THE BottomLine
Issue 12 June 2012
Budget Special
Federal Member for Braddon Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
In this issue... Aged Care Reform
Carbon Price Household Assistance Plan
Budget
Families and Health Care
Agriculture and Forestry
Recently, the Federal Labor Government announced a $3.7 billion investment to build a modern aged care system. This investment in our region will:
Business and Employment Development
Disability Support
ensure more people get to keep their family home and no one will be forced into an emergency sale help older people to live independently in their own home longer by providing a range of high quality in-home care choices; ; and create a single gateway for all aged care services making them easier to access and navigate. Under this plan, older Australians will now contribute to the cost of their aged care based on their capacity to pay – making the system fairer.
care they already use. 1800 900 554 or visit www.agedcareaustralia.gov.au
People with disability, their families and carers in the region have welcomed the news that the Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will 2013. The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, announced that the NDIS will be launched in up to year. The Federal Government stage of the NDIS in the recent cover about 10,000 people with profound disability. The launch will commence a full
program is a Federal Labor for young people aged 12-18 towards the cost of travel, Grants of $500 for eligible individuals and $3000 for eligible teams are awarded to successful applicants.
recipient Phoebe Djakic
Commission. Sid thanks local supporters got the policy this far, but the work isn’t over yet. Sid knows local disability advocates will keep telling their story and campaigning for change. Together we can make sure people with disability in our and support they deserve.
Carbon Price Household Assistance Plan Income Tax The Carbon Price - How It Works Cuts Our biggest polluters pay the government for the they produce
Smart companies switch to clean energy to save costs
Av er ag e pr ic e im pa ct fo r a ty pi ca l fa m ily Electricity $3.30 per week
The Government will invest in clean and renewable energy
Some companies will pass on some costs Permanent Goverment assistance for average price increases (see table below)
Carbon will fall by 160 million tonnes in 2020
A healthier environment and a stronger economy for you, your children and grandchildren
Food Less than $1 per we ek Gas $1.50 per week Average Househol d Assistance $10.10 per week BASED ON THE TREASURY MODELLING,THE PRICE IMPACT OF A $23 A TONNE CARBON PRICE.TH IS IS AN AVERAGE BASED ON ALL AUSTRALIAN HOU SEHOLDS. MANY HOUSEHOLD S WILL HAVE A LOWER THA N AVER AGE CARBON PRIC E IMPACT, AND THE REFORE WILL NEED LESS ASS ISTA NCE .
The Government has increased the tax free threshold from $6,000 to $18,200. For further please call 1800 057 590 Annual Income
Tax Cut
From 1 July 2012 $20,000
$600
$25,000
$503
$30,000
$303
$35,000
$303
$40,000
$303
$45,000
$303
$50,000
$303
$55,000
$303
$60,000
$303
$65,000
$303
$70,000
$253
$75,000
$128
$80,000
$3
How the Household Assistance Plan Helps You Pensioners and Self Funded (with a CSHC Health Card)
Over May and June, eligible single pensioners will get an upfront, tax-free payment of about $250 and pensioner couples about $380 combined. From March 2013, fortnightly or quarterly payments will go up by $338 a year for singles, and $510 a year combined for couples. This is a permanent increase to the pension.
Families with children
Over May and June, eligible families will receive an upfront, lump sum payment. Families receiving Family Tax Part A will get up to $110 extra per child and Family Tax Part B recipients will get up to $69. From July 2013, fortnightly or quarterly payments will be permanently indexed.
Single Parents
Single parents will get an extra $289 per year in increased income support. They will also receive assistance through increased family payments. On average, a single parent household with a private income of $10,000 per year will receive $446 in increased payments to meet cost increases due to the carbon price, of $330 per year. These households will be $116 per year
Allowance Recipients
Carer Payment, ABSTUDY, Bereavement Allowance, Circumstance Relief Payment, Parental Payment Partnered, Sickness Allowance, Special Widow Allowance, and Seniors Supplement recipients will all receive assistance, which will be permanent and increase over
Tax Payers Earning Less than $80,000
Tax payers earning less than $80,000 will receive tax cuts, with most receiving at least $300 (see table above).
Students
The amount students get will depend on their rate and type of payment (e.g. Austudy, Abstudy, or Youth Allowance). On average, a student on youth allowance with no other income will receive $177 in assistance to help deal with increased costs due to the carbon price, of $117 per year. They will be $60 per year
Job Seekers
Single jobseekers will get up to $218 extra per year while couples will recieve an extra $390 per year combined. On average, a household with two jobseekers and a private income of $20,000 per year will receive $390 in increased payments to help deal with increased costs of $329 per year due to the carbon price. This household will be $61 per year
Low Income Earners
Some low income households will be eligible for supplementary payment of up to $300.
