Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Over the past 20 months since my election, I have been working on behalf the people of Dobell to deliver a stronger economy, more opportunity and greater investment in our region. Since September 2013 I have delivered approximately $80 million worth of federal projects and programs. Investment in Dobell demonstrates our commitment to families, senior Australians and small business. I am pleased to say that major infrastructure commitments, such as the upgrade of the Ridgeway, Jensens Road and Norah Head boat ramp, are complete. For Central Coast motorists, work on the NorthConnex linking the M1 and M2 is now underway and is scheduled for completion in 2019. This will mean safer and faster travel times for our commuters, allowing them to spend more time at home with their families and loved ones.

The planning stages of the Tuggerah Sports Precinct—envisaged to become the Central Coast's largest sports complex and capable of holding regional, state and international tournaments—have commenced. This project, along with the recently completed Lisarow Sports Precinct, is delivering a real boost to the Central Coast's sports-tourism prospects. As I said in my maiden speech, I want to see the Central Coast develop into the sports-tourism capital of New South Wales. I believe we are well on our way to achieving this goal.

Our youth are receiving enhanced support through our $3.3 million Youth Skills and Employment Centre, and there is even more support on the way with stage 2 of this development—a trade skills centre with a $2 million contract for construction in Dobell's north later this year. The government's Work for the Dole and Green Army programs are providing greater opportunities for local job seekers. These programs are helping young job seekers gain the practical knowledge and experience necessary to secure employment. We are looking after our environment with real practical work underway on Tuggerah Lakes. The foreshore at Canton Beach has been restored, and immediately the local community has seen the benefits through increased the risk. All this has been achieved since the last election.

I acknowledge that there is more work to be done. We must continue to strive towards a better future, complete with more opportunity and greater reward. A stronger economy is the key to almost everything we wish for as a community. If we want more stable jobs that provide meaningful work, we need to support stronger small business, provide better childcare arrangements and ensure that all of this is underpinned by a strong national economy. This budget does exactly that. We are repairing Labor's debt and deficit disaster and have set the budget on a path to surplus. Over the next four years the deficit will reduce each and every year from $35.1 billion in 2015-16 to $6.9 billion in 2018-19. Any new spending in this budget meets the government's commitment to redirect funding to investments that boost Australia's productivity and participation. We are committed to returning the budget to surplus as soon as possible. If families and businesses must live within their means, then it is only right and proper that the government does the same.

We are building on our strong foundations with a responsible budget focused on small business, better child care and measures that improve fairness. This budget is about helping Australians have a go. It is about helping mums and dads get back into the workforce after starting a family; it is about support for those who want to start a new small business; it is about security for our senior Australians in retirement who have worked hard in their entire lives to build our great nation. It is about building a stronger economy so that everyone can get ahead; it is about a safe and secure Australia where we can go about our daily lives without fear of attack from those who disagree with our freedoms, ideals and way of life.

This year's budget delivers on our commitment to support families by making child care more simple, affordable, accessible and flexible. One of the many highlights in my role as the federal representative is meeting our youngest Australians. From childcare centres to high schools, I support measures to ensure that our children have the opportunity to achieve what they want out of life. For many Australian families, especially those on the Central Coast, the decision to go back to work after having a child is not a choice, but a necessity. Stable jobs and accessible child care is essential in ensuring that families have the tools to provide for their families. This is why supporting early education and opportunities for young Australians to learn is essential.

This government is investing an additional $3.5 billion over five years on childcare assistance, including a new childcare subsidy. The childcare subsidy will provide assistance to meet the cost of childcare for parents who are working, looking for work, training, studying or undertaking any other recognised activity, such as volunteering. Families earning approximately $65,000 or less will receive a subsidy of 85 per cent of their childcare fees with subsidy gradually reducing the 50 per cent for families earning around $170,000 or more. These new arrangements will result in approximately 5000 families in Dobell receiving a subsidy of 85 per cent of their childcare fees. Furthermore, between 9000 and 10,000 local families will receive a subsidy of between 50 and 85 per cent of their childcare fees. Importantly for families earning less than $185,000, there will be no annual cap on the childcare subsidy they can receive. This means that 95 per cent of Dobell's families who access childcare services will receive a childcare subsidy. In addition to these measures, the government is also implementing flexible childcare options. A total of $250 million will be spent on interim home based carer pilot program to extend support to eligible families using home based carers. This will benefit shift workers, including nurses, police, fire fighters and ambulance officers, who are unable to access traditional government supported child care because of the unpredictable nature and hours of their work. This is particularly important for families on the Central Coast who are required to commute out of the region for work. Again, for many locals such travel is a necessity. It is important that we as a government provide a range of flexible childcare options to support families in varying positions of employment.

On top of greater support for families, this budget also supports job growth in small business. This will be particularly important in regions such as the Central Coast, where we are highly dependent upon small business to deliver local employment opportunities. Our Jobs and Small Business package will create the right conditions for Australian small businesses to prosper and grow. It will also encourage employers to create new jobs and assist Australia's unemployed to access these new opportunities. The $5.5 billion Jobs and Small Businesses package is the biggest small business package in our nation's history. It will assist Dobell's 8707 businesses invest more, grow more and employ more. We are reducing the tax rate for more than 90 per cent of incorporated businesses with an annual turnover of under $2 million. The company rate for these businesses will be reduced by 1.5 per cent to 28.5 per cent. In addition small businesses with an annual turnover of under $2 million will be able to immediately deduct each and every asset costing less than $20,000 that they purchase between now and the end of June 2017. This will benefit 8283 businesses in Dobell, and this represents 95 per cent of all businesses in Dobell.

Our support for small business is matched with support for job seekers. The ability to work and earn an income is a foundation of Australian life. This is why we are helping all Australians participate with over $330 million in targeted spending on new job initiatives. This is targeted at employers and young job seekers to support the transition to work. We have also introduced incentives for employers to help mature-age job seekers back into work. Last week I hosted the Hon. Luke Hartsuyker, the Assistant Minister for Employment, in Dobell. The minister's visit demonstrates our commitment to improving job prospects on Central Coast. The minister and I visited the Better Futures Hub to meet with their Work for the Dole team. This is a unique Work for the Dole project, which is teaching young job seekers administration and marketing skills. The minister and I heard how the program has instilled confidence in these young job seekers and provides them with the opportunity to develop marketing projects. It is wonderful to know that two of these job seekers have now secured employment.

Debate interrupted.

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