The Budget Bottom Line by ALP Tasmania

The Budget Bottom Line Sid Sidebottom MP - ...for a fair go in Braddon

1300 135 547 Ph 03 6431 1333 Fax 03 6431 5680 Email sid.sidebottom.MP@aph.gov.au Shop 2, 32 Wilmot Street, Burnie 7320 Tasmania PO Box 908 Burnie

Braddon projects bonanza

he Rudd Labor Government and Sid Sidebottom will deliver more than $90 million in election commitments during its first term in office.

Braddon Budget Projects at a glance Jobs

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$12 million Enterprise Connect Centre $500,000 for Business and Employment, Devonport

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$500,000 Oakleigh Park Overpass, Burnie $2 million Formby Rd, Devonport $1 million Port Sorell Main Rd $700,000 King Island Freight Equalisation

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Infrastructure

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$30 million rail upgrade Burnie-Wiltshire

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$12 million Bass Strait Passenger Vehicle Equalisation Scheme $185,000 Table Cape Lighthouse Tourist project, Wynyard

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Tourism

$175,000 King Island Recreation Trail Project

Food

and

Health $7.7 million for a new cancer treatment unit with a preference for it to be located in the North-West

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$10 million for better patient transport with a focus on the NW Coast Up to $5 million GP super clinic, Devonport Up to $2.5 million GP after hours clinic, Burnie $1.25 million Sisters of Charity, Devonport $60,000 Penguin Medical Centre Specialised Autism Centre based in the North-West servicing Tasmania Medicare Licence for MRI machine at the North-West Regional Hospital. Federal Funding for Community Hospital

the

Mersey

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Community Infrastructure $3 million Burnie Waterfront precinct $1.8 million Ulverstone Wharf and Showground $1 million Mersey Bluff, Devonport $200,000 St Brigids Hall, Wynyard $300,000 King Island TV reception

Sport and Recreation

$750,000 Ulverstone to Turners Beach pathway $125,000 Somerset Soccer Club $720,000 Circular Head Community Recreation Centre $30,000 CH Little Athletics Centre $200,000 Port Sorell Surf Club extension

Budget Investing in Australia’s Future

Investing $40 billion in three new funds to build a strong, modern and prosperous Australia Building Australia Fund – $20 billion for roads, rail, ports and communications infrastructure Education Investment Fund – $11 billion to fund universities, TAFEs and education needs Health and Hospital Fund – $10 billion to fund the renewal of Australian hospitals and medical research budgbottom.indd 1

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For more information go to www.alp.org.au

26/05/2008 10:17:34 AM

The Budget Bottom Line

Sid Sidebottom MP - ...for a fair go in Braddon

1300 135 547 Ph 03 6431 1333 Fax 03 6431 5680 Email sid.sidebottom.MP@aph.gov.au Shop 2, 32 Wilmot Street, Burnie 7320 Tasmania PO Box 908 Burnie

Budget support for families Baby Bonus

From July 1, 2008, the baby bonus will increase to $5000 for eligible families. It will now be means tested and available only to families with an income up to and including $150,000. It will also now be paid in 13 fortnightly instalments over the six months from the date of claim.

Personal income tax cuts will ease the pressure on working families in Braddon. The cuts will help families meet rising costs which they can’t control. From July 1, 2008, families can expect to receive -

Child Care Tax Rebate

From July 1, 2008, the rate of Child Care Tax Rebate (CCTR) will increase from 30% to 50% of out-of-pocket expenses for approved child care costs. The rebate will now also be paid quarterly, with the first payment from October, 2008. Eligible families will be able to claim a 50% refundable tax offset every year for key education expenses up to: $750 for each child undertaking primary studies (maximum refund of $375 per child, per year) ■ $1500 for each child undertaking secondary studies (maximum refund of $750 per child, per year) Families receiving Family Tax Benefit (Part A) with children attending primary or secondary school or whose children receive Youth Allowance or another relevant payment will be eligible for the Education Tax Refund.