Families and Health Care Health Insurance Victory New Centre of Excellence for Working Families for Mersey Hospital In March, Health Minister Tanya Plibersek, State Health Minister, Michelle O’Byrne and Sid inspected the University of historic victory for working men and women in our region who for too long have been forced to subsidise the private health insurance of higher income earners through their taxes. Individuals earning $83,000 or less, or families earning
Hospital. The Federal Labor Government invested $1.48 million to establish the centre, which is being used to train medical, nursing
income increases, the taxpayer funded subsidy decreases. Singles earning more than $129,000 a year and families earning $258,000 Approximately 97% of people in the North West and West Coast of This reform will ensure that health funding will be targeted to where it is needed most, providing more hospital beds, new medicines and training for doctors and nurses.
Paid Parental Leave More than 450 new parents on the North West and West Coasts of Tasmania have applied for Paid Parental Leave since the Government introduced the historic scheme over a year ago. The scheme provides eligible working parents with up to 18 about $590 a week before tax). For many low paid, casual and this type of support. www.familyassist.gov.au or phone 13 61 50.
Sid performs some delicate surgery at the new Centre of Excellence with advice from Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek and State Health Minister Michelle O’Byrne - Medical students note his delicate technique!
Help with Child Care Costs Sid urges families using child care in the region to make sure they are not missing out on the Australian Government’s $18.1 4,610 families using child care in the region, up to 550 families could be missing out on these payments. The Child Care Rebate has been increased from 30 to 50 per cent of parents’ out-of-pocket costs and the maximum amount payable per child has risen from $4,354 to $7,500. Families now and paid directly to their child care service provider for an on 13 61 50 or the website www.mychild.gov.au including a user
Respite Services for Carers
“This funding will ensure that carers
Sid was pleased with the announcement in March that three their funding guaranteed for an extra two years. Baptcare Ltd - Karingal Carer Support Service
catch up with friends and know that the people they care for are being
THE Budget BottomLine Sid’s byte
number of long-term challenges. The two are not and cannot be separated. Now, more than ever,
think of transport and related infrastructure for instance. How many ports? Where? What infrastructure is needed We, as a community, must decide before too long and then act with the future in mind. Today’s decisions literally our own backyards.
Budget a Boost for Braddon Families and Small Business The Federal Labor Government’s 2012/13 Budget is good news for local families and businesses. We know that some families are struggling to manage their own budgets and we are delivering on our promise to relieve some of the pressure by more fairly sharing the Up to 9,100 local families will by now have received extra support by way of the Household Assistance Package and those earning less than $80,000 a year will be paying less tax from 1 July 2012. A typical family will receive $529 in assistance from these measures.
New Schoolkids Bonus » 7,400 local families will receive $410 for each child in primary school and $820 for each child in high school. This amounts to $7.83 million in total assistance to families in the region. » of Term 1 and Term 3. » » parents. »
Small Business Assistance » From 1 July 2012, small businesses will be able to instantly write » deducted immediately. » Companies that incur losses from 2012/13 will be able to carry of tax previously paid. » Funding for The Small Business Advisory Service will be extended for another four years to assist up to 9,600 small businesses in the region.
New $600 Increases to Family Payments » 9,000 local families will receive an increase of up to $600 a year » Families receiving the maximum rate or part of the maximum rate of FTB Part A with two or more children will receive an extra $600 a year, or an extra $300 a year if they have one child. » Families receiving the base rate of FTB Part A with two or more children will receive an extra $200 a year, or an extra $100 a year if they have one child.
Extra Money to Help with the Bills (Supplementary Assistance) » Vital assistance will be delivered to 7,170 local single parents, young people and the unemployed to help with the costs of » Singles will receive $210 while couples will receive $350. » The lump sum payments will be paid twice yearly in March and September - $105 per instalment for singles and $87.50 per instalment for each person who is a member of a couple.
Dental Health » oral health and improve access to dental services. regional, rural and remote areas and improve access to services »
More Support for Families with Teenagers » The cost of raising children does not fall as children get older. » to $4,200 for eligible local families with teenagers aged 16-19, if » This boost will help about 3,200 local families over the next encourage teenagers to stay in school.
