Jodie Campbell (Bass, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak today on Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2008-2009 and cognate bills—the Rudd government’s first budget, the first Labor budget in some 13 years and a budget of which I am extremely proud. Past governments have spoken of fiscal responsibility and yet failed to deliver again and again, come budget time. The end result of that has been increased pressure on families and workers across my electorate of Bass, who have suffered through interest rate rise after interest rate rise.

If you want examples of mortgage stress and families’ budgets being stressed to breaking point then look no further than Northern Tasmania. That is why the Rudd government’s budget has been so welcome. The tax cuts promised during the election and delivered in the budget will help ease the pressures on families, workers and those doing it really tough in Bass. I know, because families with young children in child care are telling me that the increase in the childcare tax rebate from 30 per cent to 50 per cent is a practical and well-targeted initiative.

So too is the education tax rebate. Families across Northern Tasmania want the absolute best for their children. They want to offer them the greatest support possible to achieve their dreams, be that in a trade or going on to further study. The education tax rebate offers some assistance with the costs involved in making that possible. This budget strikes a balance between providing for the here and now—the very real and everyday pressures and the costs of living—and providing for the future. There will come a time when the mining boom is over, when we as a nation need to be looking elsewhere for our financial security. This budget provides for the future. Investment in infrastructure is being targeted, not to win elections but to secure our future as a nation. All this has been achieved against a backdrop of promises kept.

I campaigned across the unique electorate of Bass, talking to communities, individuals, councils, sporting groups, churches and the like. I looked each and every person I met in the eye and made commitments to them knowing that they would actually be met. Launceston City Council was promised $2 million towards the Launceston Aquatic Centre. It was delivered. So too, I am pleased to inform the House, was half a million dollars promised for Launceston’s regional tennis centre. Right across Northern Tasmania there are projects which can move forward with confidence, thanks to the Prime Minister and the Treasurer’s determination. The promises made during the heat of an election campaign actually count for something.

The Scottsdale Bowling Club can look forward to a new all-weather, synthetic bowling green—$170,000 will see that become a reality. For the Tamar Rowing Club, there is $150,000 towards their jetty upgrade. The community of Low Head and George Town has received $750,000 for a cycling and recreation trail. This funding will ensure our recreation facilities are more accessible and attractive to the wider community. Launceston City and its thousands of tourist visitors will benefit greatly from a $500,000 contribution towards the iconic Cataract Gorge walkways. Windsor Park will be redeveloped, thanks to a $370,000 contribution from the Commonwealth.

Investment in sport and recreation is an investment in the health and wellbeing of the community. This includes the upgrade of Blackstone Park, with the help of a $170,000 funding commitment. The Bridport walking trail is to be extended and linked, with $150,000 from the federal government, while a feasibility study will be undertaken into the proposed George Town Sports Complex, thanks to a $25,000 grant.

For communities, these programs are of vital importance and they now know and understand that when this government says it is going to do something it actually does it. It is something even the opposition has responded to. In April last year, before the election was even called, I stood on the banks of the Tamar River in Launceston, within throwing distance of ageing and dilapidated levees, and made a commitment that a Rudd Labor government would commit the $13 million that the Launceston City Council needed to upgrade them. Only after this did the Liberals promise to match that funding. It was budgeted for in last year’s budget.

A large part of economic management is about providing infrastructure to grow and secure communities, particularly regional communities like Bass. One hundred and forty-three million dollars was promised and will be produced over the coming years for road, rail and transport infrastructure in Northern Tasmania. Fifteen million dollars will see the Bass Strait Passenger Equalisation Scheme increased and the Freight Equalisation Scheme extended to both Flinders Island and King Island. Also, $1.2 million has been provided for black spot funding, while councils in my electorate will share in almost $2¼  million in Roads to Recovery funding. Northern Tasmanians will benefit also from an $18 million rail upgrade and a $4½ million commitment to the Midland Highway. As a government, we understand the importance of safe road and rail infrastructure to communities and industry.

Labor has a clear vision for this country. The key to realising the vision is working with the state governments to end the cycle of blame, particularly regarding health. Ten million dollars was committed to improving patient transport throughout the state. Seven million dollars will see a new radiation oncology service for Tasmania’s north or north-west.

By the end of this month the Tasmanian government will receive $15 million for an integrated care centre in Launceston. Again, this was an election commitment—one which means an enormous amount to me personally and one which means an enormous amount to the people who rely on this facility, together with their families. I am pleased that the Prime Minister and the Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, after having visited the Launceston General Hospital and the renal unit, took on board and listened to my concerns and, more importantly, to the concerns of the community—people like the director of the renal unit, Professor Rob Fassett, and the nursing unit manager, Rose Mace, who have both been extremely strong advocates for many years now and instrumental in their long, hard fight for this new facility. I thank them for their commitment and their patience.

Robert Wilkinson, who has been a long-time user of the renal unit and who really has lobbied and championed this cause, together with his Lions Club, the Lions Club of Riverside, who are raising funds to help furnish the integrated care centre, are to be congratulated. Angela Sheehan, the ward clerk of the renal unit, first raised this with me out of concern for the many patients of the unit—the lack of provision of space, the inadequate mix of well and chronic patients and not being able to take any more patients due to the fact that the unit is pushed to capacity, and not being able to make provision for tourists who are visiting the area. I sincerely thank Angela for her compassion.

In conclusion, I add my voice to those who have spoken before in praise of this budget. Those families, workers and people doing it tough who most need assistance have been offered it by this budget. Pensioners, for example, will be $400 a year better off after 30 June, and those communities most in need of funding and developmental health have received it. This budget is the budget the Australian people, the people of Bass, have been waiting for and have deserved for all the years while those now on the other side of the House simply served their own political ambitions. The Liberals squandered record surpluses, became the highest taxing government in 40 years and flagrantly ignored economic warnings, with dire results. Their reckless and irresponsible spending is something that workers and families in Bass who are doing it tough will be paying for for some time to come. The Rudd government’s first budget is the first step to securing our great nation’s future prosperity. As I said at the outset, that is something that I am tremendously proud to be a part of.

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