While for some it was a usual March weekday night, the release of the Federal Budget helps steer what problems BIEDO can help communities tackle, and clarifies what our region needs to continue to advocate for.
The 2022-2023 budget had some highlights for the regions. We’ve summarised the budget bullet points below:
Helping communities recover from natural disasters
$2.2 billion to households for income support, temporary accommodation and social services
$665 million to businesses and farmers for repairs, new equipment and support services
$589 million for community clean-up and recovery, including $300 million from the Emergency Response Fund for recovery and post-disaster resilience initiatives
$1.2 billion to enhance our space capability and develop Australian-made satellites. This data is critical for emergency responders in times of natural disaster, supports more reliable weather forecasting and helps farmers better manage our land and water resources.
Strengthening Australia’s Defences
At least $38 billion to boost the Defence workforce by 18,500 personnel by 2040
More than $10 billion for future naval infrastructure, including a new submarine base on the east coast of Australia
$3.5 billion for up to 75 new M1A2 Abrams tanks and other armoured vehicles
$9.9 billion in Australia’s intelligence and cyber capabilities, bolstering the Government’s commitment to Australia’s Five Eyes and AUKUS trilateral partners while supporting a secure Indo-Pacific region
$66.9 million to continue to protect the Australian community from the threat posed by convicted high risk terrorist offenders
$19.8 million will be provided to establish a national convicted terrorist register to monitor offenders’ movements following the end of their sentences.
$170.4 million to equip Australian law enforcement and security agencies with the tools they need to thwart transnational, serious and organised crime and protect the community.
Cost of Living
a one-off, income tax-exempt payment of $250. It will be paid automatically to all eligible pensioners, welfare recipients, veterans and eligible concession card holders in April 2022.
higher income support payments from existing indexation arrangements. Income support payments increased by 2.1 per cent in March 2022, benefiting almost 5 million Australians. The Age Pension, Disability Support Pension and Carer Payment rates increased by more than $20 a fortnight for singles and $30 a fortnight for couples. They will receive a similar increase again in September
reduce fuel excise by 50 per cent for 6 months. This will see excise on petrol and diesel cut from 44.2 cents per litre to 22.1 cents per litre
$279 million for Child Care Services in COVID-19 support, $6.9 million in business continuity payments and support for services through Special Circumstances grants in the Community Child Care Fund
The First Home Super Saver Scheme (FHSSS) helps Australians boost their savings for a first home by allowing them to build a deposit inside superannuation, giving them a tax cut
12 million taxpayers are expected to benefit from lower taxes under the plan, worth up to $2,565 for individuals or $5,130 for dual income couples.
Strengthening the Regions
Major projects:
$3.1 billion for the Melbourne Intermodal Terminals, to take trucks off the road and meet the freight task of the nation
$2.7 billion for Faster Rail projects from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane to the Gold Coast in Queensland
$2.3 billion for the North-South Corridor in South Australia
$441.2 million for the METRONET in Western Australia
In Queensland:
$1.6 billion for the Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast – Beerwah-Maroochydore Rail Extension
$1.1 billion for the Brisbane to the Gold Coast – Kuraby-Beenleigh Faster Rail Upgrade
$101.7 million is being allocated for local road and community infrastructure projects in the state.
12 Water Infrastructure Investments (total $7.0 billion) including $600 million investment into the Paradise Dam upgrade.
Other regional highlights
$811.8 million Connecting Regional Australia initiative for Indigenous connectivity initiatives, up to 8,000km of new open access mobile coverage, improved resilience against natural disasters, Emerging technology trials, Affordability initiatives, Targeted broadband and mobile upgrades.
More Commonwealth supported places in rural and regional medical schools
Increased access to regional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines through extended Medicare rebates
New University Departments of Rural Health
$55 million over four years to continue to support Aeromedical outreach services.
Workforce
a further $2.8 billion to support Australian apprenticeships
Expanding the AgMove program and extending it for an additional six months to encourage workers to pursue seasonal agricultural jobs.
Creating a flexible and effcient single Pacific Australia Labour Mobility scheme with both seasonal and long-term options – the PALM scheme.
Funding the care and support sector to grow to meet the needs of people with disabilities, veterans and an ageing Australia.
Transforming how we deliver employment services with Workforce Australia, to better equip Australians for the future.
Establishing ReBoot, designed to build life and employability skills in 5,000 disadvantaged young Australians.
Making over 70 changes to migration and visa settings in response to COVID-19 and to assist with economic recovery. These include specific visa validity extensions, removal of work restrictions and visa application charge waivers or refunds.
$500 million of funding will drive growth and innovation in our regional manufacturers through a new Regional Accelerator Stream of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative
$200 million in a Regional Accelerator Stream of the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative to assist regional businesses to address supply chain vulnerabilities.
A reduction of compliance costs, streamline reporting requirements and improve cash flow for small and medium business.
Small businesses with annual turnover less than $50 million will be able to deduct a bonus 20 per cent of the cost of expenses and depreciating assets that support digital uptake. This includes portable payment devices, cyber security systems or subscriptions to cloud-based services. The boost will apply to eligible expenditure of up to $100,000 per year, incurred from Budget night until 30 June 2023.
Small business access to a new 20 per cent bonus deduction for eligible external training courses for upskilling employees. The Skills and Training Boost will apply to expenditure incurred from Budget night until 30 June 2024, providing $550 million in tax relief.
Women
$330.6 million in this Budget to improve health outcomes for women and girls in a range of priority areas. This includes further funding for maternal, sexual and reproductive health, including to support women with endometriosis and pelvic pain.
$482.0 million to help women advance their careers and improve their economic security, including, $56.2 million is being provided to assist women to transition into the booming tech industry and into jobs in manufacturing, as well as to develop entrepreneurial skills.
$40.4 million for a range of initiatives including Future Women’s Jobs Academy to provide mentoring support and skills training to help women to transition into management and leadership positions.
Essentials
A further $547million in mental health services
$29.8 billion funding for Aged Care with $468.3 million in support for the aged care sector and the 1.3 million senior Australians using these services.
For Aged care: 80,000 additional home care packages, 200 minutes of care time per day for older Australians in residential aged care, 33,800 new training places for aged care workers.
$225.8 million to improve educational outcomes of school students, particularly for those who are disadvantaged.
Supported access of at least 15 hours a week of quality learning for Preschool age children
Investing $19.7 billion in the university sector in 2022
$2.2 billion investment that will supercharge the generation and translation of Australian research into new commercial products.
The NDIS will provide $33.9 billion to over 500,000 Australians who have permanent and significant disability in 2022-23
Additional $1 billion in world-leading marine science to build the Great Barrier Reef's resilience to climate change, remove pest species and improve the reef's water quality
Investing over $170 million for threatened species and habitat restoration, and tree planting projects, including $53 million dedicated to koala recovery and conservation. A further $26.8 million for our national parks will improve conservation and management. It will also support Indigenous engagement and employment, enhancing preservation of cultural and natural heritage.
Investing $839.9 million to enable exploration of East Antarctica’s inland and to support research and environmental management. This investment will ensure that the Antarctic remains a place of science and conservation, free from conflict and exploitation
$192 million investment in reforms will protect the environment, speed-up environmental law decisions, and improve transparency in project approvals.
$83.1 million on Australia's waste and recycling capabilities to help reach our 2030 waste targets.
$60.4 million to develop new plastics recycling technology and advanced recycling solutions. A further $18.2 million will go towards improving awareness of correct recycling techniques and develop a new 'ReMade in Australia' scheme to certify goods that are recycled and remade here in Australia.