THE Budget BottomLine
2012/13 Federal Labor Budget Overview •
the North West Cancer Clinic. He also noted that the MRI machine for the centre has been put out to tender. The Clinic is schedule • • $1.28 million to build a professional development centre at the Mount St. Vincent Nursing Home in Ulverstone.
• age in 2013 and 70 years of age in 2015. • Latest census data shows 16% of people in Braddon are over the age of 60 and therefore eligible for these screenings.
Employment, Training and skills A nu • $225.1 million to be invested over four years, which will help parents on income support receive training and skills to enter or return to the workforce. • skill shortage. •
• •
• Labor’s historic new $3.7 billion funding commitment to aged care reform will see more in-home care and support so people can live independently longer and not be forced to sell the family home to pay for a bond. •
Transport and Infrastructure • • • • • •
$15.7 million to upgrade the Melba Flats to Burnie rail line. $1.32 million to eliminate dangerous black spots on our local roads $38.7 million to assist councils across the State to maintain and upgrade their local roads. $650 000 to upgrade security at Devonport Airport Federal Labor has previously increased annual infrastructure spending per Tasmanian from $157 to $264.
Agriculture and Forestry Glenn McGrath at Agfest Agfest is one of the major agricultural events in Australia which has been showcasing the best of rural Tasmania since 1983. family event and this year saw more than 60,000 people visit over One of the special visitors to Agfest this year was the former Test fast bowling great Glenn McGrath, more recently co-founder care nurses across Australia and raise breast awareness in young Australian women. Glenn, himself a product of a western New South Wales wheat and sheep farm, is travelling rural regions of the country in his role as Australian Year of the Farmer Ambassador. He sees this as a great opportunity to raise awareness and celebrate the rural sector.
Youth Week Focus on Ag In his capacity as Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Week in Western Australia holding key discussions with State Government He also launched
The strength of Tasmania’s high-performing dairy industry has 2012 ANZ Dairy Business of the Year Award. Sid joined state MP The Bradleys and Archers achieved a very impressive 20.3 per cent return on assets – which is outstanding in any business – and their successful partnership is already in the process of building a new dairy on the property to increase cow numbers from 500 to 900. Sid believes the success of Rosemount owners Rob and Jo Bradley and share farmers Grant and Kim Archer could provide a template for further expansion of the industry in the Midlands.
project that gives students a and a pathway to a rewarding career in the
Jarrahdale
management industries. Sid also met with WA Minister for the Environment and Water, Bill Marmion, to discuss Western Australia’s Regional Forestry Agreement and forest management planning.
Farm Manager Jamie Clarke of Rosemount Dairy Farm, explains to Sid and State Member for Lyons, Rebecca White, how Rob and Jo Bradley and Grant and Kim
The annual Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARES) Outlook Conference held in March is the pre-eminent event on the Australian primary industry calendar. In his keynote speech as Federal Parliamentary Secretary, Sid emphasised the bright This underscores the need to foster and support our next crop of young Aussie farmers. You can access a copy of Sid’s full ARBARES speech at
Business and Employment Small Business Minister and Sid at Mt Gnomon Farm… In April, Minister for Small Business Brendan O’Connor and Sid visited Mount Gnomon Farm in Penguin to learn about their business and discuss the support available from the Australian Government. Mt Gnomon Farm is an business where ethically raised, quality pork and beef small goods are produced and sold locally and on the mainland. The farm, owned by Guy Robertson and Eliza Wood, specialises in rare breeds of farm animals including Wessex Saddleback pigs, Shropshire sheep and Dairy Shorthorn The farm is an extensive and user of social media and the Minister was able to discuss the the NBN will bring when it is rolled out. The NBN is already transforming the way businesses operate in places like Smithton and
…and the Pub
Mt Gnomon Farm owner Guy Robertson, Minister for Small Business Brendan O’Connor MP and Sid check out the new arrivals
Minister O’Connor talking to business owners at the ‘Pollies in the Pub’ event at Molly Malones, Devonport
The Minister and Sid also hosted a ‘Pollies in the Pub’ gathering at Molly Malones, Devonport. In this informal small business proprietors had the opportunity to chat with the Minister and Sid about the challenges and facing their enterprises. Mr O’Connor said the Federal Labor Government had a range of to help small businesses. From July 1, the Government is increasing the instant asset threshold from $1,000 to $6,500 for small businesses, and they will be able to write any eligible business asset up to $6,500. There is no limit to the number of assets up to $6,500 that can be
$3.4 Million for Jobs and Investment in the North West Sid welcomed the announcement of new investment in Braddon enterprises by the Federal Labor Government (see table below). Ten businesses in Braddon have been successful in securing grants through the Tasmanian and Investment Fund, which is almost $20 million of investment across the state to help create 260 jobs. The is designed to assist our economy to maintain jobs at a in to the challenges facing the forestry industry and the closure of some manufacturing enterprises. For more on the Australian Government’s support for Australian business, visit www.ausindustry.gov.au.
