The Coalition Government is sticking to its plan to build a stronger economy to benefit all Australians, the Member for Forde Bert van Manen MP said.
“We are delivering tax relief with a focus on low and middle income earners, investing in congestion busting infrastructure and responsibly returning the budget to balance,” Mr van Manen said.
“Under the Government’s economic plan jobs are being created, investment is rising and the budget is strengthening.
“This means that we can continue to guarantee the essential services Australians rely on.”
Our plan will:
- Deliver lower, fairer and simpler taxes to encourage and reward working Australians;
- Back businesses to invest and create more jobs, building on our legislated tax cuts for small and medium enterprise, supporting businesses to compete globally, delivering infrastructure that industry and workers rely on; and targeting incentives to promote research, development and new technology;
- Guarantee the essential services that Australians rely on including record funding for hospitals and schools, a comprehensive approach to aged care so older Australians can live life to the full, and guaranteed funding for disability services;
- Keep Australians safe by strengthening security at airports and investing more in our intelligence and security service so they can respond to new and challenging threats. We will also protect our unique environment with smarter biosecurity systems and continue to safeguard our borders.
- Ensure the Government lives within its means with a forecast return to modest budget balance in 2019-20, increasing to a projected surplus of $11 billion in 2020-21; no longer borrowing to pay for essential services; and the lowest average real growth in payments of any Government in the last 50 years.
“Our tax relief plan will encourage and reward hard working Australians,” Mr van Manen said.
“73,962 taxpayers in Forde will receive a new offset of up to $530 a year under our plan to reduce cost pressures on household budgets.
“That means high school teachers will see on $75,000 an extra $530 in their pocket, a shop assistant on $45,000 will have an extra $440 in their pocket, and a fast food operator on $42,000 will see an extra $350 in their pocket.
“There is also great news for small businesses with the $20,000 instant asset write-off continuing for another year, helping small business invest in new equipment.
“This is on top of legislated tax cuts for small and medium businesses that are helping them to grow, create more jobs and pay higher wages.”
The Coalition Government’s $75 billion rolling infrastructure plan will continue building the roads, rail and airport networks Australia needs to strengthen the economy, bust congestion in our cities and make rural roads safer.
The benefits of the Coalition Government’s infrastructure investment for the communities of Forde include $1 billion to upgrade the M1 Motorway corridor in Logan and the Gold Coast.
“The Coalition Government is delivering a number of key infrastructure projects in Forde through the Roads to Recovery Program, and we have announced a number of new key initiatives including the Roads of Strategic Importance to upgrade key freight corridors, and the Urban Congestion Initiative.
“ I hope these new initiatives, which deliver an additional $4.5 billion infrastructure funding, will help solve key infrastructure problems in my electorate of Forde, including the Mount Lindesay Highway.
“We are guaranteeing the essential services families in my electorate of Forde rely on, by increasing total health and hospitals funding by 30%, delivering a 50% average increase per student in fair, real needs based school funding over the decade, and more child care support to those families who need it most,” Mr van Manen said.
“As part of the Coalition Government’s commitment to guaranteeing essential services, our More Choices for a Longer Life plan will help older residents in Forde live healthy and connected lives with increased financial and skills support and 14,000 more home care places.
“This will support 21,057 people aged over 65 and their families in Forde to live longer, happier and healthier lives.
“Our plan for a stronger economy benefits all Australians.
“After record jobs growth, the proportion of working age Australians now dependent on welfare has fallen to 15.1 per cent – the lowest level in over twenty five years.
“We are also continuing to boost welfare compliance and targeting to help get welfare spending under control while ensuring everyone pays their fair share of tax.
“Our plan for a stronger economy means that Australians can plan for their future with confidence.”
