By Kerri-Anne Mesner
A WELFARE organisation operating in the western suburbs has raised concerns that the Federal Budget — which targets assisting working families — will miss many in need in the West.
The federal member for Maribyrnong Bill Shorten said the 2008 budget puts families at the centre of the Rudd Government’s commitment to tackle inflation and lay the building blocks for a strong, modern Australia.
“When you combine our tax cuts with the new education and childcare incentives we’re providing real rewards for all the hard work of Australian families,” he said.
MacKillop Family Services chief executive officer Paul Linossier said the first Rudd Government budget, brought down on Tuesday night, was a good step in the right direction but many families would fall outside the catch all.
The Family First Party believes the budget also missed people, in particular low income earners and first home buyers who tend to live in the outer suburbs where housing is cheaper but has insufficient public transport and are dependent on cars. This means they suffer more from punishing petrol prices.
MacKillop Family Services provides a wide range of specialist support services to some of Victoria’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged children, young people and their families.
“While there is much reference to working families, we do well to remember that many families fall outside that catch all — it is not clear how many of the families we support in the West, especially carers, those with a temporary incapacity and those caught in longer term cycles of unemployment and disadvantage will be better supported and engaged,” Mr Linossier said.
Australia-wide Federal Budget benefits that will help Maribyrnong and Gorton electorate residents include:
• A working families support package worth $55 billion
• $3.2 billion for the national health and hospitals reform plan
• $5.9 billion for the education revolution
• $2.4 billion Australian seniors and carers
• Lifting the Medicare levy surcharge threshold from $50,000 to $100,000 for singles and $100,000 to $150,000 for couples.
“Not only does this budget deliver on Labor’s commitment to give every taxpayer in Gorton a tax cut, it also provides funding for several important local infrastructure projects and institutions,” Gorton MP Brendan O’Connor said.
Specific funding allocations to benefit Maribyrnong and Gorton include $7 million investment in the Sunshine Hospital teaching, training and research facility; $8.2 million to Victoria University to rebuild infrastructure; $14 million for the widening of the Western Ring Road; $53.3 million for the continuation of construction of the Deer Park Bypass and Leakes Rd Interchange.
Mr O’Connor said Brimbank City Council would receive $1.3 million and Melton Shire Council would receive $468,793 under the Roads to Recovery program for local roads maintenance and upgrading.