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$20.19 each week with a single income of $40,000

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$21.15 each week with a single income of $80,000; and $31.73 each week for families on a combined income of $100,000 with the primary earner on an income of $60,000.

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Education Tax Refund

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Tax breaks ease pressure on NW families

The education tax refund will apply to expenses incurred from July 1, 2008 and will be claimed upon lodgement of a 2008-09 income tax return.

Increase to low-income tax offset

From July 1, 2008 part-time workers will be able to earn up to $14,000 without paying tax – up from $11,000 currently. By 2010-11 a typical secondincome earner will be able to work 14 hours per week without paying any tax.

Did You Know? Helping to reach the Aussie Dream From July 1, 2008, if you are saving for your first home, the Government will contribute 17 per cent for the first $5000 you save each year. This is for each individual saver, helping to improve housing affordability and reach the great Australian dream.

Juvenile Diabetes From November 1, 2008, eligible people under 18-years old with Type 1 Diabetes will be able to access a subsidy between $500 and $2500 (based on gross family income) to purchase an insulan pump .

Delivering for Working Families A $55 billion Working Families Support Package

Budget

Tax cuts for working families valued at $47 billion from 2008–2012 Kevin Rudd’s new 50 per cent Education Tax Refund worth $4.4 billion Lifting the Childcare Tax Rebate from 30 per cent to 50 per cent budgbottom.indd 2

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For more information go to www.alp.org.au

26/05/2008 10:17:40 AM

The Budget Bottom Line

Sid Sidebottom MP - ...for a fair go in Braddon

1300 135 547 Ph 03 6431 1333 Fax 03 6431 5680 Email sid.sidebottom.MP@aph.gov.au Shop 2, 32 Wilmot Street, Burnie 7320 Tasmania PO Box 908 Burnie

Sid and Kevin Rudd deliver $90m plus

HE Rudd Government and Sid Sidebottom delivered a $90 million budget bonanza for the people of Braddon on May 13. The budget measures represent the delivery of a majority of Labor’s promises from the 2007 election campaign. This is one of the best budget results ever for our region. Funding commitments stretch from one end of Braddon to the other, and across all sectors of the community. Sid was pleased to see so many of the great projects in Braddon recognised in Wayne Swan and Kevin Rudd’s first budget.

“This is one of the best budget results ever for our region.’’ “It must be recognised that we are delivering a majority of our commitments in our first year in government,” Sid said. “This is a result of the hard work of community groups, councils and other key people who put so much into our region. Projects listed for funding under the $176 million Better Regions program

include $3 million for the Burnie waterfront and cultural precinct and $1 million for development of the Mersey Bluff at Devonport. Circular Head’s community recreation centre will get a $750,000 boost, and $200,000 will go to the Port Sorell Surf Life Saving Club. The Ulverstone showground and wharf redevelopment will kick-off with $1.8 million, with another $750,000 for a walkway from Turners Beach to Ulverstone.

King Island will receive $171,000 for a food and recreation trail, while $200,000 will go into a new multi-purpose community centre at Wynyard. Another $500,000 has been allocated for a rail crossing at Oakleigh Park in Burnie, with $125,000 to revamp the Somerset Soccer Club. On top of the Better Regions funds, King Island will get a digital television project worth $300,000 to deliver five channels to many people on the island.

Did you know? Budget at a glance Baby Bonus

Green Loans

Seniors Transport Concessions

From July 1, 2008, the Baby Bonus will increase to $5000 for eligible families.

By early 2009, eligible families will be able to apply for Green Loans of up to $10,000 to improve the energy and water efficiency of their homes. Items for purchase under the loan scheme include solar panels, rainwater tanks and grey water recycling systems, insulation and shading devices, solar, heatpump and high efficiency gas hot water heaters and lighting.

By January 1, 2009, all State Government Seniors Card holders will be able to access travel concessions on public transport anywhere in Australia

Landlords and Renters From late 2008, landlords will be entitled to a rebate of up to $500 to install insulation. Insulation can slash more than $300 off annual energy bills.

