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TUESDAY, 16 MAY, 2023
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WALK THIS WAY
It’s a big week for the region’s schools. In addition to being Education Week, this Friday is National Walk Safely to School Day, with Stratf tford f Primary ryy School one of several schools part rticipating. t EDUCATION WEEK FEATURE Pages 13-22
Photo: Tom Parry
SERVICES QUESTIONED PAGE 6
DARGO JUDGEMENT PAGE 9
Budget to benefit Zoe Askew
A STOUSH has brewed between Labor and The Nationals as to whether the 2023/24 Federal Budget will deliver for Gippsland. Treasurer Jim Chalmers officially handed down the Budget last Tuesday, May 9. Labor Senator for Victoria Raff Ciccone said the families and businesses across Gippsland are set to benefit. “This is a Budget that delivers on our promises and provides cost of living relief for communities in Gippsland,” Senator Ciccone said. Among the announcements are a new Energy Price Relief Plan that aims to provide relief for more than five million households. Around 1.3 million households in Victoria are expected to be eligible for a $500 rebate in 2023-24, with $250 from the Commonwealth applied as a reduction in electricity bills and the $250 contribution by Victoria as a direct
payment through the 2023 Power Saving Bonus Payment. “I know that our Energy Price Relief Plan will make a real difference in household budgets - helping families in Gippsland to get ahead,” Senator Ciccone said. “We are also making a historic investment to strengthen Medicare, tripling bulk billing incentives, which will see immediate benefits to more than 11 million Australians.” The government has approved strengthening Australia’s biosecurity safeguards, with an additional billion dollars expected to be provided over four years to reinforce the system, including greater regulation, surveillance and international engagement. A “biosecurity protection levy” on Australian producers of agricultural, forestry and fishery products from the middle of next year, which is expected to raise about $150 million over three years, will partly offset the cost of the measure.
Commonwealth national parks and marine reserves will receive a $355 million dollar funding boost over four years, while $121 million will be spent over four years setting up the new Environment Protection Australia agency, which aims to strengthen the enforcement of federal environmental laws. There is also $51 million in the budget to set up “Environment Information Australia”, which the government intends to become a new authoritative source of high-quality environmental information. Low-interest loans will be offered to households looking to improve their energy efficiency, and $300 million will go towards energy efficiency upgrades in social housing. $1.9 billion over five years will be spent on measures to improve the lives and economic opportunities available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The federal government will also appoint an interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner at a cost of $1.7 million.
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All enterprises with an annual revenue of less than $50 million will be eligible for a bonus tax discount to assist them electrify. The measure is expected to help around 3.8 million small and medium-sized businesses at a cost of $314 million over the next four years. Dr Chalmers said that the program was just one example of how the federal government was delivering for Gippsland. “We made a promise to the Australian people that after a wasted decade, we would work hard every day,” the Treasurer said. “This Budget is about delivering a stronger foundation for a better future. “Labor is delivering the positive and lasting change that Australians voted for by making child care cheaper, expanding paid parental leave, delivering fee-free TAFE, saving households money on their power bills, making medicines cheaper and getting wages moving again.” Continued on Page 4
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