in Circular Head
Sid was delighted to open the inaugural Circular Head and Expo in Smithton in April. The Expo was a joint of the Circular Head Council, Forest Industries, Employment and Training Services, the Federal Department of Human Services with funding from the Federal Department of Employment and Workplace It brought together government, providers, employers and the public under the same roof. It provided people with the opportunity to access job vacancies, training and on related local support services. Sid was pleased that the Expo focused on youth and workers and presented them with genuine for career choices and by James McCormack, DEEWR Local Area Employment Co-ordinator development.
Applicant Org/s
Grant Amt Proposed (Inc GST) New Jobs
AJL Heavy Equipments $69,190 Pty Ltd
3
East Devonport
$678,040
8
Smithton
Burnie Print And Design
$87,293
3
Burnie
Flowerdale Flowers (Tas) Pty Ltd
$440,000
13
Wynyard
Harvest Moon
$218,625
15
Forth
Petuna Pty Ltd
$660,000
14
East Devonport
Priority Supplies
$808,131
24
Burnie
S E R S Sheetmetal Works
$274,956
10
Burnie
Sewell Sweepers
$123,896
5
Burnie
4
Wynyard
Brothers Pty Ltd
Southern Bulbs Pty Ltd $55,000 Total $3,415,131
99
THE Three New Trade Centres
Did You Know that….
In April and May, Sid opened three new Trade Training Centres (TTC) at Cradle Coast (Marist Regional College) and Circular Head TTC (Smithton High School – Montagu Road and Circular Head School – Nelson Street). The Australian Government has provided a total of $5.9 million to fund the Centres as part of the Trade Training Centres in Schools Program. The Trade Training Centres are already having a hugely impact on the schools, their students and the broader community. The Cradle Coast TTC will provide industry relevant training and in hospitality and food processing. The Circular Head Montagu Road centre will training and in the electro-technology and engineering sectors. Training in aquaculture, agriculture and will be available at the Nelson Street Campus. Sid congratulated all of those involved in making the projects a success and applauded their commitment to improving the and training pathways for our young people. Further about the Training Centres and all schools funded under the Program is available at: www.tradetrainingcentres.deewr.gov.au.
People who hold a Diploma or Advanced Diploma earn on average around $200 a week more than those with no post school This means an extra $400,000 or more over their working lives. Federal Labor’s Skills for All Australians plan will give people in the region without a post school every opportunity to undertake further and training to get a paid job without having to pay large upfront fees. For more on how the plan might you visit
Sid exploring the new undercover area at Havenview Primary School next to
Sid, Archbishop Doyle and Principal Sue Chen watch as trainee Isaac Traughton prepares a tasty dish.
Sid with Smithton High School students Cacie Keogh, Hayley Fisher, Callum Poke, Carlton Heres and Jarod Elphinstone at the Montagu Road Campus opening in Smithton
Sid, Archbishop Adrian Doyle and
New at Havenview Primary School in Burnie and St. Brigid’s Catholic School in Wynyard funded under the Federal Labor Government’s (BER) program are going to both students and teachers for to come. Havenview Primary celebrated the opening of a $925,000 covered outdoor learning area and refurbishment of the hall while St. Brigid’s opened their $2,160,000 library, area and classroom refurbishments.
North West NBN Rollout
Sid welcomed the announcement by the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard and the Minister for Broadband and Senator Stephen Conroy in March, that businesses in the North West and West Coast of Tasmania will be included in the three year roll out plan of the (NBN). This means that 37,000 homes and businesses in the region will progressively have access to NBN services over the roll out period between 1 April 2012 and 30 June 2015. To out when the NBN will be coming to your area visit the searchable map on the NBN Co website www.nbnco.com.au/rollout/ and enter your address. Authorised by
SID SIDEBOTTOM MP Federal Member for Braddon
Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Harris Building, Level 2, 51 Cattley St (PO Box 908) BURNIE TAS 7320
1300 135 547 or 6431 1333 sid.sidebottom.MP@aph.gov.au
www.sidsidebottom.com Printed by Print Domain- 36 Smith St, SMITHTON TAS 7330