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Returning to work From July 1, 2008, part-time workers can earn up to $14,000 without paying tax - up from $11,000 currently

26/05/2008 10:17:43 AM

The Budget Bottom Line

Sid Sidebottom MP - ...for a fair go in Braddon

1300 135 547 Ph 03 6431 1333 Fax 03 6431 5680 Email sid.sidebottom.MP@aph.gov.au Shop 2, 32 Wilmot Street, Burnie 7320 Tasmania PO Box 908 Burnie

The budget for seniors

I’m on a Disability Support Pension. What do I get? Utilities Allowance The Rudd Government has extended the Utilities Allowance to those on a Disability Support Pension for the first time ever.

Telephone Allowance The Rudd Government has committed $5.2 billion in additional funding for seniors in the budget – this is three and a half times more than the amount pledged by the Howard Government in the 2007-08 budget. Senior political reporter Laurie Oakes noted this week that claims seniors got nothing in the budget was patently false “Seniors got a $500 bonus and an increase in the utilities allowance from $107 to $500. That means pensioners get an extra $900. Low income “working families” got a bit over $1000. Comparable treatment” Mr Oakes said in his political colum, in the Mercury Newspaper. As a result of the budget seniors will benefit from the following initiatives: Utilities Allowance From March 20, 2008, the Utilities Allowance increased from $107.20 per year to $500 for eligible seniors. It is now also paid quarterly.

Telephone Allowance Singles and couples receiving the aged pension or holding a Commonwealth Seniors Health card are entitled to an increase in the Telephone Allowance from $88 to $132 if they have a home internet connection. Indexation The Government will index pensions by the Consumer Price Index, or 25 per cent of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings – whichever is greater.

People currently receiving a Disability Support Pension are entitled to an increase in Telephone Allowance from $88 to $132 if they have a home internet connection.

Disability Services The North-West Coast will also share in $1 billion in additional funding allocated for disability services across the country.

Seniors Concession Allowance The Seniors Concession Allowance has increased from $218 to $500 per year for holders on a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

Volunteers From July 1, 2008, volunteer organisations will be able to apply for petrol vouchers under the Federal Government’s Volunteer Grants Program. Breastfeeding Mums By December 2008 breastfeeding mums will be able to call a national toll-free 24 hour hotline to access advice on breastfeeding. One Stop Green Shop You will soon be able to access a One Stop Green Shop online, which offers information on all federal, state and local government environmental programs that promote sustainability at home. Local Sporting Champions From July 1, 2008, junior athletes, both individuals and teams, will be able to apply for grants of up to $500 or $3000 respectively to cover costs associated with travel to significant sporting events, or to purchase equipment.

Supporting pensioners Pensioners Supporting

Seniors lump sum payment Eligible seniors will receive a $500 lump sum payment, in the same way they received it last year. This payment will be made before June 30.

Did you know?

(pensioners more than $400 better off)

1200

$ Telephone Allow ance (internet)

$ 1132

1200

Utilities Allow ance Seniors Bonus

900

$ 695 600

600

300

BeforeHoward Under John

UnderAfter Kevin Rudd

Prime Minister promises inquiry into finance for seniors Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has promised to examine ways to deliver increased financial security in the longer term to seniors. The Government is establishing a comprehensive inquiry into the

whole of the taxation and welfare systems. This inquiry responds to the recommendations of the recent Senate Report into cost of living pressures on seniors.

The Budget Bottom Line

Sid Sidebottom MP - ...for a fair go in Braddon

1300 135 547 Ph 03 6431 1333 Fax 03 6431 5680 Email sid.sidebottom.MP@aph.gov.au Shop 2, 32 Wilmot Street, Burnie 7320 Tasmania PO Box 908 Burnie budgbottom.indd 4

Printed by Print Domain, 36 Smith Street, Smithton, Tas 7330 Authorised by Sid Sidebottom, 684 Forth Rd, Forth, Tasmania, 7310

26/05/2008 10:17:48 AM