Narara is to receive one of the community batteries, which are about the size of a 4WD,” he said.
Reid said Jobseeker increases were not on the table at this time.
“One of the (points of) this budget is to take stock of where our economy is at,” he said.
“We need responsible cost of living relief but don’t want to have a significant impact on inflation.”
member for robertson, gordon reid
“There are a lot of issues we have to rectify after 10 years of neglect.
“We’d like to fix everything overnight but need to focus on those measure we can introduce without significantly affecting inflation.”
The Treasury has predicted that inflation will peak at 6.1 per cent this year before dropping to 5.75 per cent in 2023-24.
Reid said the budget would also see upgrades to sporting facilities across the electorate, along with telecommunication improvements.
“The announcements in the budget … are targeted and sensible, ensuring that the nation, and the Central Coast, are able to confront the challenges and opportunities of the future,” he said.
The budget at a glance
Families
$4.7B over four years to deliver cheaper child care for 1.26 million families
$531.6M over four years to expand Paid Parental Leave to 26 weeks by 2026
Housing
More affordable housing, including through a new national Housing Accord which brings together governments, investors and industry to boost supply and delivery
Health
$787.1M over four years to reduce the general patient co-payment for treatments on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from $42.50 to $30 per script.
$235M for urgent care clinics
Incentive payments of uo to $10,500 for GPs to work in rural and regional areas
$314.4M package to strengthen health outcomes for First Nations people
Education
480,000 fee-free TAFE places and a $50M TAFE Technology Fund to modernise TAFEs.
20,000 additional university places for disadvantaged Australians.
$474.5M over two years to support student well-being and improve classrooms.
Boosting the Work Bonus income bank to give
older Australians the option to work and keep
more of their pension.
Energy
A Powering Australia Plan to drive investment in cleaner, cheaper energy, including $20B of low-cost finance under Rewiring the Nation to upgrade electricity infrastructure.
Other
$1.8B investment in strong action to protect, restore and manage the natural environment
Up to $200M per year on disaster prevention and resilience initiatives through the Disaster Ready Fund
$15B National Reconstruction Fund to support a future made in Australia.
More than $120B of investment in transport infrastructure over the next 10 years.
$2.4B to extend fibre access to 1.5 million more premises and $1.2B for the Better Connectivity for Regional and Rural Australia Plan.
Terry Collins