Federal Budget 2022-23
Posted on March 31st, 2022
Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said the Coalition Government’s plan for a stronger future provides cost of living relief, creates more jobs, guarantees the essential services and keeps Australians safe, including in Capricornia.
As part of the Budget 2022‑23, the Government is:
- providing temporary and targeted cost of living relief for households and tax relief for small businesses,
- delivering more jobs and working towards an unemployment rate below 4 per cent,
- making record investments in health, education and other essential services,
- building roads, rail, dams and the renewable energy technology that we’ll need for our future, and
- investing in stronger defence, borders and security.
The Government is introducing a new temporary, targeted and responsible cost of living package to take the pressure off household budgets:
- One-off Cost of Living Tax Offset – From 1 July this year, more than 10 million individuals will receive a one-off $420 cost of living tax offset. As a result, eligible low- and middle-income earners will be up to $1,500 better off for a single income household, or $3,000 better off for dual income household.
- One-off Cost of Living Payment – To help Australians most in need the Government is providing a one-off, income-tax-exempt payment of $250 to 6 million eligible pensioners, welfare recipients, veterans and eligible concession card holders in April 2022.
- Temporary fuel excise relief – The Government will 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. The reduction in excise will flow through to lower petrol prices over the next two weeks, as petrol stations replenish their stocks.
The Government is investing in measures to expand and upskill the workforce to secure the workers we need now and for the future, including people in Capricornia.
This will also help Australians into more highly skilled and better paying jobs.
- The Government is transforming Australia’s manufacturing sector and building resilient supply chains with over $1 billion in new investment, building on the $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy announced in the 2020-21 Budget.
- Committed $2.8 billion to support Australian apprenticeships, building on the $13.3 billion spent on apprenticeships and traineeships since 2013.
- The Government has committed $3.7 billion in Commonwealth funding for a new skills agreement, which has the capacity to deliver up to 800,000 additional training places for Australians.
- To develop the next generation of innovative Australian companies, this Budget includes $2.2 billion for a research commercialisation action plan (including $1.6 billion for a new economic accelerator) to bring industries and universities together.
Small businesses will have 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.
The Government is also providing $1 billion for a new Technology Investment Boost to encourage small businesses to go digital.
Small businesses will be able to deduct a bonus 20 per cent of the cost of expenses and depreciating assets that support digital uptake.
Expenditure of up to $100,000 per year will be supported by this new measure, which applies from Budget night until 30 June 2023.
The Government has allocated $6 billion for the COVID-19 Health response, which includes support for the Governments’ Winter Response Plan to prepare for the next wave of COVID‑19 and influenza.
- $3.0 billion over five years for cheaper medicines to support a healthier Australia.
- $1.3 billion to support delivery of the next National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32.
- $165.0 million for wellbeing programs and $104.2 million for health services to support veterans and families
The Government is investing $37.9 billion in regional Australia and priority infrastructure across the nation.
Funding for local projects includes:
- Phillips Creek Bridge Replacement – $14,400,000
- Bowen Basin Service Link – Walkerston Bypass – $149,280,000
- Bruce Highway – Bruce Highway Safety Package – $808,387,093
- Bruce Highway – Mackay Ring Road Stage 2 – $280,000,000
- Bruce Highway – Rockhampton Ring Road – $823,600,000
- Bruce Highway Additional Funding – $400,000,000
- Inland Freight Route (Mungindi to Charters Towers) Upgrades – $400,000,000
- Bruce Highway – Additional Funding for Black Spots, Rest Areas and Safety Upgrades – $175,210,000
- Bruce Highway – Overtaking Lanes – $324,730,000
- Bruce Highway Duplication Strategy – $20,000,000
- Regional Economic Enabling Fund – $126,440,000
The Government has increased its 10‑year transport infrastructure pipeline to a record $120 billion with an additional $17.9 billion committed to road, rail and community infrastructure projects supporting around 40,000 jobs.
Including through its $8.9 billion National Water Grid Fund, the Government will provide a further $7.4 billion to improve Australia’s water security and open up new land for irrigation.
As well as projects in each state and territory, the Government is investing:
- $2.0 billion through the Regional Accelerator Program to drive growth and productivity in regional areas.
- $501.7 million for local councils to deliver priority road and community infrastructure projects across Australia
- $2.0 billion in additional funding for the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility, bringing total funding to $7.0 billion.
The pandemic, the invasion of Ukraine and extreme weather events have and continue to cause enormous disruption.
To keep Australians safe the Government will:
- increase the Australian Defence Force by up to 18,500 by 2040
- provide $9.9 billion over 10 years to significantly enhance Australia’s offensive and defensive cyber and intelligence capabilities.
- support households and businesses impacted by recent floods in parts of Queensland and New South Wales, with over $6 billion expected to be spent.
Budget documents are available at www.budget.gov.au
Press Release – Our plan for a stronger future for Capricornia
The Australian Government is investing $296.5 million in regional, rural and remote health in the 2022–23 Budget, to improve access to healthcare for people in country Australia, including those in Capricornia. The Budget measures announced this week build on earlier initiatives, including the ten-year Stronger Rural Health Strategy (SRRS), to address the challenges of access to health care for regional, rural and remote patients.
The Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program provides more than $200 million a year to fund a network of rural clinical schools, university departments of rural health, regional training hubs and dental training sites to support extended rural placements in regional and rural areas.
In the electorate of Capricornia, the University of Queensland shares in this $200 million a year to operate a rural clinical school and regional training hub in Rockhampton.
Press Release – Record funding for rural health continues to strengthen health care in the bush
