Some relief in budget – but is it enough?

Central Coast residents can look forward to more tax cuts, cheaper medicines, increased access to bulk-billed GP visits and extended energy bill relief following the release of the Federal budget on Tuesday, March 25.

It was dubbed an “election budget” by the Opposition, but Federal Member for Robertson Dr Gordon Reid said it would provide continued cost of living relief for the region’s cash-strapped citizenry.

“Every taxpayer will receive two new tax cuts, every household and small business will receive a $150 energy rebate, and we’re investing a record $8.5N into Medicare so more people in our region can see a GP bulk billed,” Reid said.

“The Central Coast will receive a new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, complementing existing clinics.”

Reid said infrastructure was also addressed in the budget, with $115M allocated for an upgrade of Terrigal Dr, $15M for intersections at Empire Bay and increased funding for the Central Coast Roads Package.

“Under Labor, inflation is down, incomes are growing, unemployment is very low, interest rates are coming down, but we know Australians are still doing it tough,” he said.

Member for Dobell Emma McBride said the budget delivered a focus on strengthening Medicare and delivering better healthcare for Coasties.

“As a pharmacist, I know the difference cheaper medicines are making for locals, and that’s why we’re reducing the cost of PBS scripts again down to $25,” she said.

“We’ve also made a record investment in Medicare so more people can see their GP for free and will open an additional Medicare Urgent Care Clinic on the Coast.”

Member for Shortland Patt Conroy said the budget was a responsible one which will help every household in the region.

“The biggest threat to household budgets and the economy is Peter Dutton and the Liberals,” he said.

“Putting nuclear into Australia’s grid will cost $600B – that money will have to come from somewhere and Australians will end up paying.”

Faced with delivering a budget just weeks before a Federal election in May, Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers announced that every taxpayer will receive two new tax cuts in 2026 and 2027, adding to the first round that Labor delivered in July last year.

Combined with Labor’s first round of tax cuts, the average tax cut is expected to be around $43 per week or more than $2,200 in 2026-27, and around $50 per week or more than $2,500 in 2027-28.

The energy bill rebate has also been extended, by $150, to be applied quarterly in $75 instalments.

An $8.5B investment into Medicare in intended to see more GP visits bulk billed and fund training for more doctors and nurses.

A new Medicare Urgent Care Clinic promised for the region will complement existing clinics at Umina Beach and Lake Haven.

To address growing concerns over maternity services in the region, $10M will go towards improving those services at Gosford and Wyong hospitals, along with workforce support and training.

PBS medicines will be capped at $25, with pensioners and concession cardholders to continue to benefit from the freeze to the cost of their PBS medicines, with the cost frozen at its current level of $7.70.

Good news, too, for Central Coast uni graduates, with 20 per cent to be wiped from student debts.

The repayment threshold will be lifted and there will be 100,000 free TAFE places available every year.

Unsurprisingly, Liberal candidates for the region are unimpressed.

Candidate for Dobell Brendan Small said it is a budget for an election, not one for the country’s future.

“At a time when living standards have suffered the biggest collapse on record and when the security environment is the most dangerous since the Second World War, Labor’s Budget has failed to deal with the economic and national security challenges our country faces,” he said.

“The budget confirms that Coasties are poorer after three years of the Albanese Labor Government.”

Candidate for Robertson Lucy Wicks said a Liberal Government would upgrade local roads, invest in community safety and support local businesses and jobs.

“We can’t afford three more years of (Labor),” she said.

Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor described the budget as being “for the next five weeks, not the next five years”.

He said tax changes in 2026-27 would fail to restore the standard of living lost after three years of Labor government and said they were an “election bribe” by a “weak Prime Minister”.

“The Coalition will not support these tax changes that do nothing to address the collapse in living standards under Labor,” he said.

“Seventy cents a day, in a year’s time, is not going to help address the financial stress Australian families are currently under.

“It will do nothing to restore your household budget now, at a time when the typical Australian household with a mortgage is $50,000 worse off.”

Taylor said Labor’s renewables only energy plan would see residents paying up to $1,300 more for power despite cuts to energy bills.

He said there are “deficits as far as the eye can see”, including: 41,000 new public servants in Canberra, at a time when services have not improved, and out-of-control migration as the housing crisis escalates.

“Despite all their talk on housing, we know Labor will fall far short of their own housing targets, with not a single new additional home having been built under the Housing Australia Future Fund, the Help to Buy scheme, or the Build to Rent scheme,” Taylor said.

“For families and first home buyers, housing has never been further out of reach under this government.”

He said productivity has collapsed by six per cent under Labor, with nothing in the budget to reverse the trend.

Terry Collins